Children’s Picture Book

Date Published: November 19, 2026

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.

 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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Date Published: 10-27-2026

Publisher: Harmony Press

Ti’s aunt presents Max with a daunting choice to either confess to his
parents about the broken window or assist Ti in testing his invention, the
Quantum Locator. Little does Max know that the Quantum Locator possesses the
extraordinary ability to locate anyone, anywhere.

Together, with Max’s dog Ralphie, they stumble through a portal into a
realm teeming with supernatural wonders. From a forest ruled by a colossal
snake emperor to a mysterious Tree. Now, the boys must navigate their way
through this enchanting land. Will they survive to get home?

In this captivating middle-grade thriller, Leslie Cole examines friendship,
choices, and loyalty, maintaining suspense until the last page.

Excerpt

Prologue

Foliage. Fangs. Forsaken.

Two year old Maxwell Oswin Miller opened his eyes only to see green blocking his vision. He’d have rubbed his eyes, but try as he may, he could not free his arms. He seemed to be tangled, head to toe, with something brushy and wiry. Only his right heel was exposed, which stung from a piercing bite.

He had screamed for his parents until his throat burned. Unheard, he fell back into a fitful sleep, briefly escaping the nightmare of his situation.

A shout woke him up.

“Snake! What in the blue blazes of Georgia? Mr. Finch, kill it.”

“Mrs. Finch, I’ll grab my hoe.”

“Quick! It’s sneaking out from under the weeping willow in the Millers’ front yard.”

Hurried footsteps approached, then the hoe came down with a thwack, but little Max was too tired to make a sound.

“Mrs. Finch, the snake got away, but looky here. It’s a baby wrapped up like a suit of armor in the willow branches.”

“A baby?” Lighter footsteps came close. “My goodness, if he don’t look like the branches swaddled him, right here on the ground.”

“Or choked him,” said Mr. Finch.

“Here, take my shears and cut those things off. Careful now.”

A clip and another, and soon Max’s arms and legs were free.

“He’s alive, Mrs. Finch, but looks like he’s been layin’ here for hours.”

A snip and leaves fell from his eyes. He felt two arms lift him as two hands gently pulled branches from his body.

“Mrs. Finch, ain’t this the Millers’ boy?”

“Why, yes! It is the Millers’ boy. Why’d they go off and leave him under the tree like this?” She cradled the boy close.

“Look. His heel is bleeding. Is that a snake bite, Mrs. Finch?”

About the Author

 Leslie Cole is the author of the Max & Ti series, including her latest
book The Snake and the Tree. She writes wholesome, hearty, and humorous middle
grade fiction for kids who wonder where they belong and feel too embarrassed
to ask. She feels a passion for the kids, including the adult kids, who need a
kind and encouraging voice of support. Her stories remind readers that our
deepest wounds don’t define us and that no one must face life alone. Her
publishing credits include publishing poetry in the Nashville paper “The
Contributor;” reading her poetry as the “Poet of the Month”
at the Scarritt-Bennett Poet’s Corner; having her poetry named
“Critic’s Pick” in “The Nashville Scene;”
publishing two nonfiction books as a physician in her fields of medicine; and
publishing a research paper as first author in the field of addiction
medicine. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband Tim and their
dog. They enjoy the company of their adult children, grandchildren, nieces,
nephews, and extended family. She paints landscapes and still lifes, as well
as drawing the occasional illustration for her books. She continues to work as
an addiction medicine physician, where she witnesses the power of connection,
repair, and humans overcoming unbelievable odds.

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https://mybook.to/TheSnakeandtheTree

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