Book Review by Jan Rappleye,
second grade teacher, La Canada Elementary School
Reprinted from the Fall 1999 Southern AEOE Newsletter
" Deep in a forest a great oak tree stands. One stormy day the tree crashes down, shaking the forest floor. Now, it's a giant log."
This enchanting picture book takes you through the ten year life cycle of a decomposing log from its squirrels and woodpeckers, to porcupine, fungi, beetles, slugs, ants and more!
Each page, with its incredibly realistic three dimensional paper sculptures, reveals the importance and diversity of life forms that inhabit the log in its various stages of decomposition. The story lends itself to an inspring lesson about the F.B.I. Students will "ooh" and "aah" as you flip to each new page. They will want to devour it again and again!
P.S. There is a note from the illustrator at the beginning of the book which students find fascinating. Check it out!