"One of his hobbies was collecting pebbles of unusual shape and color." What is a hobby? Can you name two?
An activity people do for fun. For example, stamp collecting, drawing, playing a sport.
What did the pebble look like? (i.e. size, shape)
The pebble was red, shiny and perfectly round.
What was Sylvester's first wish after he found the magic pebble?
He wished it would stop raining.
"To his great surprise the rain stopped. It didn't stop gradually as rains usually do. It ceased." What does "ceased" mean?
Ceased means it stopped suddenly.
"He wished a wart on his hind fetlock would disappear." What is a fetlock?
A fetlock is the bottom of the leg.
What animal did Sylvester come across on Strawberry Hill?
He came across a lion on Strawberry Hill.
What did Sylvester wish to be turned into?
Sylvester wished to be turned into a rock.
Why did Sylvester wish to be turned into a rock?
He wished to be turned into a rock because he was scared of the hungry lion.
"The lion came bounding over, sniffed the rock a hundred times, walked around and around it, and went away confused, perplexed, puzzled, and bewildered." What does "bewildered" mean?
Bewildered means confused.
Why did the lion walk away confused?
The lion walked away confused because the donkey disappeared.
Why couldn't Sylvester turn back into a donkey?
He couldn't turn back into a donkey because the magic pebble was not touching him and so he couldn't wish to be a donkey again.
"I will never scold Sylvester again as long as I live," said Mrs. Duncan, "no matter what he does." What does scold mean?
Scold means to speak to someone harshly and angrily because they are in trouble or did something wrong.
"At dawn, they went about inquiring of all the neighbors." What does it mean to inquire?
Inquire means to ask questions.
When they couldn't find Sylvester, what did his parents conclude?
His parents concluded that something dreadful must have happened and they would never see their son again.
"They concluded that something dreadful must have happened and they would never see their son again." What does dreadful mean?
Dreadful means something terrible happened.
About how long was Sylvester a rock? And how do you know that?
He was a rock for at least a year because fall came and then winter and then spring again.
