  | When a tree falls : nurse logs and their incredible forest power Author: Pendreigh, Kirsten | |
| Price: $23.28 | ||
Summary:
A tree's second act is often as a nurse log, which is key to a forest's survival. Nurse logs provide a nutrient-rich space for new seedlings to thrive, and with better access to light and nourishment from the decaying trunk. They shelter small animals and host different species of fungi, lichens, mosses and ferns. And, over time, a new tree's roots wrap around the log, beginning the cycle anew.
| Illustrator: | Boschinger, Elke |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (01/01/25)
Booklist (03/01/25)
The Hornbook (00/05/25)
Full Text Reviews:
Other - 02/24/2025 Nurse logs receive much-deserved appreciation in this poetic profile by Pendreigh and Boschinger, which highlights the majestic afterlife of fallen trees. Staccato text describes the starring subject’s early existence: "A lookout,/ an aerie,/ a roost,/ a roof." After the woody figure tumbles, it takes on a new, critical role as woodland helpmate. Both rhythmic and informative, spare lines communicate the nurse log’s vital role providing nourishment, shelter, and comfort for the forest’s many critters: "Nurse Log mothers them all./ She is a lap,/ a bed,/ a cradle." Textural, verdant artwork includes an absorbing level of detail in depictions of rough-surfaced bark, fuzzy black bears, and soft layers of lichen and moss. Human figures are portrayed with various skin tones. Back matter discusses the importance of nurse logs to a healthy forest ecosystem. Ages 6-9. (Mar.) - Copyright 2025
Booklist - 03/01/2025 Treasure, dead bodies, and cursed underwater caves—just a few of the hidden dangers of deep-sea diving. Phoebe and her best friends, the Salt Squad, are halfway around the world from their home in Key West as they document their dive off the coast of Marimont Island; this is their last hurrah before college tears them apart. However, after Phoebe discovers a breathtaking underwater cave, it appears that the force actually destined to tear the Salt Squad apart is the curse that lurks in the deep. Vivid descriptions of both the sea life and the surreal experience of being far below the waves create such an intense appreciation for the natural, alluring danger inherent in diving that the appearance of the curse seems logical rather than fantastical. The tension is airtight throughout, with the artful combination of both a present-day narrative and flashbacks to the night months earlier that cracked the Salt Squad’s foundation, building anticipation for a paired reveal. Each character has a depth rarely found in YA thrillers, which manufactures a compulsive narrative that is both plot- and character-driven. Even striving readers will find it difficult to pause their journey with Phoebe and the Salt Squad through the beautiful, deadly ocean around Marimont. - Copyright 2025 Booklist.
