The Bad Seed
By Angela Zimmerman,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Naughty (traumatized) seed works on self-improvement.
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What's the Story?
THE BAD SEED is cranky, naughty, disrespectful, and disruptive. He's hard to be around and he always overhears his friends talking about how bad he is. But he wasn't always bad! He had a bright beginning living on a sunflower in a sunny field with friends and family galore. Until one day, he's harvested into a snack and almost eaten. After that traumatic day he becomes a self-proclaimed "bad seed." He was driftless and friendless, living inside of trash with no will to care. But when he reflects back on the moment in his life that changed everything, he realizes it's OK that he felt sad and mad, and he doesn't have to be bad. He can make the decision to be happy. Is it too late for the Bad Seed to turn his life around?
Is It Any Good?
This unique story about a troubled young sunflower seed packs a lot of messages into its colorful cartoonish pages. Kids may giggle at how bad the seed is -- he cuts in line, lies, doesn't bathe, makes messes, and is rude to his friends. But it's when the Bad Seed redeems himself -- deciding one day it's not too late to turn his life around -- that will really stick with kids, especially kids who struggle with self-control and disruptive behavior. No one is born bad. Kids have control over their day-to-day attitude, and as The Bad Seed illustrates, it's never too late to make a change. The Bad Seed is a memorable character on a difficult but rewarding journey. Readers of all ages will get a kick out of the story's dry wisdom and whimsy.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the lessons The Bad Seed teaches. How did the Bad Seed's attitude and behavior change throughout the book? How did the Bad Seed change his own circumstances?
Why do you think confronting some painful events from his past helped the Bad Seed move on and approach life with more optimism? How do you think the trauma of losing his family and friends and almost being eaten contribute to his state of mind at the beginning of the book?
Do you know any other stories about "bad" or naughty characters? Do you think it's helpful to see imperfect characters who struggle with their feelings? Do you ever feel like the Bad Seed did at the beginning of the book?
Book Details
- Author: Jory John
- Illustrator: Pete Oswald
- Genre: Picture Book
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
- Publication date: August 29, 2017
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 4 - 8
- Number of pages: 40
- Available on: Paperback, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: September 29, 2021
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