When a Tree Falls: Nurse Logs and Their Incredible Forest Power

by Kirsten Pendreigh, Elke Boschinger (illustrator)

The perfect read for exploring nature with children, this beautiful nonfiction picture book offers an awe-inspiring look at the forest’s 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 log’s resilience and its powerful connection to the forest’s past, present, and future.

BOOK ABOUT TREES & MUCH Every organism in the forest ecosystem is connected. This fascinating picture book powerfully illustrates how the end of one life in the forest can be the beginning of another.

FOR LOVERS OF When a Tree Falls is a reminder of the wondrous ecosystems in our own backyards and the wild forest beauty we may discover by looking closely. It is ideal for families who enjoy being in nature.
 
LUSH The forest life is rendered with such richness and detail that it invites readers to immerse themselves in the endlessly inspiring natural world.

GORGEOUS An excellent choice for a classroom book or as a gift for kids who love trees, spending time outdoors, and are mindful of environmental issues.

Perfect who are interested in trees and forestsParents and grandparents of children who want to learn more about trees and forestsTeachers, educators, and librarians seeking beautiful nonfiction books with STEM contentGift-givers looking for a distinctive present for an animal- or nature-loving childAnyone seeking a picture book that promotes environmental awarenessReaders of Because of an Acorn, Over and Under the Rainforest, and Wake Up, Woodlands

Genres: Picture Books, Nature, Nonfiction, Environment, Science Nature, Science, Earth

44 pages, Hardcover

Published March 18, 2025

About the author

Kirsten Pendreigh is a children’s author and poet from Vancouver.

Her books include: MAYBE A WHALE (a JLG Gold Standard and Horn Book Fanfare Book),
WHEN A TREE FALLS (a PW Starred Review), WHAT FISH ARE SAYING (a SLJ Starred Review) and LUNA'S GREEN PET (a Today Show best book pick).
Kirsten’s poems are found in Canadian literary magazines and anthologies including Best Canadian Poetry 2021. Kirsten is a former CBC and NPR journalist.

Reviews

[Ann Koffsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful combination of science and poetry. And spectacular illustrations, too!

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are A LOT of tree books out there—but none quite like this one. Its spare lyrical language and swoon-worthy art lead you through a heartwarming story about a process of nature that you may have observed, but never really realized how truly spectacular and important it is.

One of my VERY favorite books of the year! A must for every library. Don’t miss it!

[Julie Winterbottom · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tree gives food and shelter to birds and other animals (and humans) while it is standing.
But after it dies and crashes to the ground, a whole new life begins, and that is the subject of this fascinating, beautifully illustrated book. The nurse log, as the fallen tree is known, provides a place for many creatures to grow and shelter. It also “nurses” one of its own, a young tree that hugs the log with its roots and slowly reaches towards the sky. Eventually, the nurse tree disintegrates and returns to the soil, and the new tree takes its place in the forest.
Written in wonderfully economical, lyrical, active language, the book is a joy to read aloud: “Creatures skitter, scatter. Crouch. Watch. And wait.” The gorgeous, lifelike illustrations make you feel you are in a forest.
With rich back matter than delves deeper into the importance of nurse trees and the ways they sustain forests. Nature-loving kids, parents, and teachers will love this deceptively simple book, that conveys so much about the cycle of life in a forest.

[Christine Zandt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has a lovely read-aloud quality with short, lyrical lines and fun action words that kids will enjoy: "Moss creeps. Conks clasp." While some kids may not have seen the life cycle of a tree firsthand because of the time this process takes, the book seamlessly shows the passage of time from living tree to nurse tree.

The four pages at the end provide additional information about this process.

The art is inviting and showcases all the wonderful things that surround the fallen tree, letting us in for a close-up peek at the process.

[LJ Todaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listen to this gorgeous sentence by Kirsten Pendreigh: “Nurse log holds the rain in her heart for the hot summer, when the forest dries. Then she shares her precious damp with the ferns, with the mosses, with a seed set down by the wind.” That is one among many lyrical, evocative descriptions of a Douglas Fir tree that lives a long life in the forest, sunning and swaying and providing “a place to grow, to rest, to shelter” for many creatures. When it dies (“Sap slows. Roots let go.”) it becomes a nurse log, nurturing new growth and shelter for birds, lichens, slugs, bobcats and the like. Boschinger’s lush illustrations make one feel as if they are walking through the forest itself. This spare and tender STEM story could be an anchor for classroom reading about trees, or a soothing bedtime lullaby at home. Stunning!

[Alison McGauley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a gorgeous picture book with spare, lyrical text, and lush, detailed illustrations! Each spread offers crafty wordplay along with much to study and explore in the artwork. For those who want to learn more, there is information about nurse logs at the back of the text. This would make a wonderful addition to home and classroom libraries alike.

[Stephanie Lucianovic · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so fascinated by nurse logs, and this gorgeous, lyrical exploration of them should be in every classroom, library, and home. The soothing execution of the text paired with the sumptuous art makes the book a very calming, meditative read -- perfect for bedtime.

[Jennifer Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw a live reading of this and immediately wanted to find a copy and re-read it. This is a beautifully written lyrical nonfiction book about the life cycle of a tree, the return of the tree to the earth, and what kind of a home it provides for flora and fauna. The prose is evocative, and yet conveys meaningful information.

[Alisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This lovely, lyrical picture book tells a tree’s story. What sets it apart from the rest is how the author begins with the living tree, then immediately delves into the ways it continues to nurture life for other creatures after it falls. The author delicately handles the death of the tree (“Roots let go. Green turns brown. The tree falls down…”) and we get the sense that the tree isn’t really gone, because, “Her new life begins as Nurse Log.”
It's beautifully written and illustrated and would be a great choice for a classroom or library read-aloud!

[Patricia Q · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nurse logs is a term I'd never heard before. Beautiful illustrations.

[Nic · Rating 5 out of 5]

BRB, crying about a dead tree. (But in a good way!)

[Allison Haehnel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learn about nurse logs in “When a tree falls”. This is actually two books in one. First we get a book for elementary children complemented by lovely illustrations. At the back of the book we have detailed information filled with higher level vocabulary and detailed explanations of the earlier illustrations.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredible book and illustrations. Living in the Pacific Northwest and being around forests, these are all around us. It puts the stages in all one book. From the time it is a snag to the time it falls and rests on the forest floor. Then a tree can grow from it. Well done!

Our students usually go to Mountain School so I will have to get this for our library.

[Helen Ishmurzin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful picture book with lyrical, evocative writing and a wealth of information about forest life, presented in a child-friendly way. Vibrant illustrations bring the story to life and the detailed back matter provides more information about the fascinating topic of nurse logs.

[debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great introduction to forest ecology

Beautiful illustrations and gentle story of the importance old growth forest renewal. We are privileged to have access with our grandchild to PNW old growth forests and very much enjoyed this accessible book.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

(read aloud by himself at 5yo, missed two words, ‘lichen’ and ‘sapling’.)

[Elizabeth E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything about this book is beautiful: the lush illustrations, the lyrical words, the informative and soothing storyline. Such a creative and engaging approach to teaching about life cycles, ecosystems, and nature's interconnectedness!

[Tina Hoggatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific, lyrically told story of a nurse log, sheltering and nurturing while upright, sheltering and nurturing in decay. Back matter gives more information about nurse logs and their ecological role. Illustrations by Elke Boschinger bring the story to life.

[Daniela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed this insightful and lyrical picture book! I was so interested by every step along the way, the art is so beautiful with lots of lovely details and treasures on every page. A lovely read for all!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

In gorgeous lyrical writing and with rich illustrations, When a Tree Falls celebrates the power of a fallen tree to care for creatures, fungi and other plant life as a nurse log. Beautiful descriptions complement the realistic illustrations and backmatter. A sensory feast for nature-lovers.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated story about “ nurse logs” in the forest and how they shelter and provide for small woodland animals, microscopic organisms, and care for seeds that grow into new trees. Text flows very well and will be easily understood by young children for which the title is intended. Four additional pages of information on nurse logs. The illustrated end papers are just as beautiful as the illustrations for the text.

[Lisa Tolin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This stunning lyrical nonfiction book is both beautiful and educational. I learned so much about nurse logs and the second life of trees from Kirsten Pendreigh's evocative text. Elke Boschinger's detailed illustrations help us pause and look closely at nature we might normally hike past. This will be a wonderful addition to any classroom learning about life cycles, nature, and the environment -- and it would be sweet for anyone dealing with a loss, too, because it plants seeds for thought about what survives after death, and what feeds a new generation.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

With handsome illustrations and a soothing lyrical text, this is an informative introduction to the important role a nurse log plays in the ecology of a forest. The book begins with a majestic tree and all the wildlife surrounding it.
"She is a place to grow;
to rest,
to shelter.
A lookout,
an aerie,
a roost, a roof."
Then in time, the tree falls and again the tree, a nurse log, is surrounded by life
"Nurse Log mothers them all.
She is a lap,
a bed,
a cradle."
In time a young tree will grow from the nurse log platform and eventually the nurse log will crumble and return to the earth.
A wonderful picture book that will inspire as well as inform. It will be useful to read before a nature walk and include in units about trees and forest ecology. Don't miss the additional material at the back!

[Eileen Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

With lovely lyrical language, Kirsten Pendreigh conveys the life cycle of a tree and its transition to a new role as a nurse log. Readers will learn how nurse logs nurture new growth, offer shelter for creatures of all sizes, and help support the next generation of tree growth. Elke Boschinger’s lovely illustrations take you deep into the forest in this fascinating life cycle tale and depict forest creatures, big and small. We also learn about a nurse logs effect on the forest floor, plants, and nearby waterways and fish. Back matter includes more about nurse logs and their wide-reaching impact. A wonderful choice for nature lovers of all ages!

[Stephanie Gibeault · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the lyrical story of a fallen Douglas Fir that becomes a nurse log in the forest. It follows the life cycle of the tree from sunning and swaying to sheltering creatures on the forest floor to nurturing the growth of a new Hemlock tree. It’s incredible how this dead tree isn’t really dead at all as so many other organisms rely on it for survival. The realistic and accurate illustrations are also beautiful, and I could feel myself deep in the forest as I went through the story. The excellent back matter provides more information about nurse logs and the interconnectedness of nature. Highly recommended for nature lovers!

[A.J. Irving · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolutely brilliant picture book about a tree’s life cycle and the vital role nurse logs play in the forest ecosystem. I love that the nurse log in this story is a mother to the plants and animals in the forest. “She is a lap, a bed, a cradle.” I love that she gives life to another tree before she crumbles and returns to the earth. “Now her tall child suns and sways. He is a place to grow, to rest, to shelter.” I love the gorgeous writing, stunning art, and beautiful story arc. WHEN A TREE FALLS by Kirsten Pendreigh and Elke Boschinger is nonfiction at its very best. An exceptional reading experience!

[Tanya Konerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

In gentle lyrical text, author Kirsten Pendreigh takes readers to the forest, where a once-stately tree has fallen and become a new resident of the forest: a nurse log. Nurturing flora and fauna as it serves an essential role for its habitat in the circle of life, the nurse log provides food, nutrients, water, and shelter, before its final act of helping a new seedling grow into its replacement. Lush art by Elke Boschinger highlights the rich details, bringing the forest and its residents to life, and back matter delves more deeply into nurse logs and their roles in the forest. Beautiful!

[Megan Clendenan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nurse logs are amazing and I’m so glad to see their story told so beautifully by Kirsten Pendreigh. With sparse, poetic text, we see the life cycle of a tall stately tree that becomes and nurse log, how it shelters the forest in so many ways, and how it nurses another beautiful tree that grows tall. The illustrations by Elke Boschinger are amazing and kids will want to read this book over and over to keep discovering new things. This would make a great bedtime read as it’s so soothing and rhythmic.

[Dara Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a Tree Falls is a gentle, poetic celebration of life and after life of a tree. Kristin Pendreigh captures the wonder of the forest by introducing readers to the concept of "nurse log" (I had never heard of this, and WOW it's interesting.) The story starts with a tree falling, but it doesn't end there, a whole new world and new life begins as the nurse log is a place of growth, life and transformation. The book is a reminder that every end is also a beginning. Great choice for classrooms, libraries, and curious young nature lovers!

[Lynn Street · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tree’s role in the forest does not end when it grows old and falls. This gorgeously written story, with spare lyrical text, follows along through changing seasons as new animals and organisms find a home in the fallen Douglas fir. This hollow log, a nurse log, gives new life to seeds and a sapling that grows to tower just like the mother tree. Back matter gives more details about nurse logs and the animals that appear in the page spreads. A perfect read aloud and resource for parents and teachers. Great for curious readers who love nature and animals.