The Mountain That Wouldn't Move

Written and illustrated by Sandra Dumais

Owlkids Books

978-1-77147-649-2

32 pp.

Ages 4-7

April 2026 

 

Ah, perspective is everything. And for Bear, she sees everything negative in her life brought on by the shadow of a mountain under which her forest spreads. She intends to do something about it.

From The Mountain That Wouldn't Move, written and illustrated by Sandra Dumais

At a forest meeting, Bear tries to gather support from Rabbit, Cardinal, Fox, and other animals. Initially, the others are less concerned than Bear. But when she emphatically decides to move the mountain, they all agree. 

From The Mountain That Wouldn't Move, written and illustrated by Sandra Dumais

The mountain, a large grey landform with a cap of snow and a serene face of eyes, mouth, and rosy cheeks, is unyielding. (It is a mountain after all.) No matter which direction they push or how, the mountain stands still. Unlike the others, Bear cannot tolerate giving up. She comes up with some inventive schemes involving balloons, and sails, and even putting the mountain up for sale. It isn't until her friends carry her around the mountainside and upwards to see a different side and a glorious sunset, that the mountain that wouldn't move is accepted for what it is.

From The Mountain That Wouldn't Move, written and illustrated by Sandra Dumais

Montreal's Sandra Dumais takes a different perspective on perspective, by having Bear literally moved to see a different one. Asking someone to see something differently can't always be done effectively. However, putting them in a different viewpoint can do wonders to see a different perspective. Sandra Dumais's story may be read by children to help them be open to other points of view, but she also offers all of us the opportunity to see differently, beyond our initial outlooks and opinions. For children, it might be seeing others from a different point of view, or seeing circumstances like losing a game, being disappointed with their parents' decisions, or making a mistake from a different standpoint.

 

Sandra Dumais uses a variety of art media including pencils, gouache, digital collage and acrylic paint to create sweet and playful illustrations of animals who reflect frustration, joy, nonchalance, and even despondency. Bear is particularly emotive, drawing others into her disquietude, as is the mountain itself, an enormous gray rock, which is depicted as serene and even unassuming. Much of the story is told in the actions, or passivity, of Sandra Dumais's characters—yes, that includes the mountain—from their shapes, colours, and expressions.

 

The mountain may not have moved but when Bear finally did, a new perspective was found, and this made all the difference.