Frog and Toad meets The Little Prince in this touching social emotional learning picture book by acclaimed creator Barney Saltzberg about a determined boulder who yearns to get close enough to his cactus friend to see her flowers bloom, and the thoughtful rabbit who makes their wish come true.

In a vast, open desert, Boulder is convinced that today is the day he’ll see his shy friend Cactus’s flowers bloom. “I’ve dreamt of seeing them up close,” he tells her. But Boulder is too far away, and he can’t move anyway! Nonetheless, Boulder is certain today will be different. Cactus isn’t so sure, but Boulder believes. Unbeknownst to the two friends, enterprising Rabbit observes their plight and decides to help out. As Boulder and Cactus talk more about their dreams, Rabbit works harder and harder to make their wish a reality. The task is sisyphean, but with courage, determination, and a little bit of kismet, Rabbit might just move mountains.

Book Details

Format: Hardcover
Price: 18.99 USD / 24.99 CAD
Published: 06/10/2025
ISBN: 9781662640803
Imprint:
Page Count: 40
Trim Size: 10 x 10
Grades:
Ages:

“An ideal choice for an interactive read-aloud ….A lovely look at how simple acts of kindness can literally move mountains."—Kirkus Reviews

"An act of collective kindness brings two characters more proximate to one another in Saltzberg’s gladdening and punny story... Boulder and Cactus’s dialogue has an earnest intimacy (''How do you know my flowers will be beautiful?’ Cactus asked.// ‘I know because I dream about them,’ said Boulder') that’s artfully balanced by the story’s action as Rabbit and buddies, apparently unnoticed, comically engineer a way to move Boulder."—Publishers Weekly

"Rabbit and a butterfly friend have nonspeaking roles (and go unnoticed by the two other characters), but they are instrumental in helping Boulder realize the dream—something young listeners will easily pick up on in Saltzberg’s appealingly textured digital illustrations... Under a full moon and with the flowers on the verge of blooming, eight rabbits stand at one end of a homemade lever, not quite able to roll Boulder over the edge. Saltzberg slows things down: over three panels and one double-page spread, the butterfly flits over to the stack of rabbits, softly alighting on Rabbit’s ear. 'Sometimes, thought Rabbit...with...a little...help...and a little kindness...' and with the addition of one butterfly: 'BOOM!' Boulder sticks the landing, and Saltzberg does too."—The Horn Book

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