In a vast forest impish stick creatures called Twigs are caught up in an extraordinary adventure when a mammoth volcano rumbles a warning. Changes are coming to the old forest One young Twig named Leaf and his brave friends must escape when Echo Peak wakes up, but all the forest paths are perilous. Some try a river escape, while others dare the cliffs of a gorge. Leaf and his Twig friends Rustle and Feather risk the gloom of a snaking, prehistoric lava tube, but a starving mole and big-eared bats stalk them in the dark. Twigs must stick together for their only safety may be in the distant Red Forest to the west, but does it even exist? In the previous three adventure novels Twigs are thrust upon dangerous paths. Still, they discover their world has unexpected help. In the midst of disappearing habitats, beavers build mighty dams to control floods and quench wildfires. Bark beetles are fought. Rare trees are saved from extinction. Glaciers may shrink, but their precious water is not lost. Now Twigs must learn a lesson from the eruption of a volcano incredible adaption is possible, so Leaf and his loyal Twig friends stick together and battle to survive. Royalties are shared with nature conservancy nonprofits that protect wildlife and forests. Twig Stories are illustrated by D.W. Murray, a Disney artist. His credits include Mulan, Tarzan, Lilo & Stitch, Brother Bear, Curious George, and many more. He is a recipient of the New York Society of Illustrators Gallery and the 2004 Gold Aurora Award. Praise for Leaf & Echo Peak: "This children's book opens a rich and imaginative forest world full of characters whose adventures create a different perspective on wildlife and their interactions due to natural and human-induced climate change and how each adapt with the change. Illustrations are gorgeous adding vibrant stimulation to mind as the reader follows the many ups and downs of the main characters. Much insight into the dynamics of forest ecosystems is provided in following these clever creatures. The book is imaginative and gives an added bonus with the "Watch Over Wildlife" at the end of the book, further engaging the readers." Dr. Tim Foresman Professor and SIBA Chair in Spatial Information Institute for Future Environments - Science and Engineering Faculty Queensland University of Technology "Not only is Leaf & Echo Peak an adventuresome and humorous journey of animals and their Twig friends as they attempt to escape a pending eruption of Echo Peak, it is a look into Northwestern natural history and the dynamics between family and friends. Throughout the story, Jo Marshall reminds us that change is how we find new ways to grow. Twigs and their animal friends learn that with adaption and tenacity, life is resilient." Abigail Groskopf Science Education Director Mount St. Helens Institute, MSHI Website Learn more about the return to life at Mount St. Helens at www.mshslc.org "The adventures of Twigs use fantasy to introduce simple science for 8-12 year olds. Twigs and Seeder and all of the other plants and animals live in a scary place where earthquakes and volcanoes are a natural part of the landscape, much like the northwestern United States. The creatures of the woods have long learned to deal with these ecological disasters. Humans have the same responses-ask the elders, leave, run, and then accept the new reality. That's an important lesson hidden in the fantasy." Eleanora I. Robbins, PhD Science Explorers Club