The Bad Seed
The Bad Seed
4.7/7
Bookroo
4.3/5
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The Bad Seed

Written by Jory John & illustrated by Pete Oswald
Book #1 in the The Food Group Series
Hardcover
$19.99
$18.99
4 - 8
Reading age
40
Page count
12
Words per page
~241L
Lexile measure
Aug 29, 2017
Publication date

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What Does Bookroo Think of The Bad Seed

A clever tale reminding readers of our ability to change and be happy.

This story about a baaaaaaaaaad seed starts out with a humorous description of the bad seed and all the terrible things he does. As the story continues, we learn the reason behind the bad seed’s behavior—he went through a traumatic (yet cleverly-entertaining) experience where he was almost eaten at a baseball game. Then one day, the bad seed decides he wants to be happy. As he tries tries his best to improve, he learns, and teaches readers, that being good doesn’t require perfection, it merely means trying your best. The expressive watercolor illustrations juxtapose bold colors with soft neutrals, adding important details to the already animated diction, like when the seed’s cracks heal once he starts trying to be good. While the book brings many positive messages to the table—such as second chances, the ability to change, judging others, choosing cheeriness, and empathy—the story feels unfinished, anticlimactic, and out of order. The first half of the story is promising, funny, and clever, but the tone completely changes when the seed decides he wants to be happy. The humor is lost, and more importantly, the explanation for the shift to a “good” attitude is missing.

What Kind of Book is The Bad Seed

Topics

changepoor behaviorscience and naturefeelings and emotionssocial themeshabits and behaviorseeds

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The Creatives Behind the Book

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Book Details

ISBN
9780062467768
Publication Date
August 29, 2017
Publisher
HarperCollins
Page Count
40
Words Per Page
12
Audience
Picture
Reading Age
4 - 8 years
Est. Lexile® Level
~241L
Est. Fountas & Pinnell Level
~H
ATOS® Book Level
2
Accelerated Reader® Points
0.5
Accelerated Reader Quiz
190573
Accelerated Reader Interest Level
LG

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