Storyline Online® Releases ‘Ricky, the Rock That Couldn’t Roll’ Read by ‘Wicked’ and ‘Wicked: For Good’ Star Marissa Bode

Marissa Bode reads for the SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s children’s literacy program Storyline Online® / Photo courtesy of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation

The SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s Emmy-winning literacy program Storyline Online® is proud to release its latest read-aloud: Ricky, the Rock That Couldn’t Roll, written by Mr. Jay and illustrated by Erin Wozniak, and brought to life by acclaimed actor Marissa Bode, star of Wicked and the newly released Wicked: For Good.

In this uplifting story, Ricky is a rock who cannot roll, but with patience, perseverance, and the support of friends who believe in him, he discovers that progress takes many forms.

“Ricky’s story reminds all of us, kids and grown-ups, that every journey looks different,” said Bode. “Reading this book for Storyline Online felt like a celebration of friendship, determination and embracing what makes each of us unique.”

With warmth, humor, and a deeply empathetic approach, Bode delivers a performance that amplifies the book’s core themes: inclusion, resilience, problem-solving and the extraordinary things that happen when a community refuses to leave anyone behind.
“Marissa’s reading is filled with heart,” said SAG-AFTRA Foundation Executive Director Cyd Wilson. “She reminds young audiences that everyone moves through the world at their own pace, and that kindness and teamwork can make all the difference.”

As with all Storyline Online videos, Ricky, the Rock That Couldn’t Roll comes with a free activity guide for parents and teachers, aligned with Common Core Standards. The guide supports social-emotional learning, reinforces reading comprehension and offers classroom-ready activities designed to strengthen vocabulary, engage critical thinking, and spark discussion around teamwork, art and science.

Produced by the nonprofit SAG-AFTRA Foundation, Marissa Bode joins the celebrated roster of Storyline Online readers, including Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates, Viola Davis, Rami Malek, Gary Oldman, Chris Pine, Jonathan Pryce, Meryl Streep, Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Yeoh and many more.

To watch Marissa Bode’s reading of Ricky, the Rock That Couldn’t Roll and explore the entire library of free videos, visit storylineonline.net. Keep up with new videos by subscribing to Storyline Online on YouTube and following Storyline Online on Instagram, X and Facebook.