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 may surprise you, and it will make your heart soar.
In this lyrical picture book, explore how the awe-inspiring 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 log’s resilience and its powerful connection to the forest’s past, present, and future.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY STARRED REVIEW! Link
​​"Poetic, revealing, and visually delightful."​​
A tree can provide a place for many forest residents to grow, to rest, and to shelter—even after it falls.
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​The comparatively small figures of a multiracial family, glimpsed hiking or sitting on a log for a snack, are clearly entranced by the lovely, lush Pacific Northwest forest setting—readers will be enchanted, too. Pendreigh’s spare accompanying narrative is as grand and stately as the trees themselves. Over a span of years, a towering Douglas fir “suns and sways” until it “grows old. / Sap slows. / Roots let go. / Green goes brown. / The tree falls / down” with a crash and begins a “new life” as “Nurse Log.” The author anthropomorphizes her subject: “She is a place to grow,” and she “mothers” new waves of flora and fauna, from lichen and jelly fungus to towhees and bear cubs. As a reservoir of moisture in drier seasons, the log also nurtures a western hemlock “tree child” that grows from seedling to sapling, “hugs his nurse mother” with roots, and, as the old log crumbles into the soil, rears up over time to become a home and shelter in turn for many species. Pendreigh’s afterword underscores the significant role trees play, even after they’re dead, in many habitats. It’s a profound lesson for young readers to absorb, even as they pore over the expanses of precisely detailed ferns, fungi, and furry forest wildlife in the pictures.​​
"...This lovely description of codependent life cycles has multiple applications in the classroom and the library. Generous support material fills in the botanical background, and the simple story is gracefully affecting."
Immersive and stunning illustrations by Elke Boschinger beautifully capture the heart and warmth of WHEN A TREE FALLS—a story that is as timeless as nature itself. I discovered Elke and her work when perusing portfolios online: You just know when an illustrator is right for a project. And when Elke’s illustrations came in—wow! The book team would always take a moment to honor the beauty that was in our midst. Kirsten’s lyrical and content-rich text paired with Elke’s gorgeous illustrations are quite a combination. You’ll see…
Creators Kirsten and Elke bring a rare gift to picture book-making: They have the ability to draw a reader all the way into a story, and to feel deeply. I still tear up by the book’s last spread, no matter how many times I read it. WHEN A TREE FALLS is about the forest, but it is also about life: Honoring the cycle, and feeling gratitude for ends that are also beginnings.
From editor Naomi Kirsten:
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"Before the manuscript for WHEN A TREE FALLS by Kirsten Pendreigh came my way, I had never heard of nurse logs. And yet, I had been hiking among them for years. Even the day that I acquired this picture book, I had taken a walk among redwoods and there were nurse logs in my midst: Fallen trees, now stumps, nurturing new life. I was starting to see. The regenerative nature of the forest was all around me. And it’s all around you.
Nurse logs of BC!
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When A Tree Falls Printables and Crafts!
MAKE A NURSE LOG MOBILE
Click on the image for a printable PDF:
MAKE YOUR OWN NURSE LOG.
Click on the image below to print:
