I'll let the brothers Judd explain the plot
"Sylvester is a donkey with the odd hobby, for a donkey anyway, of "collecting pebbles of unusual shape and color." This pastime gets him in trouble one day when he finds a magic red pebble that grants wishes :
'What a lucky day this is!' thought Sylvester. ÝFrom now on I can have anything I want.'
Sadly, a lion comes along and Sylvester unthinkingly says : "I wish I were a rock."
His wish is granted, but he is no longer able to grasp the pebble and so can not wish himself back to donkeyhood. His parents search desperately for him, until one day they actually picnic upon the boulder he has become. Happily, they pick up the pebble and order is restored. And, despite the awesome power of the pebble they lock it away in a safe :
Some day they might want to use it, but really, for now, what more could they wish for? They had all that they wanted."
Although this seemingly harmless book won a bunch of children's book awards (including the Caldecottt Medal and a Newberry Honors Medal) The book raised controversy among several school districts and organizations for its portrayal of the police as pigs (although anthropomorphic pigs were shown in other professions), and as a result was banned in parts of the United States.
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