When a tree falls : nurse logs and their incredible forest power

Summary: A tree suns and sways in the forest. She is a place to grow, to rest, and to shelter. But what happens after a tree falls? The answer will surprise you, and it will make your heart soar. This lyrical picture book explores the life of a tree from its days lifting up toward the light housing wildlife in its boughs, to doing much of the same thing from a very different vantage point: this time, after having fallen, either due to wildfire or drought or from just living out its long life. 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.