1. BibliographyVan Allsburg, Chris. 1993. The Sweetest Fig. Houghton Mifflin: New York. ISBN 978-0395673461.
2. Summary
This is the story of a very greedy and selfish dentist, Monsieur Bibot. He is forced to accept magic figs from a patient for services. The old lady tells him that the figs will make his dreams come true. Bibot does not believe this, but after eating the first fig, he finds that his dream did come true. Bibot then trains himself to dream of riches and luxury and prepares himself to eat the final fig. But things do not turn out quite like he planned when his poorly treated, faithful dog interferes with the final fig.
3. Impressions
I love books by Chris Van Allsburg. He leaves so much to the readers imagination. I was not disappointed with this book. While this is a picture book, the story is more mature than most children's book. The irony of the story would be lost on small children. This story is most appropriate for young adults and older.
The author uses the illustrations in this book to tell most of the story. The pictures are so realistic that the reader is truly drawn into the story. The pictures of the dream that has come true give the reader the impression that Bibot is still in the dream. The final scene of the story is priceless and gives the reader a real sense of justice. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and fully plan on sharing this story with my fourth grade class. I think that the irony may be lost on some of them, but a few of the more mature thinkers will connect what has happened and enjoy the story. Chris Van Allsburg has done a great job with this story.
4. Reviews
Reviews taken from http://www.amazon.com/Sweetest-Fig-Chris-Van-Allsburg/dp/0395673461/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228186084&sr=1-1.
From Publishers Weekly Van Allsburg swings back into his most mystifying mode with this enigmatic, visually sophisticated tale of Monsieur Bibot, a "very fussy" French dentist who is given a pair of magic figs as a form of payment by an impoverished patient. The fruit, he's told, has the power to make dreams come true. The pragmatic Bibot scoffs at this, of course, but learns otherwise after eating one. Accordingly, he makes plans to use the second fig to become the richest man on earth (and to ditch Marcel, his oppressed terrier, for a string of Great Danes). The images in the book are unsettling, even ominous: Bibot lurking in a doorway with a rolled-up newspaper, ready to punish Marcel; Bibot gleefully clutching a pair of pliers as he prepares to extract an old woman's tooth; a frowning Bibot standing, fists clenched in anger, as his patient offers him the figs instead of cash. The dentist is a thoroughly unsympathetic character; readers will rejoice when the long-suffering Marcel gobbles the second magic fig and, in a poetically just ending, reverses the master-slave relationship. The sepia-toned illustrations are classic Van Allsburg, offering a visual study that is downright psychological; the artwork's spare lines and clean surfaces reflect the obsessively orderly Bibot's nature. Adults will appreciate Van Allsburg's acuity, while many children will relish the darker aspects of his story. A significant achievement. All ages. Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal Grade 3 Up-Another quietly bizarre and stunning picture book from Van Allsburg. In this modern fairy tale, a Parisian dentist (a prissy and sadistic man who even hates his own dog) is given two magic figs by an old woman who tells him, "'They can make your dreams come true.'" Bibot scoffs. However, after the first fig proves to do exactly that (in a scene in which the dentist walks down the street in his underwear, and then the Eiffel Tower droops over), he realizes how precious they are. Night after night, he hypnotizes himself into dreaming that he is the richest man on earth. Finally, he prepares to eat the second fig. But his dog, Marcel, beats him to it, and the following morning, the dentist wakes up as the helpless pup under a bed, with his own face calling to him, "'Time for your walk. Come to Marcel.'" The Sweetest Fig is a superb blend of theme, language, and illustration, with a very grabbing plot as well. The writing is formal yet direct, using simple, deliberate vocabulary to match the elegant setting and mood. The shades of gray, cream, and brown and the calm, stable design enhance this mood. The angle at which readers view scenes is always intriguing and heightens their involvement. Most children old enough to read this complex book on their own will be fascinated and will return to it again and again. Van Allsburg at his best.Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
