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The Food Group #1.1
The Good, the Bad, and the Spooky
Based on the New York Times bestselling picture book sensation The Bad Seed, Jory John and Pete Oswald present: The Good, the Bad, and the Spooky! Includes two sticker sheets, perfect for decorating your own mini jack-o'-lantern.
Halloween is the Bad Seed’s favorite holiday of the year. But what’s a seed to do when he can’t find a show-stopping costume for the big night? Postpone trick-or-treating for everyone, of course!
Can he get a costume together in time? Or will this seed return to his baaaaaaaaad ways?
Find out in this hilarious, charming, and thought-provoking continuation of Jory John and Pete Oswald’s bestselling series.
Halloween is the Bad Seed’s favorite holiday of the year. But what’s a seed to do when he can’t find a show-stopping costume for the big night? Postpone trick-or-treating for everyone, of course!
Can he get a costume together in time? Or will this seed return to his baaaaaaaaad ways?
Find out in this hilarious, charming, and thought-provoking continuation of Jory John and Pete Oswald’s bestselling series.
32 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 27, 2021
71 people are currently reading
705 people want to read
About the author
Jory John
94 books678 followersJory John is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and two-time E.B. White Read-Aloud Honor recipient.
Jory's work includes the #1 New York Times bestselling picture book, The Good Egg, and the #2 New York Times bestselling picture book, The Bad Seed, both illustrated by Pete Oswald. He is also the author of the popular picture books, Penguin Problems and Giraffe Problems, both illustrated by Lane Smith, the award-winning Goodnight Already! series, illustrated by Benji Davies, the New York Times bestselling Terrible Two series, the recent picture books Quit Calling Me a Monster! (with Bob Shea), Can Somebody Please Scratch My Back? (with Liz Climo), and the international bestseller, All my friends are dead, among many other books for both children and adults.
Jory's work includes the #1 New York Times bestselling picture book, The Good Egg, and the #2 New York Times bestselling picture book, The Bad Seed, both illustrated by Pete Oswald. He is also the author of the popular picture books, Penguin Problems and Giraffe Problems, both illustrated by Lane Smith, the award-winning Goodnight Already! series, illustrated by Benji Davies, the New York Times bestselling Terrible Two series, the recent picture books Quit Calling Me a Monster! (with Bob Shea), Can Somebody Please Scratch My Back? (with Liz Climo), and the international bestseller, All my friends are dead, among many other books for both children and adults.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 242 reviews
May 30, 2022
The Bad seed, Halloween edition.
The bad seed is in a bad mood and that bad mood threatens to ruin everyone elses fun. That is something I enjoyed about this story is that truth that when we are in a bad mood, we want others to at least not be so happy.
It's a cute story and fits in with the puns of this series - love that. The seeds are very cute dressed up together. The mood and tone is very fitting for Halloween and young kids will probably enjoy this.
I have caught up in the Bad seed series now. I think it's a great series all together.
The bad seed is in a bad mood and that bad mood threatens to ruin everyone elses fun. That is something I enjoyed about this story is that truth that when we are in a bad mood, we want others to at least not be so happy.
It's a cute story and fits in with the puns of this series - love that. The seeds are very cute dressed up together. The mood and tone is very fitting for Halloween and young kids will probably enjoy this.
I have caught up in the Bad seed series now. I think it's a great series all together.
July 28, 2021
Okay so I have read The Bad Seed at LEAST 30 times (not exaggerating. I read it to every class- 26 of them - the year it was a black eyed susan nominee (2018-2019) plus it's in the library curriculum now for grade two so I've read like 4 additional times in both the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school year, plus kids just love it and it's fun to read aloud so yeah)
I think that is why this was a bit of a let down for me.
I do like that this book has the same "voice" as the Bad Seed. I also like that there is a bit of a growth mindset (ish) lesson at the end (this one is a little more like "don't sweat the small stuff"). But I feel like the lesson wasn't reached as organically as in the Bad Seed.
Also, it was very text heavy.
Bummer.
I think that is why this was a bit of a let down for me.
I do like that this book has the same "voice" as the Bad Seed. I also like that there is a bit of a growth mindset (ish) lesson at the end (this one is a little more like "don't sweat the small stuff"). But I feel like the lesson wasn't reached as organically as in the Bad Seed.
Also, it was very text heavy.
Bummer.
November 15, 2021
Featured in a grandma reads session.
Hilarious! Even sunflower seeds have their bad days, and bad attitudes! Why hide it? Everyone might try to cover up their true feelings, hiding behind costumes, manners and pretense, but not him. He's not doing it . . .until he does, and feels the full power of a changed mind.
Any book is a BONUS that helps my favorite people feel more comfortable changing their less-than-10-yr-old minds on the many subjects they've decided are immovable. Broccoli, for instance. Nuts in brownies. Brands of Catsup. To pickle or not. Mushrooms. . . .don't get me started on mushrooms.
Hilarious! Even sunflower seeds have their bad days, and bad attitudes! Why hide it? Everyone might try to cover up their true feelings, hiding behind costumes, manners and pretense, but not him. He's not doing it . . .until he does, and feels the full power of a changed mind.
Any book is a BONUS that helps my favorite people feel more comfortable changing their less-than-10-yr-old minds on the many subjects they've decided are immovable. Broccoli, for instance. Nuts in brownies. Brands of Catsup. To pickle or not. Mushrooms. . . .don't get me started on mushrooms.
January 27, 2022
I have never thought of Halloween as a competition for best costume. If you agree, skip this book so as not to even put the idea in your kids' heads. If your community does have a competitive attitude, share this with all the kids in every grade in your school.
September 25, 2021
Halloween is the Bad Seed’s favorite holiday and the little guy can’t help but feel a bit overwhelmed. He attempts to find a costume to wear, but quickly feels stressed and insecure. Join him as he tries on different costumes looking for the “perfect” one. Can the Bad Seed find the best costume to wear in time? Or will he miss out on all the Halloween fun?
I really enjoyed this modern-day children’s book because it allows children to see that sometimes, we are our own biggest critic. Sometimes, striving for perfection can take a toll on our mental health. The most important thing is doing our best and having fun.
𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝔾𝕠𝕠𝕕, 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝔹𝕒𝕕, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕊𝕡𝕠𝕠𝕜𝕪 is written by Jory John and illustrated by Pete Oswald. If you or your children haven’t read any of their books, I highly recommend you checking them out. I was captivated by the fun dialogue and silly illustrations.
I loved this children’s book so much that I read it twice and bought my friend a copy. 🥰
Rating: 5 out of 5 ⭐️’s
I really enjoyed this modern-day children’s book because it allows children to see that sometimes, we are our own biggest critic. Sometimes, striving for perfection can take a toll on our mental health. The most important thing is doing our best and having fun.
𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝔾𝕠𝕠𝕕, 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝔹𝕒𝕕, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕊𝕡𝕠𝕠𝕜𝕪 is written by Jory John and illustrated by Pete Oswald. If you or your children haven’t read any of their books, I highly recommend you checking them out. I was captivated by the fun dialogue and silly illustrations.
I loved this children’s book so much that I read it twice and bought my friend a copy. 🥰
Rating: 5 out of 5 ⭐️’s
October 22, 2023
I am continuing my screening of all things Halloween picture book for Fall Festival and I stumbled across this gem. Ever since I read Pig the Monster, I have been trying to find another picture book that lives up to its elevated vocabulary... and this does it! Love the vocabulary and love the illustrations. I also love that the seed is in a bad mood - it makes the story fun to read aloud. Stoked for this one to be read during fall festival!!
Bonus - this one comes with stickers!!! And who doesn't love stickers!!!
Bonus - this one comes with stickers!!! And who doesn't love stickers!!!
August 18, 2025
This book is a super cute Fall/Halloween book for children!🎃👻🌻
The Bad Seed can’t find a costume that’s ‘better’ than all of his friends’ and hatches a plan to trick everyone into thinking Halloween has been postponed! Then through discussions with others, he learns a valuable lesson! ‘The Good, the Bad, and the Spooky’ is part of ‘The Bad Seed Presents’ series and the illustrations are phenomenal!🧡
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Bad Seed can’t find a costume that’s ‘better’ than all of his friends’ and hatches a plan to trick everyone into thinking Halloween has been postponed! Then through discussions with others, he learns a valuable lesson! ‘The Good, the Bad, and the Spooky’ is part of ‘The Bad Seed Presents’ series and the illustrations are phenomenal!🧡
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
childrens-books
May 4, 2022
May 6, 2022
Super cute and with a nice lesson as expected. I am pleased to see the "bad seed" is still sometimes bad.
October 10, 2021
I liked this one more than I thought I would!
Halloween is a favorite, but at the same time, the pressure of costumes can be tricky! I'm an adult, so I can just choose not to dress up. But it was always hard to get the right costume for my child. I'm not creative, nor do I want to spend a lot of money for the expensive and cheaply made costumes. It's a dilemma and always added pressure to the fun day.
I feel like the Bad Seed really understood me. Maybe not the buying part, but the pressure!
It will be a fun read aloud every year.
Halloween is a favorite, but at the same time, the pressure of costumes can be tricky! I'm an adult, so I can just choose not to dress up. But it was always hard to get the right costume for my child. I'm not creative, nor do I want to spend a lot of money for the expensive and cheaply made costumes. It's a dilemma and always added pressure to the fun day.
I feel like the Bad Seed really understood me. Maybe not the buying part, but the pressure!
It will be a fun read aloud every year.
February 15, 2026
Just as fun as all the books in this series/universe. This is probably too deep for a children's book, but when you read all three of the seed books together, there's a nice message here about how you have to make the conscious choice sometimes to be good, to not hold a grudge, to let go of things - that growing and changing isn't a linear process. And that when you mess up, you have a chance to realize what you did and make things right. As always the illustrations are great, and the creativity of the costumes for all of the characters was super cute.
October 30, 2024
If the worst person you know but make it a sunflower seed
May 4, 2025
polska wersja poszukiwana
January 9, 2025
Hilarious 😂!!
October 26, 2024
I've been having some fun watching some read-aloud videos on YouTube and found this one. It's a fun Halloween-themed story and the narrator is fantastic.
This story has a good message about not getting too worked up and anxious about having the best costume for Halloween and just relaxing and enjoying the holiday. I think we should all learn a little about chilling out more around the holidays.
The book is part of The Food Group series by this author & illustrator team. I will certainly look for more of the books in this series.
This story has a good message about not getting too worked up and anxious about having the best costume for Halloween and just relaxing and enjoying the holiday. I think we should all learn a little about chilling out more around the holidays.
The book is part of The Food Group series by this author & illustrator team. I will certainly look for more of the books in this series.
October 24, 2021
“Perhaps Halloween doesn’t need to be a competition, after all. Huh.”
The Bad Seed is upset because he hasn’t come up with a good costume for Halloween. It was easier when he was younger and he dressed up with his friends in a theme. But everyone takes their costumes so seriously now, don’t they? So, he decides to trick everyone into canceling Halloween for the night, then he’ll have more time to come up with a costume. But as a pumpkin seed points out, Halloween is supposed to be about fun and togetherness. Thankfully, it’s not too late for the Bad Seed to change direction.
The Bad Seed is upset because he hasn’t come up with a good costume for Halloween. It was easier when he was younger and he dressed up with his friends in a theme. But everyone takes their costumes so seriously now, don’t they? So, he decides to trick everyone into canceling Halloween for the night, then he’ll have more time to come up with a costume. But as a pumpkin seed points out, Halloween is supposed to be about fun and togetherness. Thankfully, it’s not too late for the Bad Seed to change direction.
December 14, 2021
Halloween is about having fun and the spirit of the season. It is not about the perfect costume. But try telling that to Sunflower seed. They is in a rotten mood. Their friends are not doing a group costume and he is afraid his costume will be lame. With a help of a friendly pumpkin seed, they will find their season spirit and not miss out on all the Halloween fun.
July 28, 2021
Loved this book, 6 year old daughter wanted to give it 10 stars.
July 31, 2021
so cute! love the Halloween + sunflower illustrations
September 14, 2021
This book is entertaining for young children. We loved it!
October 28, 2021
I didn’t like this as much as the original, but it has a great message about savoring moments over all the trappings.
December 12, 2024
As all the books on the series this one is, of course, simply adorable.
November 1, 2022
How to Halloween for teenagers.
October 16, 2025
The Good, the Bad, and the Spooky, written by Jory John and illustrated by Pete Oswald, is a festive picture book set in the spooky season. The Bad Seed is in a bad mood because he cannot think of a unique costume to wear on Halloween, so he tries to sabotage the festivities on his favorite holiday by playing a trick on his community.
The Bad Seed. What a fun character! He is a cranky character, who deep down does not want to be cranky. He puts so much pressure on himself to have an original costume which causes him much anxiety, leading him to make a bad decision. Packed with witty wordplay and a smart narrative, the author touches on the relatable emotions tied to comparison and the drawback of competition in a kid-friendly way.
I love that the Bad Seed shows growth by the end of the book with the help of a fellow seed, who explains perfectly that Halloween is about seasonal fun and spooky spirit as well as togetherness in a community. I think this story is super cute with terrific text, incredible illustrations, and a valuable life lesson.
The Bad Seed. What a fun character! He is a cranky character, who deep down does not want to be cranky. He puts so much pressure on himself to have an original costume which causes him much anxiety, leading him to make a bad decision. Packed with witty wordplay and a smart narrative, the author touches on the relatable emotions tied to comparison and the drawback of competition in a kid-friendly way.
I love that the Bad Seed shows growth by the end of the book with the help of a fellow seed, who explains perfectly that Halloween is about seasonal fun and spooky spirit as well as togetherness in a community. I think this story is super cute with terrific text, incredible illustrations, and a valuable life lesson.
January 11, 2023
I've been absolutely loving the *Food Group* series by Jory John, so I was happy to see this Halloween-themed side book about The Bad Seed. And, it did NOT disappoint!
The Bad Seed is back with his baaaaad attitude. This time, it's Halloween, and he intends to cancel it, because he cannot find a costume that has that WOW factor to beat everyone else.
But, with a little advice from a fellow seed, he learns what Halloween is really about.
The Bad Seed is back with his baaaaad attitude. This time, it's Halloween, and he intends to cancel it, because he cannot find a costume that has that WOW factor to beat everyone else.
But, with a little advice from a fellow seed, he learns what Halloween is really about.
January 25, 2024
The Bad Seed Presents: The Good, the Bad, and the Spooky
The Food Group, Book 1.5
I Picked Up This Book Because: Continue the series.
Media Type: eBook
Source: HC Public Library
Dates Read: 1/24/24
Stars: 3.5 Stars
The Story:
Again, this is cute but selfish behavior prevails. I’m glad the seed was able to accept the advice from the pumpkin seed and enjoy the holiday.
Inappropriate adult thought:
The Food Group, Book 1.5
I Picked Up This Book Because: Continue the series.
Media Type: eBook
Source: HC Public Library
Dates Read: 1/24/24
Stars: 3.5 Stars
The Story:
Again, this is cute but selfish behavior prevails. I’m glad the seed was able to accept the advice from the pumpkin seed and enjoy the holiday.
Inappropriate adult thought:
October 29, 2022
Very cute Halloween book!
October 29, 2023
I wanted to say they were being selfish, then I remembered that this was The Bad Seed we were talking about lol.
November 1, 2023
The cutest little book for Halloween! 👻
December 5, 2023
Children's Picture Books
Displaying 1 - 30 of 242 reviews