The Curious Garden: questions to ask and activities to try
Liam finds a few struggling plants on an old railway line and starts to look after them. The Curious Garden is a hopeful Peter Brown book about caring for nature, and how one child can turn a grey city green.
What age is it for? The Curious Garden is best for ages 4–8. Good for: Caring for nature, and how one child can change a whole city.
The Curious Garden (Peter Brown)
- Age
- 4-8
- Best for
- Caring for nature, and how one child can change a whole city
Start by finding Liam on the first grey page, then watch the green spread as you read. Talk about green places near you and how you could help them grow.
What it helps with
- Caring for plants and nature
- Patience while things grow
- Believing small actions matter
- Noticing nature in towns and cities
Comprehension and discussion questions
Pick two or three, not all of them. “I don’t know” is a fine answer, and you can always come back to it another day.
- “What did Liam find on the old railway?”
- “What did he do to help the plants?”
- “Why do you think the garden was curious?”
- “How did the city change by the end?”
- “What green places are near where we live?”
- “What could we grow or look after?”
5-minute activities to try together
Plant something
Plant a seed or a cutting in a pot and give it a job: water it together for a week and watch what happens.
Green spotting
Go for a walk and count plants growing in unexpected places, like cracks in the pavement or on walls.
Free printables: The Curious Garden worksheet and activity pack
This book’s one-page worksheet with the questions and activities above, plus our activity pack: printable scenario cards, three 5-minute activities and a “What could I try?” page for practising everyday skills together. Enter your email and download them straight away.
Free. We’ll only email you if you tick the box.
If your child liked this, try
The Tiny Seed (Eric Carle)
- Best for
- Patience, feeling small, and keeping going
- Age
- 3-7
Window (Jeannie Baker)
- Best for
- A wordless view of a changing landscape
- Age
- 4-9
The Wild Robot (Peter Brown)
- Best for
- A robot learning to survive in the wild
- Age
- 7-10
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By the Growing Wise team · Last reviewed: 16 October 2026
Growing Wise offers educational ideas for parents and carers. It is not a substitute for professional medical, developmental or mental-health advice. As an Amazon Associate, Growing Wise earns from qualifying purchases.