"These figs are very special," the woman whispered. "They can make your dreams come true." -- Thus Monsieur Bibot, the cold-hearted dentist, was gi...
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reviews
Sep 18, 2011
Brittany
rated it: 
I am really becoming hooked on Van Allsberg’s writing. The illustrations and story are absolutely captivating. This book is a bit smaller than the other books are. It is also composed in a vertical fashion like “The widow’s broom” is. The illustrator chose dot illustration again, but this time with dark mauve, brown, cream, and dark colors in a lighter hue. I think the dot illustrations would be interesting for a young reader to look at, I think they would want to scan the picture and see how al
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Sep 12, 2011
Tiffany
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The Sweetest Fig is yet another Chris Van Allsburg book that I loved! The ending has a sort of twist to it, like most of his books.
Before I even opened the book, I noticed that the font of the title was done in a "fancy cursive" writing. That coupled with the way he was eating the fig and how he was dressed on the cover made me think that this character was going to be snooty and maybe trying put on a facade that he was better than other people.
The illustrations i More...
Before I even opened the book, I noticed that the font of the title was done in a "fancy cursive" writing. That coupled with the way he was eating the fig and how he was dressed on the cover made me think that this character was going to be snooty and maybe trying put on a facade that he was better than other people.
The illustrations i More...
Sep 10, 2011
Spencer
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I really enjoyed looking at Allsburg's illustrations as I feel like I am taking a trip to a museum. His pictures are so realistic looking as if they were photographs. I feel his illustrations have this strong white borders to give more of the impression of looking at a picture. His vivid drawings bring the characters to life. I feel as if they are almost real people I am looking at. I wonder if he uses anyone as inspiration for the characters he draws.
This is a story of More...
Mar 30, 2010
Sharon
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The Sweetest Fig tells the story of a dentist who took in a final client for the day and pulled her rotten. She did not have any money but only the sweetest two figs that she told the dentist could make your dreams come true. The dentist did not pay her any attention but rather grew increasinly angry at her lack of being a "paying customer." Nonetheless, he threw her out. Subsequently, he decided to eat one of the figs as a snack and sure enough, his dreams from the previous night wer
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Feb 13, 2011
Emily
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Throughout the entire story, Van Allsburg tends to remain consistent in his colors of choice. The whole story is shown through different shades of brown which I feel draws the reader away from actually becoming a part of the story. He is also very consistent with his placement of text on each page. He places each text box in the upper right or left hand corner on every page depending on the position of his illustrations. The illustrations throughout the entire book also reveal an interesting eff
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Sep 20, 2011
Sarah
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I thought this book was written very well. The pictures seemed very realistic and the illustrating captured Bibots personality very well! Bilbot is very stuck up and into himself and the way he looked did that very well. I thought this books would have more of a lesson to teach to children, but unfortunately not so much. I think this book could range from Kindergarten till 4th grade. It's the type of book that helps kids stretch the imagination of what the "magic" figs could do.
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Feb 06, 2012
This book, in my opinion lends a great story for children. I believe that they can relate almost instantly because many children have encounters with dentists that vary from scary, funny, adventurous and much more. I love that the story began with this grumpy, not so nice dentist that many children fear, and twisting it into a magical story that made the dog become the important character. It was clever and humorous to end the way it did. I think that many kids would love to read this tale. It w
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Sep 25, 2011
Annabellecarter
rated it:
The sweetest fig is the story of an angry dentist; Monsieur Bibot and his dog Marcel. Bibot is takes his dog walking but often pulls him from the bushes. one day at work Monsieur Bibot extracts the teeth of an older lady with no money to pay for it. Instead the older lady gives Monsieur Bibot two figs and told him, these two figs would make his dreams come true. The man ate a fig later that day, when he woke up in the morning he was walking the street of Paris in his underwear; just as he had in
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Feb 02, 2012
Alana
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The Sweetest Fig, written by Chris Van Allsburg, takes place in Paris and the main character's name is Monsieur Bibot. Monsieur Bibot is a fussy and not friendly dentist, whose life changes because of a fig. These figs that Monsieur Bibot receives as payment from an old woman with a toothache were not ordinary figs; they make dreams come true. This is a funny story for all ages, teaching readers that you need to treat others as you would like to be treated. The Sweetest Fig contained tromp
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Sep 13, 2011
Melissa
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Who doesn't enjoy a story about a rude, greedy dentist getting what they deserve? Bibot, a french dentist, has an old woman for a patient one day. After doing work on her teeth, the woman can only pay Bibot with special figs, for she has no money. Bibot takes the figs, but is upset with the woman and shoves her out the door of his office without pain medication. Later that evening, Bibot eats one of the figs and realizes just how special they are when his dreams, no matter how embarassing they a
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Sep 09, 2010
Josiah
rated it:
I don't believe that I've ever finished a Chris Van Allsburg book with any initial response other than "Wow!" He truly is one of the most consistently excellent picture book creators whose work I have ever experienced.
The Sweetest Fig is a tale of subtle foreshadowing, done so elegantly and with such skill that the seemingly innocuous story carries an undercurrent of tangible suspense. How rare is real suspense in a picture book, I ask you?
Bibot, a French de More...
The Sweetest Fig is a tale of subtle foreshadowing, done so elegantly and with such skill that the seemingly innocuous story carries an undercurrent of tangible suspense. How rare is real suspense in a picture book, I ask you?
Bibot, a French de More...
Sep 18, 2011
The story revolves around a dentist and very firm man named Babo. He kept everything very clean and was not very nice to his dog. He did some work on this old lady and since she had no money for him she ended up giving him two magical figs which were said to make all of his dreams come true. The figs end up working and he tries to save the last one so he tries really hard to think of a dream of life and luxury before he eats it. The end has a neat little twist and i think would be something fun
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Feb 06, 2012
Holly
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I really enjoyed The Sweetest Fig. I had two other Van Allsburg books I had chosen to read and was not looking forward to this one as much as the others. However, I was pleasantly surprised. From the cover you don't get much other than a snooty looking man eating a fig, but the book surprisingly had depth. I love books with any sort of positive lesson and was not disappointed by this one. I did not understand the concept in the middle of the book until Van Allsburg explained it a little more in
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Feb 05, 2012
I honestly thought this was an awesome book. The illustrations were wonderful, the plot was captivating and exciting, and honestly I wish I had this book read to me when I was a child. This is one of those books that kids can fall asleep too, because the storyline provides enough information for kids to create an entire scene with their eyes closed in bed. It is important for stories to bring out the creativity, and this book dealing with magic figs definitely does. There are funny parts of this
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Sep 13, 2011
Natalie
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The Sweetest Fig is an interesting , twisted story of a mean man who dreams of being the richest man ever. A an old lady pays this bitter dentist with magical figs. The man realizes that the the figs are indeed magic after trying the first fig. His plan is to dream of of something the night he eats the fig. But when his dog, who he treats meanly each day, eats the fig, the man's life takes a turn for the worst. Instead of being the richest man, he becomes man's best friend. An enjoyable read wit
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Feb 06, 2012
Logan
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The Sweetest Fig was a story about a grumpy old man who was granted magical figs that would make his dreams come true. The author uses a portrait style book but inside the illustrations cover both pages making it more of a landscape. The pages all have a soft white border and the text is in a box inside the illustration in the upper right or left corners. I think the author does this so the detailed illustrations are not interrupted with. The color pallet for the book is very neutral; most of th
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Sep 25, 2011
Chelsea
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I thought this book was fantastic. The plot itself could teach children a lot about morals and what is important in life. This book was about a greedy dentist who wouldn't give an old woman pain killers because she couldn't pay for them. Instead, the woman gives the man magic figs that make his dreams come true, literally. It seems like a good thing but he dreams of things that he does not actually want. In the end, the mans dog eats a magic fig and transforms the man into a dog. This book had a
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Feb 14, 2011
Samantha
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Wow, what a twist! The plot is captivating, and leaves the reader considering phrases like "Treat others the way you want to be treated." It was a surprise to see the large role that Marcel ended up playing in the book's theme. Van Allsburg's realistic illustrations are great, too! The bordered double spreads make it feel like the reader is watching the whole story happen, especially because of the symmetry between the images and the story. Plus, a few of the images are quite humorous,
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Sep 11, 2011
Katie
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The Sweetest Fig is a story about a controlling French dentist who only wants to be rich. One day an old lady pays the greedy dentist with 2 magical figs. The dentist realizes his dreams will come true when he eats the first fig. He is determined to use the second fig to get him all the riches in the world. The book ends abruptly when the dentists dog eats the last fig and switches places with the dentist the next morning. The Sweetest Fig is a great story where the character gets what he d
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Jun 08, 2010
Ronyell
rated it:
“The Sweetest Fig” is a mysterious children’s book from the brilliant mind of Chris Van Allsburg which is about how a picky man named Monsieur Bibot who receives two mysterious figs from an old woman and after he learns the magic of the two figs, he suddenly gets unexpected consequences. “The Sweetest Fig” is truly a brilliant book about the consequences of treating others unkindly that many children will love for many years.
Chris Van Allsburg has done an excellent job with illustra More...
Chris Van Allsburg has done an excellent job with illustra More...
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Nov 09, 2007
Josephine
rated it:
Of course I love The Polar Express and Jumanji and all the other stunning, breathtaking books that Mr. Van Allsburg has created. And people may think I'm crazy to even name a favorite (and especially a favorite that is not The Polar Express). But The Sweetest Fig is so charming and funny and surprising, I just can't help it.
The story takes place in Paris and begins in the office of Monsieur Bibot, a very unsympathetic, unkind dentist. An old woman comes in with a toothache, and after More...
The story takes place in Paris and begins in the office of Monsieur Bibot, a very unsympathetic, unkind dentist. An old woman comes in with a toothache, and after More...
Feb 06, 2012
Jordan
rated it:
This book is a bizarre modern fairytale. It is all about Monsieur Bibot, a fussy dentist who is given a pair of magic figs as a form of payment from one of his patients. He's told that the fruit has the power to make dreams come true. Bibot doubts this, of course, but is pleasantly surprised after he eats one. The illustrations, as in other Chris Van Allsburg books, are captivating and done with great talent. While the story is strange, it's also a fantasy that people of all ages are sure to enj
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Feb 02, 2012
Lele
rated it:
A portrait book...and COLOR! The drawings look more watercolor rather than sketched. illustrations took ran together on both pages and they had a little text box in them to tell the story. The illustrations are also bordered. Looking closely at the drawings, you can see them out lied, and once again the shading is on point! The story had a very happy ending and when I looked at the inside cover, it was a very dull yellow but it did make me think that the book was dark but it had some sunshine to
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Sep 20, 2011
Matthew
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I liked the books illustration. How it did not show bright colors but instead had darker colors that gave it a much more realistic type of illustration. That is what I have noticed after reading several of Chris Van Allsburg's books is that all the illustrations are some what the same. In showing great detail and shading of people and objects. It is a great story on having dreams. I think that the moral of the story is to treat people the way you want to be treated. Just as he did mistreating hi
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Oct 01, 2010
Jessica
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This is the story of Bibot the dentist, who is paid in magic figs by an old women who had a toothache. The illustrations do a marvelous job of defining Bibot's character--he is snobby and uncharitable. He doesn't believe the old women when she says that the figs will make his dreams come true, but the morning after he eats one, it turns out that his dreams from the previous night did come true. Determined to make the second fig count, he is in for a surprise when his dog gets to it before he
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Jun 06, 2009
Rachel
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Interesting, yet slightly dark story (like all of Van Allsburg's work--or at least what I've read so far). A dentist is given two "magical" figs for payment and eats one, only to realize the following day that what the woman who gave it to him came true: that whatever he dreamed the night before would be reality. So he tries to mastermind his next dream and waits for the perfect opportunity only to have it snatched away from him at the last moment by his dog. What happens? You must rea
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Feb 06, 2012
Nicolette
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This was a very good book with a great lesson. The dentist was very mean to the dog and to the woman at his office who paid him with the figs. I am so happy with the way that it ended. The dentist truely paid his price for being such a mean man. I think the lesson from this book is that no good will ever come from being mean to others and I am sure, now that(SPOILER ALERT) the dentist has become the dog, he wishes he would have been nicer to his dog!!
Jul 02, 2010
Lizette
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The Sweetest Fig is about a mean old dentist named Bibot. He isn't very kind to his patients or his dog, Marcel. One day a customer has no money but pays him with two figs. She told him they were special figs and they could make his dreams come true. This book can help teach many lessons about gracefulness, kindness and greed. The illustrations are very vivid and thought provoking. Good read aloud for students in grades K-8th.
Nov 01, 2011
Laura
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I'm starting a Chris Van Allsburg unit with my 3rd grade classes. We read this book to kick off the unit and to talk about making inferences. The kids really liked it -- the twist at the end was well done and my students enjoyed explaining how they figured out what really happened. Recommended for grades 3 and up. Younger students may also like the book but will need a bit more support to read between the lines.
Sep 21, 2010
Chris Van Allsburg continues his fine line between reality and fantasy in this story. The picture on the cover is repeated at the beginning of the story, and the round lines in it including the open mouth of Monsieur Bibot, create a feeling of peace and comfort. The picture of the figs on the title page continue this emotion, and then Van Allsburg uses sharper lines, which help you understand the stearness of the character. The ending is wonderful!
