A new illustrated adventure by John-Paul Rye

Some clues are tiny. Some friendships are enormous.

When curious little Woollykins wanders out of sight, a worried farmyard needs someone who can slow the panic, spot the clues and bring everyone together. Zessa Stripes is ready.

Discover the story Meet the search team

Kind problem-solving
Seek-and-find fun
A warm farmyard world

Zessa, Woollykins and their farmyard friends together at sunset

Book one The Search for Woollykins

Look carefully.

Think kindly.

Help together.

Welcome to the farm

One missing lamb. A whole farm full of helpers.

Woollykins loves butterflies, flowers and anything new. So when she disappears, the farmyard fills with noisy guesses and worried voices.

Zessa does something different. She listens. She notices tiny hoofprints, bent grass and a broken stem. Then she turns a jumble of good intentions into a real search team.

The Search for Woollykins is a gentle mystery about staying calm, seeing what others miss, and discovering that every helper has something valuable to offer.

CuriosityEvery little clue matters.

CourageSmall helpers can do brave things.

CommunityThe farm succeeds together.

A colourful caravan waiting beside a sunny farm lane — It begins with a mysterious caravan and a very unusual new arrival.

Meet the search team

A farmyard full of personality

Every friend brings a different strength—and a little bit of chaos—to the adventure.

The calm thinker

Zessa Stripes

Kind, clever and wonderfully observant. Zessa notices the things others rush straight past.

The farm expert

Hee-Hawthorne

Talkative, loyal and certain he knows every corner of the farm.

The curious explorer

Woollykins

A sweet young lamb with a habit of following beautiful surprises.

The watchful carer

Baa-rbara

Warm, protective and very relieved to have thoughtful friends nearby.

The tiny hero

Toorteeb

Small enough to reach places nobody else can—and brave enough to try.

The tracker

Ruffus

A dependable sheepdog with a nose for clues and a head for the job.

The bright helper

Sebbie

A friendly springer spaniel who checks the barn and orchard with cheerful energy.

Inside the book

Pictures made for lingering

Follow the trail across a richly detailed countryside, from the farm lane and brook to the brambles at the edge of the little wild wood.

Zessa, Hee-Hawthorne and Toorteeb setting out along a sunny farm path — 01 Follow the clues

Toorteeb peeking from beneath a wooden farm fence — 02 Cheer for every helper

The farm friends helping near a sunlit bramble patch — 03 Find the way home

Woollykins and Baa-rbara beside the brook with a butterfly overhead

A story to explore again and again

There is more to find on every page

Three little farm objects are tucked into every left-hand story scene. Children can enjoy the adventure, search the pictures and discover something new each time they return.

Detailed scenes that reward close looking
Gentle visual clues that support the story
A playful extra challenge for shared reading

Play Find the Objects

For grown-ups

A warm story with something real to say

Calm beats commotion

Zessa shows how listening and thinking clearly can turn worry into useful action.

Different strengths matter

The search works because every friend contributes in their own way.

Pictures invite conversation

Expressions, clues and hidden details give readers plenty to notice and talk about together.

A peaceful farm and cottage at blue twilight

The adventure is only beginning

Come and meet Zessa Stripes

The Search for Woollykins is Book One in Zessa Stripes and the Farmyard Friends, created and written by John-Paul Rye.

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