[.ca] The Sweetest Fig (ISBN 0395673461)

the sweetest fig for ms voorhees book report assignment:
Monseuir Bigot. A dentist, a picky snooty stuck up dentist, to be precise. He lives simply, with his small terrier who is not even allowed to bark, and his profession. One day as he is sitting in his office, an old woman comes into his building with a horrid toothache, she has no appointment, but he decides he could use a few extra francs. (he lives in france)He pulls her tooth out, and when he asks for payment, she hands him two figs, and says that they will make his dreams come true. he sends her from his office, and goes home. Later that night he has one of the figs, as a dinnertime snack. When he wakes up he finds that his dream had come true that he had dreamt the night before. He then hynotizes himself for weeks so he can control his dreams, the night he plans to eat the fig and become rich and famous, his dog eats the fig. he wakes up the next morning under his bed... bieng told to go for a walk... Chris van alsburg has the best ironic childrens books. I really enjoyed how this one played out. The illustrations are as good as you would expect from a van alsburg book, especially well done are the peoples facial expressions.This is a book i would definately recomend to a friend, not nessesarily a younger reader but preferably someone who can read fairly well, its somewhere in between a chapter book and an easy reader.

The Sweetest Fig:
The Sweetest Fig story takes place in Paris, France. Monsiur Bibot, the coldhearted dentist, helped a patient who had a toothache. After Bibot helped her, all she could pay him with were two magical figs. In disbelief, Bibot took the figs and shoved her out of his office. When Bibot went home, he decided to eat one of the figs as an evening snack. It was the seetest fig Bibot had ever tasted, it just wasn't until the next morning that Monsieur Bibot realized it indeed was so magical that it had the power to make your dreams come true.

Another great book:
Another great book by Chris Van Allsburg. I do an author study with my second graders and they particuarly love this book. They to hear it read with a bit of a French accent. The children have great empathy for poor Marcel and really appreciate when he triumphs over the self-absorbed Bibot. This book is in much demand in my classroom aftet it has been introduced as a read aloud.

What if... When You Slept, Your Dreams Came True?:
Chris Van Allsburg's book, THE SWEETEST FIG, is an exquisitely illustrated book that raises the fascinating question, "What if... when you slept, your dreams came true?" This story tells the tale of a mean-spirited dentist, Monsieur Bibot, who lives in Paris, France, with only his small, white dog for a companion. When Bibot receives as payment two small figs from an old woman who can't afford to pay him for his dental services, he is furious. The woman tells Bibot that these figs are special... "they can make your dreams come true." Dreams are clearly something that Bibot cares little for... that is, until he discovers that the old woman was telling him the truth. When he finds himself standing outside a restaurant dressed only in his underwear, and the Eiffel Tower bending down as if it were made of rubber -- he rushes home and begins practicing the art of controlling his dreams. Bibot's attempt to overly-control his life takes a surprising turn, and this story vividly illustrates the point that greed and self-absorption can ruin a man's life. Because the artwork in this book is so exceptionally good and the moral of the story is so delightful, this is one book that parents will love to read to their children again and again!

Great Story, Magnificent Illustrations, & a Surprise Ending:
What more could you ask for? The Sweetest Fig is the story of French Dentist named Bibot who is given two seemingly ordinary figs as payment for dental services rendered. The old woman who gives Bibot the figs tells him that the figs can "make your dreams come true." As the story progresses, it keeps the audiences attention easily. Most of the classes I have read this to (3rd & 4th Grade) seem to think the results of Bibot's first dream are hilarious and are eager to hear the outcome. The ending is rather abrupt but satisfying where Bibot gets his just rewards. Overall, Van Allsburg does a magnificent job (as always) both authoring and illustrating this intriguing tale. Highly recommended for 3rd and 4th grade students.