Paulsen's autobiography mentions his wife, young son, friends, and acquaintances. However, apart from Paulsen himself, there are no human characters; the primary figures in Woodsong are animals. Some of these animals are sled dogs and other domesticated creatures residing around Paulsen's home. Others are wild animals that Paulsen encounters either at his home or in the woods.

Paulsen gives each domestic animal a distinct personality by detailing its actions. For example, Hawk, a banty hen, adopts ruffed grouse eggs that Paulsen finds after the grouse hen is killed. Fred, a yard dog, shows his disdain for diets by biting Paulsen on the leg. The sled dogs include Cookie, who imparts a lesson about trust; Columbia, who plays a trick on Olaf; Storm, described as an "honest" dog; and Wilson, who drinks orange soda from his bootie while leading during the Iditarod. One of the wild visitors to Paulsen’s yard is Scarhead, who could have killed Paulsen one day but instead teaches him a valuable life lesson.

In novels such as Dogsong and Hatchet, Paulsen writes about young boys learning to survive the harsh realities of the wilderness. In other works like The Island, he explores a young boy's emotions and reflections on life and the world. Woodsong is Paulsen's autobiographical narrative of his own survival in the wilderness and his spiritual journey toward understanding.

Publishers Weekly (July 27, 1990) hailed Paulsen as the "best author of man-against-nature adventure writing today." In November 1990, the Christian Science Monitor referred to Paulsen as "one of the reigning kings of the outdoor adventure tale." However, Woodsong is fundamentally about a man learning from nature—learning to accept it, adapt to its demands, and operate within its constraints. As Paulsen reflects on his dogs, "they had great, old knowledge; they had something we had lost. And the dogs could teach me."

In Woodsong, Paulsen seems to argue that it is futile for humans to battle against nature. Instead, it is wiser to learn from nature, understand it, and work within its limitations. At times, Paulsen's writing takes on a mystical quality, particularly when describing the relationship between hunter and hunted, and the harmony between man and his dogs. Paulsen seeks to learn from nature without harming it. Woodsong is his journey toward greater awareness.