Tidy

A Note Before You Begin

At first glance, Tidy might seem like a story about control vs. letting go. Pete the badger's strong urge to keep the forest neat could be read as an exaggerated form of wanting control—and his journey, a lesson about loosening up.

But here's the thing—

For many children, especially those who are neurodivergent, a preference for order and routine isn't about control at all. It's about feeling safe and calm in a world that can sometimes feel unpredictable.

That's why we're choosing not to explore the theme of control vs. letting go in this guide.

If you, as a teacher, are aware of such needs in your room, it might help to say gently:

"Some people feel more settled when things are neat. That's just how their mind works—and we respect that. This story is not meant to tease or judge anyone who likes things in order."

By saying this, we create space for all kinds of minds to feel seen—and safe.

Themes We'll Explore Instead

• Considering consequences: How do our actions affect others and our environment?

• Responsibility and repair: When things go wrong, what can we do to make them right?

• Living with differences: Can one creature's idea of neatness be someone else's discomfort?

• The beauty of nature's messiness: What can we learn from the wild, untidy ways of the forest?

What the Story is About

Pete the badger loves keeping the forest tidy. He sweeps up leaves, cleans muddy paws, and straightens everything in sight. But his love for neatness soon gets out of hand—he digs up trees, pours down cement, and ends up destroying the very place he calls home.

The forest becomes silent. Empty. Unnatural.

And Pete realises—maybe messiness isn't bad after all. He sets out to make things right again.

This story opens up gentle conversations about how our choices affect the world and people around us.

Why the Illustrations Matter

Emily Gravett's illustrations are full of warmth and subtle humour. Watch how the colours shift as the forest changes—from lush and textured to cold and grey.

Encourage children to spot these shifts.

• Ask:

  • What do you see in the first picture of the forest?

  • How does it look after Pete's changes?

  • How does it feel?

The visual contrast helps children reflect without needing too many words.

Questions to Spark Reflection

• Ages 6–8

  • What do you think Pete likes about keeping the forest tidy?

  • Was there a time when you cleaned something too much?

  • How do you think the other animals felt when the trees were gone?

• Ages 9–10

  • What do you think made Pete realise he had gone too far?

  • What could he have done differently?

  • Can someone's idea of neatness ever become uncomfortable for others?

Deeper Reflections for the Teacher

This book can help open up subtle conversations about how children see their environment, relate to rules or order, and understand the impact of their actions.

Some children may resonate with Pete's love for tidiness. That's okay. The goal isn't to tell them they're wrong—but to explore how their actions affect others.

Use this story to gently introduce the idea that everyone sees comfort differently and that being part of a community sometimes means pausing to think about how our preferences might ripple outward.

Possible Activities

1. Before and After Drawing

Ask children to draw the forest before and after Pete's changes.

Then, talk about which one feels more alive—and why.

2. Nature Collage

Gather leaves, twigs, and petals (safely and respectfully). Let children create messy, nature-inspired collages. Talk about how nature doesn't always follow straight lines—and that's part of its beauty.

3. Roleplay Circle

Let children act out a short scene: Pete talks to the animals after realising his mistake.

What might he say? How might the animals respond?

4. A Tidy or Messy Space?

Show photos of different kinds of workspaces—neat, messy, playful, simple. 

Ask:

• Which one would you like to be in?

• Why do different people like different kinds of spaces?

Extended Reflection: Where Does My Freedom End?

There’s an old saying: “Your freedom ends where someone else’s nose begins.”

It’s a simple way of saying that you’re free to make your choices, but only until those choices affect someone else.

In Tidy, Pete’s wish to keep things neat isn’t wrong. Wanting clean paws, swept paths, or tidy spaces can feel pleasing and calming.

But the moment Pete’s actions begin to harm the forest—pulling out trees, disturbing homes, covering the ground in concrete—his personal choice becomes a community problem.

This idea can open up gentle conversations with older children or in teacher circles:

• Is it okay to change something that belongs to everyone?

• What’s the difference between caring for a space and controlling it?

• How do we know when our actions are crossing someone else’s boundary?

You might even ask:

Have you seen situations in which someone tries to help or fix something, but it ends up making things harder for others?

By connecting Pete’s story with this timeless idea, we help children reflect on responsibility—not as a rule, but as part of living with others.

Final Thought

Tidy is about more than just keeping things clean. It's a reminder that our best intentions still have consequences and that the natural world doesn't always need our fixing—it often just needs our care.

Let children see Pete not as someone who made a silly mistake but as someone who learned—and chose to set things right.