Who's in Maxine's Tree (Hardcover)

"My name is Stephanie. I'm a tree-climber," the woman said. "I'm researching mamu nests."
"What's a mamu?" asked Maxine.
"Its real name is marbled murrelet, but I like to call it mamu. It's an endangered seabird."
"Why are you looking for seabird nests in the forest?" Maxine asked.
"Because this is where mamus nest, deep in old growth forest." The woman looked at the sign in the roots of the tree. "Are you Maxine?" she said.
Maxine did not answer. She had a question of her own, a very important one. "What do they the mamu sound like?"
The woman opened her mouth and stretched her lips. "Keer, keer," she said.
Maxine smiled. "That's the sound that my tree calls to me," she said.
Maxine loves her giant tree in the Walbran Valley, but as she gazes at clearcuts from the car window, she worries. What if her tree is gone? Her family and friends trek through the old growth forest, and Maxine runs on ahead to check. Yes, her tree is there. She stands at its foot and listens, but it doesn't make its special sound, "Keer, keer." She will soon learn that "Keer, keer" is the sound a marbled murrelet (a mamu) makes. The mamu is an endangered seabird that flies far from the sea to nest in the high flat branches of the Sitka spruce. When a tree-climber confirms the presence of a mamu nest, Maxine's tree will be safe forever.
Diane Carmel Leger grew up in the Acadian village of St. Joseph de Memramcook, New Brunswick. Her stories reflect her love of both Canadian coasts and her passion for the environment. A kindergarten teacher and author of the popular Maxine's Tree, Diane lives in Victoria, British Columbia.
Darlene Gait was born on Vancouver Island and began painting as a child. Inspired by nature and by her Coast Salish heritage, Darlene brings a rich understanding of the natural world to her work, which is held in private collections and exhibited world-wide. Darlene lives in Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia.