Sometimes the biggest adventures begin with one very small, uncertain step. In Peanut Butter and Donner: The Wishing Tree, Erin Rosenblum introduces young readers to a hesitant bunny, his adventurous animal friends, and a magical forest where courage doesn't require being fearless. Inspired by a family tradition among California's redwoods and informed by Rosenblum's experience as a therapist, this children's picture book explores how friendship, encouragement, and small acts of bravery can help children navigate unfamiliar situations.
Children's Picture Book
Date Published: November 19, 2026
Free on Amazon – November 9-14
Peanut Butter the bunny isn’t sure he’s brave.
So when a magical wishing tree opens the door to a glowing forest, he must decide whether to follow his friends—Donner the parakeet and Annie the duck—into the unknown… or stay safely behind.
As Peanut Butter steps into the forest, everything feels new, exciting, and a little bit scary. With wobbly paws and a worried heart, he wonders if he made the right choice. But along the way, he meets a surprising new friend, Earl, and begins to discover something important: bravery doesn’t mean feeling fearless—it means taking small, steady steps forward, even when you feel unsure.
With gentle encouragement, teamwork, and moments of humor, Peanut Butter learns that courage can grow in quiet ways—and that being brave looks different for everyone.
Perfect for children ages 3–8, Peanut Butter and Donner: The Wishing Tree is a warm and reassuring story that helps young readers explore big feelings, face fears, and build confidence—one small step at a time.
For young children, unfamiliar experiences can feel as intimidating as stepping into an enchanted forest. Peanut Butter and Donner: The Wishing Tree gives those feelings a relatable face through Peanut Butter, a bunny who wants to join his friends but isn't certain he has the courage. His journey with Donner, Annie, and the unexpected new friend Earl creates opportunities to talk about hesitation, friendship, and the confidence that develops through small decisions. Rosenblum's background as a licensed therapist adds an interesting dimension to the story's focus on emotional growth, while its inspiration in a real California redwood family tradition gives the magical wishing tree a personal connection to the author.
Peanut Butter and Donner: The Wishing Tree is particularly well suited to families with children ages 3–8 who are learning to manage worries, try new activities, or navigate changes in their routines. Parents, grandparents, teachers, and school counselors looking for stories that encourage conversations about bravery and confidence may appreciate Peanut Butter's gradual discovery that fear and courage can exist together. Children who enjoy talking animals, magical woodland adventures, and stories centered on friendship will also find familiar points of connection in the bunny, parakeet, duck, and their new companion Earl.
Erin Rosenblum is a licensed therapist, storyteller, and the creator of the Peanut Butter and Donner series. For more than 20 years, she has helped people navigate anxiety, life transitions, and the many emotions that shape our lives. Those same experiences inspire the stories she writes for children.
Erin believes some of life's biggest lessons are learned through gentle moments, meaningful conversations, and characters children grow to love. Her books combine playful rhyme, memorable adventures, and emotionally rich storytelling to help children build confidence, resilience, and compassion.
Peanut Butter and Donner: The Wishing Tree was inspired by a cherished family tradition in the redwood forests of California, where generations gathered around a hollowed redwood known as the Wishing Tree. Blending those memories with her experience as a therapist, Erin reminds young readers that bravery isn't about never feeling afraid—it's about taking the next small step, even when your knees feel a little wobbly.
When she's not writing or working with clients, Erin enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and her many rescued animals, including the real Peanut Butter the rabbit and Donner the parakeet, whose unique personalities and friendship inspired the beloved characters in the series.
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Peanut Butter's adventure offers a gentle way to introduce an important idea: children don't have to feel completely confident before trying something new. Through a magical wishing tree, a glowing forest, and the companionship of Donner, Annie, and Earl, Erin Rosenblum frames bravery as something that can develop one small step at a time. For families and educators hoping to open conversations about fear, friendship, and growing independence, Peanut Butter and Donner: The Wishing Tree is a picture book worth exploring together.
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