When a Tree Falls: Nurse Logs and Their Incredible Forest Power
By (Author) Kirsten Pendreigh
Illustrated by Elke Boschinger
Chronicle Books
Chronicle Books
18th March 2025
United States
Children
Fiction
Childrens / Teenage general interest: Plants and trees
577.3
Hardback
44
Width 203mm, Height 279mm
195g
The perfect read for exploring nature with children, this beautiful nonfiction picture book offers an awe-inspiring look at the forests life cycle.
A tree suns and sways in the forest. She is a place to grow, to rest, and to shelter. But what happens when a tree falls The answer will make your heart soar.
In this lyrical picture book, explore how the extraordinary nurse log provides a nutrient-rich space for new seedlings, shelters small animals, hosts different plant species, and, most profoundly, nurtures a new tree in the process, renewing the cycle of life. Young readers will be amazed by the nurse logs resilience and its powerful connection to the forests past, present, and future.
"[A] loving tribute...This lovely description of codependent life cycles has multiple applications in the classroom and the library. The simple story is gracefully affecting. " -- Booklist
"Highlights the majestic afterlife of fallen trees... . rhythmic and informative." -- Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
"Poetic, revealing, and visually delightful." -- Kirkus Reviews
Kirsten Pendreigh is the author of Lunas Green Pet and Maybe a Whale. She lives in British Columbia, Canada. Learn more at kirstenpendreigh.com.
Elke Boschinger is an illustrator living in the United Kingdom.