Bad Badger

Starred review from December 1, 2024
Friendship can be difficult, particularly when self-doubt plays a role. Septimus would be the first to tell you that he isn't like other badgers. He loves opera, owns a charming cottage by the sea, and even has spots instead of stripes! Surely all this combines to make him a "bad" badger. Into this world of uncertainty flies a new friend. This seagull, whom he dubs "Gully," says only a single word ("Caw!"), yet the two get along swimmingly. Still, Septimus' own discomfort with his place in the world casts a pall over their relationship. Not long after a mildly disastrous trip to the beach (gulls love beaches, while badgers abhor them), Gully disappears. The book precisely pinpoints the anxieties and fears that many experience when making new friends, especially those grappling with insecurities. Wood narrates with a wry sense of humor that's particularly evident when Septimus converses with other animals, such as a pair of snail private eyes. Gentle illustrations complement the tale's understated tone and perfectly bring to life the cozy settings. Tonally, this offering could be a marvelous companion to titles such as Amy Timberlake'sSkunk and Badger. A tender friendship tale with a luster all its own.(Fiction. 7-10)

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Starred review from January 1, 2025
Grades 1-4 *Starred Review* There were many things that made Septimus question his standing as a badger. The spots (rather than stripes) on his snout for one. His cozy cottage near the sea (instead of the forest) for another. And then there's his fondness for opera and collecting seashells--not to mention his friendship with the seagull he calls Gully. He knows that, taken together, all these things make him bad at being a badger; but his deepest, most secret worry is that they might mean he's not a badger at all. Happily, Gully accepts Septimus just as he is, but when the bird misses several of their regular tea breaks on Septimus' porch, the concerned badger determines to search for his friend. The spirit of Frog and Toad is very much alive in this tender account of two friends who become committed companions and learn that caring for each other is more important than sharing all of the same interests. Small mishaps and simple pleasures fill the short chapters along with soft pencil drawings that capture the unconventional yet loving dynamic between Septimus and Gully. A delightful resolution to the mystery of Gully's disappearance forces Septimus to bravely step outside of his comfort zone, gain confidence in himself (and his badgerness), and embrace the life he wants to live.

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Starred review from February 28, 2025

Gr 3-6-Septimus is an unusual badger; but does this make him a bad badger, or simply bad at being a badger? Septimus has spots instead of stripes, he lives in a charming cottage by the sea rather than the forest, and he enjoys operas and omelettes-all very non-badger qualities. Alone and lonely, Septimus befriends a seagull (whom he names Gully), who visits on Wednesdays and communicates solely with the word caw. Septimus hopes his new friend is a true friend, as true friends are harder to collect than seashells. At first, they have wonderful adventures, but unfortunate misunderstandings between the two leave Septimus bereft when Gully stops visiting. Charming and clever characters and wordplay peppered throughout ("Badger safe than sorry" is the protagonist's motto) will keep readers engaged as the duo tries to navigate the bumpy waters of friendship. Detailed and endearing graphite drawings by Italian artist Ghigini show the big hearts and personalities of Septimus and Gully. VERDICT A depiction of love and friendship at its best and truest, complete with insecurities, thorniness, and looking within. Pair this with another badger tale of friendship Amy Timberlake's Skunk and Badger, or simply savor and hope for a second tale of the two unlikely friends in the future.-Michele Shaw

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