Book Series · 11 Books

The Food Group Books

In order from The Bad Seed to The Humble Pie.

The Bad Seed
The Good Egg
The Cool Bean
The Couch Potato
The Good, the Bad, and the Spooky
Where the story begins

First Book in the Series

The Bad Seed
Sale price
$1899
Book #1 · Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2017

The Bad Seed

By Jory John, Pete Oswald (Illustrator)

A sunflower seed struggles with its own bad behavior and tries to change its ways.

34 pages· 498 words· Est. 4 min read-aloud
4.7/7 Bookroo experts
$19.99Save 5%
Summary: Meet a seed with a notorious reputation—bad temper, bad manners, bad attitude. But what if this little troublemaker decides to change? As he embarks on a journey of self-discovery, he learns that happiness might just be within reach. Can a seed really transform? Discover the power of will and acceptance in this heartwarming tale that shows change is possible for everyone.
In reading order

The Food Group Series

11 books · Published 2017–2025

#1

The Bad Seed

Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2017

A sunflower seed struggles with its own bad behavior and tries to change its ways.

#2

The Good Egg

Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2019

A good egg leaves its carton to find itself and eventually returns home with a newfound sense of self and acceptance of others' imperfections.

#3

The Cool Bean

Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2019

A young bean navigates the challenges of growing up and finding their place in the world, with the help of some unexpected friends.

#4

The Couch Potato

Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2020

A potato discovers the world outside his couch and learns to balance his love of technology with a desire for human connection and outdoor activities.

The Good, the Bad, and the Spooky

Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2021

A seed tries to trick his friends into thinking Halloween has been postponed until the next day because he doesn't have a costume yet.

#5

The Smart Cookie

Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2021

A cookie shares their journey of self-discovery and growth in a bakery community.

As Cool As It Gets
Sale price
$1248

As Cool As It Gets

Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2022

Can the Cool Bean find the perfect gift for the coolest bean in time for the party?

#6

The Sour Grape

Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2022

A grape reflects on how a painful experience changed their personality and how they learned to let go of grudges.

#7

The Big Cheese

Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2023

A charismatic cheese learns to cope with losing and finds new meaning in life.

Have Yourself a Cheesy Little Christmas

Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2025

A holiday party faces disaster. Can it be saved in time?

#8
The Humble Pie
Sale price
$1899

The Humble Pie

Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2025

A shy pie learns that speaking up can be as sweet as pie itself.

Good to know

Common Questions

How many books are in the Food Group series?

There are 11 books in the Food Group series. It began with The Bad Seed in 2017, and the newest book, The Humble Pie, was published in 2025.

What order should you read the Food Group books in?

Start with The Bad Seed and follow the series order — the books above are numbered #1 through #11.

What ages are the Food Group books best for?

The series is best for ages 4–8, based on the age ranges of the individual books.

Which Food Group book is the longest?

The Sour Grape is the longest book in the series at 1,205 words (40 pages).

Which Food Group book is the shortest?

The Bad Seed is the shortest at 498 words (34 pages).

The people

The Creatives Behind the Books

The authors and illustrators who bring The Food Group to life.

01

Jory John

Author
02

Pete Oswald

Illustrator

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