Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

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. (Informational picture book. 2–5) Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.

Trunk Goes Thunk! cleverly weaves together standard word opposites into a charming tale of woodland creatures brought together by a fallen tree trunk that provides a bridge over a river. The trunk falls loudly in the quiet forest. The animals are separated by the river but come together to explore the fallen tree. The animals that gather are small and large, and they pass over and under the fallen trunk. Time passes through summer and winter. Although the story is invented, Morris brings her science background to her description of what happens when a tree trunk falls with a “Thunk!” in the woods. The creatures behave realistically, and the passage of time brings natural changes to the forest. Illustrators Chantelle and Burgen Thorne bring a magical glow to their depictions of the forest and its creatures, mixing realism with slightly anthropomorphized expressions and a touch of cuteness. This offering is a step (or three!) up from typical opposite books and a welcome foray into the natural world.

School Library Journal
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Gr 1–3—If a tree falls in the forest, there are many animals who will make good use of it. When a tree falls and goes "thunk," forming a bridge across a river, a diverse group of animals gather to assess the possibilities. Deer, beaver, bears, raccoons, a lynx, ducks, a hedgehog, squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, birds, and butterflies all flock to the tree, a bit wary of one another at first, and soon go their separate ways. Fourteen pairs of simple word opposites such as quiet/loud, near/far, and over/under are used to portray animal actions, while more concrete pairs such as sunrise/sunset, summer/winter, and thin/thick are used with the illustrations of the trees and surrounding forest. This is a book children will want to return to again and again to search the pages and look for the many creatures, find the opposites that go with the word pairs (helpfully printed in bold text), and respond to the gentle rhythm of the story. The animals are endearing, and the depictions of busy forest life in different seasons and times of day are beautifully rendered in rich earth tones. A QR code on the last page links to an educator's guide with discussion questions, coloring sheets, and more. VERDICT A lively look at opposites that is a useful teaching tool and an examination of the many animals in a busy forest. A recommended purchase.—Sue Morgan