A Log's Life

An informative and creative tale about a fallen oak tree in the forest, teaching young readers about the various purposes it serves in the ecosystem during every step of its life cycle.

One stormy day a strong wind rages through the forest, causing an old oak tree to bend and sway. Lightning strikes; the tree crashes to the ground. Now it’s a giant log.

In this fascinating book, author Wendy Pfeffer and illustrator Robin Brickman introduce readers to they life cycle of a tree. The informative, lyrical text is complemented by stunning, three-dimensional paper sculptures that showcase the forest ecosystem, inspiring readers to take a close look at the trees—and logs—in their own backyards.

Robin Brickman has illustrated many children’s books, including One Night in the Coral Sea and Beaks!, by Sneed B. Collard III. To create the three-dimensional illustrations for A Log’s Life she painted watercolor paper, then cut, hand shaped, and glued the various pieces together. Ms. Brickman lives in western Massachusetts. Visit her website at RobinBrickman.com to learn about the Community Mural Project based on this book.

Wendy Pfeffer is the author of several children's books, including Polar Bears and From Tadpole to Frog, as well as numerous articles and stories for magazines. Her full-time writing career includes teaching writing to adults and children. She previously taught first grade, and was the founding director for a nursery school. She lives in Pennington, New Jersey, with her husband, Tom.