TRUNK GOES THUNK!

Bustling forest activity at the site of a fallen tree becomes the backdrop for a few lessons for the younger set.

A tree falls in the forest, and everyone seems to hear. Different woodland animals use the trunk as a log bridge over the river, from a bear traveling to gather berries for its cubs to otters and geese basking in the summer sun. Though some animals are featured only in the artwork, others are named, such as the lynx and the porcupine. Bold type within the text identifies such basic opposites as small and large (tiny mice run by on one page, while opposite, deer leap by on their way across the log), dark and light (raccoons mosey by at night; beavers build a dam in the light of day), and sunriseand sunset. Nature takes the forefront, while the focus on opposites is more secondary. The words near and far are on two different spreads entirely; younger readers may not realize the relationship between these two ideas. With some guidance from adults, however, they’ll pick up on the opposites more readily, and those who delight in woodland creatures will enjoy discovering the different ways animals might use a fallen tree. Vibrant, earth-toned illustrations depict realistic animals with genial expressions.

A cozy, lushly illustrated introduction to opposites and wildlife.