Bramble stood at the edge of the meadow. He adjusted his bright red hat. A sudden gust of wind yanked it away!
The red hat tumbled over the grass and disappeared behind the birch trees. "Mine!" the bear gasped, and he ran after it.
Bramble marched into the forest. "Friends!" he called. The badger waved from her den, the deer trotted over, and the rabbit hopped along.
They searched behind mushrooms and beneath ferns and inside hollow logs. The deer sniffed the ground and trotted toward the meadow.
The deer led the way back into the meadow. Bramble followed over the low grassy hill, his ears perking up.
Bramble spotted something bright red caught in a thorny bush. He reached for it, but his paws were too big and the thorns pricked his nose.
"Try the other side!" the badger called. The rabbit hopped closer. Bramble tried tiptoeing, then hopping, then carefully unhooking the brim with his claws.
The hat tumbled free into the grass. Bramble hugged it close and let out a long breath.
A little bluebird swooped down and tapped his nose with its beak. The bird dropped an acorn cap full of dew into his paw.
The bluebird chirped and flew toward the birch trees. Bramble followed, and there — nestled in a forked branch — sat his red hat, perfectly safe.
Bramble put his hat back on and tipped the brim to the bluebird. His friends gathered around, and they all walked home together.
The wind ruffled the grass and played with the edges of his red hat. Bramble smiled and walked on.