The Sweetest Fig- Chris Van Allsburg

Van Allsburg, C. (1993). The sweetest fig.  New York: Houghton Mifflin Company.

“These figs are very special, the woman whispered.  They can make your dreams come true” (Van Allsburg, 1993).  Don’t you wish you could eat a fig (delicious by the way) and make all your dreams come true (the good dreams, that is)!  The Sweetest Fig is a story about an arrogant dentist who receives “special figs” from a patient and encounters some life-altering events as a result.

Chris Van Allsburg’s creative imagination is evident throughout all of his books, especially the ones I’ve discussed in my last three posts.  The way he uses characterization to get the reader into the mind of the characters, as well as the way he describes settings captivate the reader’s attention.  Van Allsburg describes the main character in The Sweetest Fig as cold and calloused.  His interactions with other characters in the story add to the portrayal of Bibot (main character) as an arrogant dentist.  Van Allsburg uses drawings in The Sweetest Fig to reveal a realistic artistic style (similar to The Polar Express and Jumanji).  He also uses texture and shape to portray expressions of arrogance, disbelief, and hardheartedness in the main character.  It almost looks as if Bibot takes pleasure in pulling the woman’s tooth in one of the illustrations.  The words could not tell the story alone.  Van Allsburg’s illustrations contribute greatly to the meaning of the story, making this an excellent example of a picture book to use with young readers.

Why does Van Allsburg leave us hanging so often?  In Jumanji we were left with a new pair of kids who found the game, only to wonder what would happen next.  In The Sweetest Fig we are left to wonder what will happen to Bibot and his dog after the dog ate the last fig.  I love this about Chris Van Allsburg!  The curiosities of his stories leave the reader yearning for more!

This book is full of detail and excitement, and I strongly encourage you to use it in your classroom!  To engage young readers, ask them to discuss some dreams they would like to see come true.  You could also ask them if they have a dog at home and how they treat their dog differently than the main character in the story treats his dog.  Read the book aloud to students and have them infer why the books ends as it does (I won’t spoil the ending for you, and I won’t add a graphic here at the risk of telling the ending).  There are ample opportunities within the book to help students sharpen their inferencing skills. 

After reading this story, you may decide that hoping your dreams come true isn’t always the best idea.  Ponder these thoughtful questions/prompts:

• How do the main character’s expressions help you learn more about him?
• Think about the way Bibot treated his dog?  Why do you think he had a dog?
• Why do you think Bibot chanted “Bibot is the richest man on earth” (Van Allsburg, 1993)?