The Bad Seed (by Jory John)

Title:  The Bad Seed

Author:  Jory John

Illustrator:  Pete Oswald

Target Ages:  4 and up

Genre:  Picture Book Fiction

Publisher Summary:

There is a bad seed. 

A baaaaaaaad seed. 

How bad? 

Do you really want to know? 

He lies about pointless stuff. 

He cuts in line.  Every time. 

He never washes his hands….or his feet. 

And he does lots of other bad things too. 

But what happens when a bad seed doesn’t want to be bad anymore? 

Can a bad seed change his baaaaaaaad ways?

First Lines: 

I am a bad seed. 

A baaaaaaaad seed. 

Oh, yeah. It’s true. 

The other seeds, they look at me, and they say,

“That seed is so bad!”

Memorable Moment: 

I’ve made a big decision.

I’ve decided I don’t want to be

a bad seed anymore.

I’m ready to be happy.

It’s hard to be good when

you’re so used to being bad.

But I’m trying.

I’m taking it one day at a time.

Evaluation: 

Generally speaking, a good book should not about “teaching lesson,” but it should prompt insight and reflection.  A Bad Seed is a simple picture book exploring a common cliché in a creative way.  However, the truths it depicts are multi-faceted.

The narrative begins with the bad seed repeating what others say about him.  The attitude of parents and peers is clear, in spoken word as well as body language.  The seeds do everything from shield their children from the bad seed’s actions to expressing fear, dismay, and shock.  They point at him and keep a distance.  Illustrator Pete Oswald does a brilliant job conveying these emotions and others with simple drawings in muted neutral colors. The book effectively depicts the impact of a group’s attitudes and actions on a person (or seed, in this case).

Next, the seed recounts all the “bad” things he has done.  These awful deeds range from never washing his hands or putting things back to lying about pointless stuff and cutting in line.  The reason he does these things:  He is a bad seed.  Sadly, he is convinced (like so many children) it is just who he is.

The final contributing factor to his “badness” is experience.  When he drops from a flower, he is raked up and put in a package of sunflower seeds.  Then, he is almost eaten by a giant (a human).  The seed allows his circumstances to jade him.  

                                                                                    

For a children’s book, so much truth is illustrated in those three layers.  Truth vital for all ages:  We cannot allow others to define us.  We should not label and ostracize people who act differently.  We are not inherently “bad” (or good for that matter).  We decide how to respond to experiences—either to learn and to grow or to be bitter and to stagnate.  There are multiple discussion possibilities from this one short picture book. 

The best part is when the seed makes a choice.  He does not want to be bad anymore.  With that choice comes changes in his actions.  Eventually, the other seeds begin to see him in a new light.  More importantly, he views himself differently.

A Bad Seed defies the common belief that people are who they are.  In other words, they cannot help how they feel, think, and act. To me, there is nothing more defeating than believing you are a tiger who cannot change his stripes.  I love this book because it empowers children with the belief that they can change.  It might be hard at first.  They will have set backs.  However, they can change with a commitment to shift their attitude and alter their actions. 

This books can be read and enjoyed by all ages.  I highly recommend A Bad Seed to teach manners, self-reflection, empathy, and empowerment.

Check out the book trailer!

Now, Prove It! — Theme with Evidence
Students analyze key ideas, gather supporting quotes, and use structured sentence starters to explain how the evidence proves a theme. This resource helps readers practice moving from what happens in the story to what it means.  Get your copy of Now, Prove It: The Bad Seed.

Ideas for Extension Activities at Home or Lesson Plans for Teachers:

• Art:  The bad seed comes from a sunflower.  There are many sunflower activities online. This post has a Sunflower Hand Craft that is adorable.
• Choices:  Discuss the bad seed’s choices and their impact on others.  Ask children to consider their choices and impact—both immediate and long term (reputation).  Even if they have a good reputation, they can hurt it with bad choices.  Those with a "bad" reputation can fix it with lots of wise ones.  
• Clichés:  The expression “a bad seed” is a cliché.  Discuss what a cliché is.  Expand to discuss other common clichés. 
• Manners:  The bad seed illustrates the impact of bad manners both on the him (the rule breaker) and others.  Use the book as part of a unit on manners.
• Feelings:  Identify all the characters' feelings in various situations.  Connect feelings to actions and thinking.  
• Interactive Reading:  Click here for an interactive reading session with the book.
• Reading:  Click here for a reading of the book.
• Science:  Use the book as part of a study on plants or seeds.  Click here for suggestions on books about seeds.   
• Self-Reflection:  For younger children,  ask questions that prompt self-reflection: Am I acting ____  way? How do others feel when I ______?  How can I change ____?  For older students, parallel the story to their performance in a specific area.  I teach writing.  I could ask questions about how what others have said about their writing, what they say about themselves as a writer (self-talk), and how their experiences writing have impacted them.  Then, move to the next part:  How can they make changes to progress in their writing?
• Symbolism:  This book is ideal to use when teaching symbolism for all ages.  Grab my Teaching Symbolism with Picture Book Activity.
• Theme:  Teach theme with The Bad Seed.

For more Perfect Picture Book suggestions, visit Susanna Leonard Hill's blog round up.

Tantrums, Hurt Feelings, and Selfishness: Helping Children Deal With Their Emotions

Books are ideal springboards for discussing a wide array of emotional responses.  With picture books, parents and educators can help children identify their feelings and deal with them in an healthy manner. The following 10 picture books focus on some of the most common emotional issues in early childhood.

When Sophie’s Feelings Are Really, Really Hurt
Molly Bang

Hurt Feelings, Dealing with Criticism

Sophie paints a picture in a creative rather than realistic manner. A classmate criticizes her, causing her to feel hurt and sad.  A thoughtful teacher helps them deal with the conflict.

Duck, Duck, Dinosaur

Kallie George/Oriol Vidal

Jealousy, Self-Centeredness, Sibling Rivalry, Competitiveness

Feather, Flap, and Spike are siblings who each want to stand out and get their mother’s attention.  They compete over who is the biggest, sweetest, and funniest.  However, the trio realize it is better to play and to cuddle together than to argue over who is the “best.”

Elephantantrum!

Gillian Shields/Cally Johnson-Isaacs

Tantrum, Self-Centeredness, Manners

Ellie has everything, but she wants more.  She refuses to get out of bed until her father buys her an elephant.  When it arrives, he takes over her toys, her room, and even her place at school.  He demands she do everything for him.  If she doesn’t, he throws a huge Elephantantrum!  This role-reversing experience teaches Ellie the importance of manners, sharing, and relationships.

Horrible Bear!

Ame Dyckman/Zachariah OHora

Tantrum, Rudeness, Mean Words

A girl peaks into a bear’s cave while he sleeps.  Rolling over, he accidently breaks her kite.  Even though she is the one invading HIS space, she calls him a “horrible bear” and stomps off.  Now, the bear is angry!  Together, they learn that acting out in an angry and selfish manner is not the solution.

How Do Dinosaurs Say I’m Mad?

Jane Yolen/Mark Teague

Tantrum, Angry, Selfishness

Sometimes, dinosaurs get mad like when they don’t get their way, when they are told “no,” or when they have to take a nap.  Sometimes they have dinosaur-sized tantrums.  Other times they count to ten, take a time out, breathe calmly, and obey.   Most importantly, they hug and apologize.

Crankenstein

Samantha Berger/Dan Santat

Grumpy

Beware of Crankenstein!  He’s an ordinary kid who transforms into a monster of grumpiness!  Using a little humor and hyperbole, children will see what a crabby person looks and acts like (so hopefully they won’t want to be one).

Betty Goes Bananas

Steve Anthony

Frustration, Tantrum

Betty loves bananas.  She just cannot seem to get it open, so she throws a huge frustrated tantrum!  Her friend toucan helps her.  Then, she gets mad because she wanted to do it by herself.  Can Betty learn how to control her frustration?

Clark the Shark

Bruce Hale/Guy Francis

Boisterous Behavior

Clark is rowdy.  He is enthusiastic about life—sometimes just a bit much for his friends and teacher.  With a little guidance and some self-control, he learns:  “There’s a time and place for everything” and “Sometimes you stay cool.

Mine!

Sue Heap

Selfishness, Siblings

Amy loves her blankie and toys.  When her siblings want to join in the fun, she responses selfishly with, “Mine!”  After seeing how sad her behavior makes her brothers, she decides to share.

Grumpy Pants

Claire Messer
Grumpy
Penguin is in a bad mood.  No matter what he does, he just can’t seem to shake it!  He learns some healthy ways to help him change his perspective.

Author Spotlight: Chris Gall

I discovered Chris Gall’s work only recently when I came across one of his Dinotrux’s books. Struck by his amazing style, I checked out several of his other books.

Chris Gall has been working as an illustrator for more than 20 years.  With close to a dozen picture books published so far, he has already made an indelible mark on the industry. Working as both author and illustrator on most of his books, he has shown innovative vision and extraordinary talent. His style has similarities to other beloved illustrators like David Wiesner, Steven Kellogg, and Chris Van Allsburg.

Like Wiesner, he has an amazing imagination. Gall brings the ordinary and the fantastic, mashes them together, and creates a captivating experience. For example, in Dear Fish he takes the ideas of pen pals and company visiting to hyperbolic and astonishing levels. Substitute Creature begins with every day occurrences in the classroom and moves them to outrageous flights of fancy.

Like Kellogg, he utilizes every space, including end, copyright, and title pages. Gall uses his illustrations as much as the text to move the storytelling forward and make little detours of humor. For instance, in The Revenge of the Dinotrux the bots escape after being “civilized” by school and books. Left in the tracks is the book Escape from Alcatraz. Also, there are often bits of irony and pun included. In Dear Fish, puns are abundant, such as when a school of fish invades a classroom and swordfish help a carpenter with his work. 

Like Van Allsburg, he is a profound storyteller.  Gall’s stories are not about animals or Dinotruxs.  Instead, his characters are often metaphors or symbols. The unruly Dinotruxs symbolize undesirable behaviors often found in children like impatience, thoughtlessness, and selfishness. Dog vs. Cat represents a blended family though it could be more universally connected to learning to get along with others. 

Gall’s illustrations are bold. They often have a three-dimensional appearance.  Sometimes, he employs techniques commonly found in graphic novels like blocking and multiple scenes on a page. A variety of mediums work together to create each illustration.  He frequently uses more traditional means like clay-engraved art or colored pencils with digital effects. Other books have revolutionary tools. Dinotrux was created using bearskins and stone-knives while Substitute Creature utilized bat wings, toad juice, and the bundled whiskers of a black cat. :)

Finally, his books often have a twist at the end. In Awesome Dawson the final scene depicts Dawson using one of his inventions to help in an alien invasion while Dinotrux simply has the eyes of one of the bots flash on. These types of endings prompt a discussion of inference and provide opportunities for creative writing. 

Like a great literary fiction, there are layers and layers to unpack in his books.   Look closely at the illustrations as well as their interconnectedness with the text. Chris Gall's books will surprise you with new insights and small treasures with each reading.

Dear Fish

Peter Alan writes a letter to the fish, places it in a bottle, and throws it out to sea. The next morning he wakes up to find the fish have taken him up on his offer to visit. They are everywhere—in the bathtub, at the baseball game, in the yard, and at the rodeo.  After numerous disruptions, he writes the fish another letter to encourage them to go back home.  Eventually, life returns back to normal.  Until, Peter Alan finds a note on the beach. This one is from the fish! 

Teaching Connections:  Puns (primarily in the illustrations), Onomatopoeia, Strong Verbs, Letter Writing, Inference 

Awesome Dawson

Dawson spends all his time repurposing toys and household items into new imaginative and useful creations.  Hating to do chores, he comes up with a solution—that ends up causing so much trouble, he wishes he was at home doing chores!  Dawson stops the “monster” machine, but he does not stop coming up with ways to make chore time go more quickly and efficiently.  

Teaching Connections: Simple Machines, Robotic, STEM, Recycling, Problem Solving, Inference

Substitute Creature

When a riotous class gets an unexpected substitute teacher, they think it is an opportunity for mischief and mayhem. Their substitute is not what they expected—nor what the audience thinks either. As he presents hard cases from past classes of daydreamers, doodlers, and paste-eaters, the audience is treated to highly imaginative and disastrous consequences that ensue.  Students are not fully convinced though until the substitute creature reveals his own past delinquency. 

Teaching Connections:  Inference, Irony, Creative Writing, Poetry, Rhyme, Hyperbole

Cat vs. Dog

Cat and Dog are far from being two peas in a pod. Dog is a playful mess.  Cat is seriously organized. Their idea of fun could not be more different. When trying to co-exist peacefully doesn’t work, it becomes an all out war.  An unexpected event prompts a truce though.  Will the peace last?   

Teaching Connections: Sibling/Step-Sibling/Friendship Relationships, Problem Solving, Puns, Hyperbole

DinoTrux

Dinotrux, part-truck, part dino demolition dynamos, ruled the world millions of years ago. Rude Rollodon, greedy Garbageadon, and edgy Dozeratops were just a few of the disruptive Dinotrux.  Ironically, they are so uncivilized that even the cave people are fussing at them! A terrible storm causes most of Dinotrux to rust and sink down, down, down into the mud.  The smart ones migrate south where they slowly lose their misbehaving ways and ancient features. Now they are always on the job and never quit working hard.  A prehistoric discovery may change everything though!

Teaching Connections:  Manners, Dinosaurs, Onomatopoeia, Irony

Revenge of the Dinotrux

After spending decades in a museum being poked, prodded, and mistreated, Tyrannosaurus Trux leads the other Dinotrux out into the modern world. Reminiscent of a Godzilla take-over (with lots of humor and irony), they wreak havoc on the town. The mayor sends them to school to learn “how modern trucks behave.”  School seems to be helping to tame their wild ways…at least until they are on the loose again. When the Dinotrux are tracked down deep in the woods, everyone is afraid to see what is causing all the commotion.  

Teaching Connections:  Manners, Dinosaurs, Onomatopoeia, Irony, Problem Solving

Gall has two new books premiering later this year. Nanobots will be released in August 2016. The Ninjabread Man with author C.J. Leigh is due out September 2016.

Last Stop on Market Street (by Matt De La Pena)

Title:  Last Stop on Market Street

Author:  Matt De La Pena

Illustrator:  Christina Robinson

Opening Lines:

“CJ pushed through the church doors, skipped down the steps.  The outside air smelled like freedom, but it also smelled like rain, which freckled CJ’s shirt and dripped down his nose.”

Publisher Summary:  On Sundays, CJ and his nana ride the bus across town to their stop on Market Street. But today, CJ’s not happy about it. Today, he’s wondering out loud why they have to wait in the rain and why they don’t have a car like his other friends. But it’s Nana who opens young CJ’s eyes and shows him the real beauty in the world around them—the spirit of the bustling city, the music in everyday life, and the magic of their own overlooked neighbors. 

Evaluation:

This sweet book about a boy and his nana is sure to pull on the heart strings of readers—young and old.  Nana is an amazing role model for CJ.  She smiles and greets people while expecting him to do the same.  Whenever CJ complains, she has a wise and positive answer in response.  Being kind and compassionate, she sees the beauty in all people and situations.  Her perspective influences her grandson as the story progresses.  For instance, as they walk on “crumbling sidewalks” and by “boarded-up stores,” CJ begins to see beauty in places he never thought to look. Nana does not just tell her grandson how to act; she lives and models it.

Different races and types of people are depicted and interacted with, including a blind man and a wheel-chair bound person, providing opportunities to discuss diversity and acceptance.  When CJ asks why the blind man can’t see, both Nana and the man teach him that seeing can be done with the ears and other senses. 

A musician plays his guitar on the bus, allowing CJ to use his imagination.  He sees “sunset colors swirling over crashing waves” and “butterflies dancing free in the light of the moon.”  The music gives the people on the bus a sense of peace and interconnectedness. 

Most importantly, CJ learns to be selfless.  He drops his only coin in the hat of the musician as he leaves the bus.  Seeing familiar faces at the soup kitchen, he tells Nana he is glad they came.  The twosome join others and begin serving needy people. 

Last Stop on Market Street is a fantastic book!  It won the Newbery medal, the Caldecott Honor, and Coretta Scott King Honor.   I highly recommend this book for home and classroom reading. 

Extension Activity Ideas

• Bus Ride:  If your family has never taken a city bus ride, together determine a place you want to go on the bus line.  Park and ride.  Afterwards, have children talk or journal about the experience.  Use a Venn diagram to compare and contrast with riding in a car. 
• Manners:  Whether on a bus ride or out running errands, practice smiling and greeting people as is appropriate.  Encourage children to do the same.  Educators can implement this practice in school by teaching children to greet/interact with other teachers and staff. 
• Music:  Play some instrumental music.  Allow children to respond in an age appropriate way, such as drawing, painting, journaling, or dancing/movement. 
• Volunteer:  Identify a local organization (soup kitchen, humane society, or other non-profit).  Volunteer as a class or family. 
• Writing:  Write about a memorable experience with a grandparent.  Share it with the class or family. 
• Social Studies:  Discuss what it means to be hero.  Compare/contrast Nana to the characteristics of one.  Have children write about or draw a picture of someone who is their hero. 
• Character Education:  CJ learns to be grateful.  Discuss this vital character quality.  Metro Family has some ideas for how to teach children to be grateful.

There are so many outstanding activities and ideas for lesson plans on this book around the web.  Check out the following websites: The Classroom Bookshelf, Reederama, and Carol Hurst.

Visit Suzanna Hill’s Blog for the Perfect Picture Book Weekly Round up and Multicultural Blogs for their Monthly Round up.  

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Rude Cakes (Rowboat Watkins)

Title:  Rude Cakes

Author:  Rowboat Watkins

Illustrator:  Rowboat Watkins

Summary from the Publisher

In this deliciously entertaining book, a not-so-sweet cake—who never says please or thank you or listens to its parents—gets its just desserts. 

Evaluation

The story begins with rude cakes interacting with other characters in a selfish way.  Not only does he neglect to say please, but also he chases a little marshmallow and demands he give up his balloon.  Then at his birthday party, he complains about his gift.  At the park, he ignores his parents and takes things that do not belong to him.  He pushes his way to the front of the line.  Rude cakes never admits he is wrong.  I think this characters does just about everything he can to alienate the other characters. The author does an excellent job in the text and subtext/illustrations to capture the spirit of an unruly child. Using the illustrations, parents can discuss how the other characters feel when rude cakes is being unkind.

The story does not stop there though.  A giant Cyclops takes rude cakes from his room.  (Mind you, this “monster” is not at all scary.  He is kind of adorable.) The irony is while the Cyclops is using rude cakes as a hat  and passing him around to the other Cyclops, they are all using their manners.  They compliment one another.  They share.  They wait their turn.  When rude cakes asks to PLEASE put him back, they “always listen when their hats says please, nicely…and they always apologize when they’re wrong.”

Rude cakes is returned to his room.   The next day, he is a changed cake.  He is seen sharing and positively interacting with the characters he had wronged the day before. I love the final sentence, “Of course, no cake is ever too rude to change.” 

The illustrations are fantastic.  They are animated and dramatic and humorous.  All of which will appeal to the target age.  The idea of giant Cyclops may sound scary, but it is not in the slightest.  Actually, rude cakes takes a Cyclops stuffed doll from another character, making it more palatable in the narrative.  Rude cakes is never scared of the giant Cyclops, just annoyed he is being used as a hat. The author’s fresh take on the sweet cake being awful and the stereotypical monster being sweet is also ideal for discussing not judging people on their outward appearance. 

Rude Cakes is a fun read with excellent educational value as well.  Just about every child needs a reminder to use his manners.  This story is a delightful way to teach or to reteach essential interpersonal skills to youngsters.  I highly recommend this book for ages 2-7. 

Ideas and Activities for Teaching Manners

Teaching Manners to Toddlers

5 Ways to Teach Manners to Preschoolers

Paper Chain of Kindness

Yes, Please/No,Thank You Activity

Thumbs Up! Thumbs Down! Activity

My Manners Printable Pack

Minding Our Manners Activity Ideas

Focusing on Toddler Manners in the 100 Acts of Kindness Challenge

Family Service Projects