The Bad Seed: questions to ask and activities to try
The Bad Seed is rude, late and never listens, until he decides he'd like to be a bit better. A funny picture book about behaviour, second chances and choosing who you want to be.
What age is The Bad Seed for?
The Bad Seed is best for ages 4–8.
The Bad Seed (Jory John and Pete Oswald)
- Age
- 4-8
- Best for
- Changing how you behave, and knowing you can always try again
Only 50pThe Bad Seed activity sheet3 printable pages: questions to talk about, a drawing and writing page, and notes for the grown-up. Instant PDF.
Just want the questions? Get the free question card ↓
Laugh at how bad he is first. Then talk about why he changed, and notice that he still gets things wrong sometimes but keeps trying.
Is this book right for your child?
- Age
- 4–8 (Reception to Year 3)
- What they'll enjoy
- The Bad Seed is rude, late and never listens, until he decides he'd like to be a bit better. A funny picture book about behaviour, second chances and choosing who you want to be.
- Helps with
- Changing how you behave, and knowing you can always try again
- Buy or borrow?
- Borrow it from the library first if you can. If your child asks for it again and again, it’s one worth owning, and the questions and activities on this page work best with the book open next to you.
What it helps with
- Changing your behaviour
- Second chances
- Understanding why people act badly
- Keeping going when change is hard
Comprehension and discussion questions for The Bad Seed
Pick two or three, not all of them. “I don’t know” is a fine answer, and you can always come back to it another day.
- “What made the seed so bad?”
- “What happened to him before he became bad?”
- “Why did he decide to change?”
- “Is he good all the time at the end?”
- “What’s one thing you’d like to get a little better at?”
- “Can someone be bad on one day and good on another?”
For the full list of questions and more, download the PDF below.
Print these questions: free question card for The Bad Seed
All 6 questions for The Bad Seed on one printable page, each marked with the reading skill it practises. Enter your email and download it straight away.
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5-minute activities to try together
Good seed, bad seed
Draw two seeds. On one, write or draw something that was hard today; on the other, something that went well.
Plant a seed
Plant a real seed in a pot and look after it together. Talk about how growing takes time, just like changing.
The Bad Seed activity sheet: printable worksheet and questions
All the questions and activities above on a ready-to-print activity sheet: questions tagged by reading skill with space to answer, a drawing and writing page with a self-check, and notes for the adult with curriculum links and a 20-minute session plan. Pay by card, PayPal or Payhip and download straight away.
- Page 1, talk about it: questions about the story, each tagged with the reading skill it practises, with space to answer or tick
- Page 2, my favourite part: a drawing box, a sentence starter and a “how did I do?” self-check
- Page 3, notes for the adult: curriculum links, a 20-minute session plan, extension activities, and support and challenge ideas
- Read it togetherEnjoy the story first.
- Ask 2 or 3 questionsFrom the list above, while everyone is calm.
- Print the activity sheetAn activity sheet with questions, a drawing page and notes for you.
Mistakes & Trying Again bundleAll 15 activity sheets, this one includedThe 15 books:The Bad SeedThe Girl Who Never Made MistakesZogThe Book of MistakesBeautiful Oops!IshPippin Paints a PortraitI Can Only Draw WormsThe WonderHarley Hitch and the Missing MoonMog the Forgetful CatSlinky MalinkiThe Missing PieceRosie Revere, EngineerThe Most Magnificent Thing£4.99 
3 sheets for £1.25The Bad Seed + Rosie Revere, Engineer + The Most Magnificent ThingThe 3 books:The Bad SeedRosie Revere, EngineerThe Most Magnificent Thing£1.25 Pick your own books: build a bundle with this one, up to 15% off →
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Use it as a lesson plan
Children can listen to The Bad Seed, answer questions about it and give a reason for their ideas, and talk about changing your behaviour.
A 20-minute session for ages 4–8 (Reception to Year 3), for a class, a small group or one child at home.
- Warm up (2 minutes). Show the cover and read the title. Ask: “What do you think this story will be about?”
- Read aloud (6 minutes). Read it all the way through. Tip: Laugh at how bad he is first. Then talk about why he changed, and notice that he still gets things wrong sometimes but keeps trying.
- Talk about it (4 minutes). Pick two or three of the comprehension and discussion questions above. “What made the seed so bad?” works well to start.
- Activity (6 minutes). Do Good seed, bad seed. Draw two seeds. On one, write or draw something that was hard today; on the other, something that went well. Children who finish early can try Plant a seed.
- Wrap up (2 minutes). Ask each child for one thing they will remember from the story, and why.
Want to go further? The The Bad Seed activity sheet has these questions with space to answer, a drawing and writing page, and notes for the adult.
If your child liked this, try
The Book of Mistakes (Corinna Luyken)
- Best for
- Children who get upset or give up when something goes wrong
- Age
- 4-8
Ish (Peter H. Reynolds)
- Best for
- Children who give up because their work isn't 'right'
- Age
- 4-8
The Missing Piece (Shel Silverstein)
- Best for
- Feeling incomplete, enjoying the journey and not needing to be perfect
- Age
- 4-8
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By the Growing Wise team · Last reviewed: 25 October 2026
Growing Wise offers educational ideas for parents and carers. It is not a substitute for professional medical, developmental or mental-health advice. As an Amazon Associate, Growing Wise earns from qualifying purchases.