It's Busy Down in the Woods Today: Friends to Meet, Places to Explore, and Over 100 Things to Find (Brown Bear Wood)
#1 in Brown Bear Wood Series
illustrations by
What’s inside...
This large-format search-and-find book welcomes young readers to Brown Bear Wood, a friendly forest bustling with animal life. Written in gentle rhyming verse by Rachel Piercey and lavishly illustrated by Freya Hartas, each double-page spread shows a different woodland scene rich with seasonal detail and more than 100 hidden items. Children follow Brown Bear and his friends through spring picnics, summer riversides, autumn harvests, and cosy winter dens while spotting birds, insects, and forest treasures. The book blends simple narrative, seek-and-find challenges, and nature facts to encourage curiosity about wildlife, cooperation, and caring for the environment.
Character compass
Brown Bear
Fox
Rabbit
Squirrel
Discussion points
Which season in Brown Bear Wood feels most exciting to you?
How do the animals show kindness to one another?
What new thing did you learn about forests?
Why is teamwork important during the acorn harvest?
How can we help nature in our own neighborhood?
Tip: Role play these questions
Take a nature walk and compare real sights to illustrations.
Create a tally chart of hidden objects found to practise counting.
Encourage children to invent their own woodland rhymes.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Cooperation
Explanation: Animals share jobs during seasonal tasks.
Real-World Application: Work together on household chores.
Example Lesson: Observation
Explanation: Searching for hidden items trains careful looking.
Real-World Application: Use keen eyes to notice safety signs outdoors.
Example Lesson: Environmental Stewardship
Explanation: Characters care for habitats and each other.
Real-World Application: Plant flowers or pick up litter locally.
Example Lesson: Gratitude
Explanation: Animals thank one another at harvest time.
Real-World Application: Say thank-you for everyday help from friends.