The Baddies: questions to ask and activities to try
The Baddies are the meanest, nastiest ghost, witch and troll in the land, and they fight over who is the worst. When a little girl moves in nearby, they try to scare her, but she has other ideas. A funny Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler story.
What age is The Baddies for?
The Baddies is best for ages 3–7.
The Baddies (Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler)
- Age
- 3-7
- Best for
- Standing up to unkind behaviour, with lots of laughs
Only 50pThe Baddies 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 ↓
Read the Baddies’ boasting in your nastiest voices, then talk about the little girl: what made her brave, and what she did instead of being scared.
Is this book right for your child?
- Age
- 3–7 (nursery to Year 2)
- What they'll enjoy
- The Baddies are the meanest, nastiest ghost, witch and troll in the land, and they fight over who is the worst. When a little girl moves in nearby, they try to scare her, but she has other ideas. A funny Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler story.
- Helps with
- Standing up to unkind behaviour, with lots of laughs
- 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
- Standing up to meanness
- Bravery
- Cleverness over strength
- Laughing at bullies
Comprehension and discussion questions for The Baddies
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.
- “Who were the Baddies?”
- “What did they argue about?”
- “What did they try to do to the little girl?”
- “How did the little girl stay brave?”
- “Is it good to be the worst at something? Why do you think the Baddies wanted to be?”
- “What could you do if someone tried to scare you?”
For the full list of questions and more, download the PDF below.
Print these questions: free question card for The Baddies
All 6 questions for The Baddies 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
Brave words
Practise some brave, calm words together, like "Stop, I don’t like that" and "I’m going to get help."
Turn the tables
Draw the three Baddies, then draw what happened when the little girl turned the tables on them.
The Baddies 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.
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Use it as a lesson plan
Children can listen to The Baddies, answer questions about it and give a reason for their ideas, and talk about standing up to meanness.
A 20-minute session for ages 3–7 (nursery to Year 2), 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: Read the Baddies’ boasting in your nastiest voices, then talk about the little girl: what made her brave, and what she did instead of being scared.
- Talk about it (4 minutes). Pick two or three of the comprehension and discussion questions above. “Who were the Baddies?” works well to start.
- Activity (6 minutes). Do Brave words. Practise some brave, calm words together, like "Stop, I don’t like that" and "I’m going to get help." Children who finish early can try Turn the tables.
- Wrap up (2 minutes). Ask each child for one thing they will remember from the story, and why.
Want to go further? The The Baddies 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 Highway Rat (Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler)
- Best for
- Taking what isn't yours, greed and learning to share
- Age
- 3-6
Room on the Broom (Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler)
- Best for
- Making room for others, and friends who stick together
- Age
- 3-6
Zog (Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler)
- Best for
- Keeping going after mistakes, and finding what you are good at
- Age
- 3-6
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By the Growing Wise team · Last reviewed: 29 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.