Bad Badger: A Love Story

Bad Badger #1

by Maryrose Wood, Giulia Ghigini (illustrator)

For fans of Odder and Skunk and Badger comes a heartwarming story of an unlikely friendship between a gull and a badger.

Septimus is not good at being a badger. He adores the sunset. He dreams of going to Venice. And he lives alone in a charming cottage by the sea. He’s not unhappy with his tidy, solitary life, but there are times when being so bad at badgerdom makes him wonder if he’s even a badger at all.

When a gull of very few words lands on the windowsill, Septimus leaps at the possibility of friendship. However, his new confidant soon goes missing and Septimus is bereft. Determined to find his best—and only—friend, he ventures into new territory and encounters a cast of surprising characters. Can Septimus be as brave and bighearted as he’ll need to be to find Gully? Or is he really a bad badger after all?

Bad Badger is a young middle-grade novel about badgers, gulls, and learning that staying true to yourself means knowing who you are to begin with.

Genres: Middle Grade, Animals, Fantasy, Fiction, Friendship, Childrens, Juvenile

192 pages, Hardcover

First published February 25, 2025

About the author

Sending big hugs and loveawoo to all.

I'm so pleased to introduce you to my new book: Alice's Farm, A Rabbit’s Tale. In stores on September 1st; available for preorder now.

Alice is an eastern cottontail. Genus sylvagia, species floridanus. About three pounds full grown, if she makes it that far.

Life at the bottom of the food chain is no picnic! But that doesn’t worry Alice much. She's too busy doing all she can to save her beautiful farmland home—not just for herself, but for all the creatures of the valley between the hills.

Yup, all of ’em! Even that new family of farmers who just moved into the big red
house across the meadow. They don’t know much about farming, being from
the city. They mean well. But they’re easy pickins for the local apex predator (he's a real estate developer, in case you couldn't tell).

But Alice has a plan to help.

Rabbits helping farmers? That’s awfully unusual, isn’t it? Well, you're right
about that, young’un!

Let’s put it this way: Alice is no ordinary rabbit.

With loveawoo,
Maryrose

p.s. — If you could use a little extra pluck and optimism right now, please help yourself to THE SWANBURNE ACADEMY GUIDE TO SHELTERING IN PLACE.

You can download it right here:

www.swanburneacademy.com/freeguide

Reviews

[Ron Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve fallen head over heels for Septimus. He’s the fretful hero of Maryrose Wood’s snuggly new novel, “Bad Badger: A Love Story.” Wood may be writing for readers ages 7-10, but this is a book you’ll want to savor with a cup of tea before the kids get home from school.

When we meet Septimus, he’s living alone in a cottage by the sea. He should be content with his favorite omelette pan, his kayak and his fine platter of complex-smelling cheeses, but instead he’s self-conscious about his very unbadgerish life.

There’s just no getting around it: “Septimus was bad at being a badger.” Somedays, he wonders, “What if I’m not a badger at all?”

On a happier note, he has a new friend. Most Wednesdays, a seagull lands on his windowsill. Gully, as Septimus calls her, rarely says anything except “Caw,” but that doesn’t stop Septimus from carrying on lively conversations. “All badgers like to dig,” Wood notes, “but few had the deep curiosity about their fellow creatures that Septimus did.”

Still, does a friendship between two such different animals have a future? And what can Septimus do when Gully ghosts him? (The scene involving an ornery snail who works — very slowly — as a private investigator is deliciously funny.)

“Perhaps,” Wood writes, “there was always a sense of mystery about the ones we care for, no matter how fond we are, or how well we imagine we know them.”

Giulia Ghigini’s deadpan illustrations are as soft as seagull down. And the quaint manners and gentle humor of “Bad Badger” suggest the author has spent time in the Hundred Acre Wood, but Septimus’s adventures are all his own.

This is a lovely novel — full of warmth, flecked with anxiety quelled with patience and insight. At a time when so many new children’s books strike the creepy rictus of a self-empowerment preacher, “Bad Badger” offers wisdom the only way it should ever be offered: subtly and through the heartfelt experiences of a furry animal. My grandnephew, Leo, is only 13 days old, but I’m already impatient to read this to him.

Excerpted from The Washington Post's free Book Club newsletter:
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[DaNae · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sweetly absurd. This book is the embodiment of the ‘cozy vibe’ talked about so much on the Book Tube channels I frequent. I have no objection to this book, I found it enjoyable. The low rating is a reflection of how uninterested I was in finishing this VERY short book and wondering just who would be the audience for it. Everything about the packaging and content scream early chapter book, landing on about a third or fourth grader, but the language gets so sophisticated at times I worry it will just frustrate the young readers who would be most willing to receive it.

[Katy O. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story, good message, excellent illustrations, and a good read aloud length for early elementary. I liked it but also know the obscurity of the vocab and many cultural references may be a stumbling block to universal appeal? But on the bright side, as a read aloud it could be a great vocab-builder if the reader takes the time.

Source: public library hardcover

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super sweet and I very much enjoyed the theme of identity and feeling like you aren’t quite what society says you ought to be.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would. I loved the message that one can be different within their own community, and that is okay. Also, you can find commonalities with others even when you think there are none. Ultimately, love is the answer. Great book for 3rd to 6th graders, IMO. However, I'm a 53yo woman, and I loved it!

[lanislittlelibrary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Around the world: Italy

Oh my gosh this book was so sweet. It emits cozy autumn vibes but is definitely a summery book about a badger named Septimus who is living a very unconventional life as a badger. Instead of the forest, he prefers living by the sea. Instead of stripes, he has spots. He loves his cottage, seashells, baths, tea, and -most of all- his best friend and seagull: Gully who visits every Wednesday. The story follows his day to day life as he grapples with being different from typical badgers and learns what friendship is.
It was so wholesome and adorable. Borderline saccharine but not too sweet for me. I enjoyed it terribly so.

[Tricia Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was adorable, relatable, beautiful, and inspiring, scattered with lovely little tidbits of insightful wisdom by which to live your life. At its core, it’s a book about loneliness and belonging, through the lens of a socially-anxious oddball who’s spent his life believing he’s bad at being the thing he was born to be—a timely story if ever there was one. The refrains of gentle growth through mistakes, taking accountability, apologies, and forgiveness, all facilitated by communication and indomitability in the face of challenges are lessons every child could benefit from—and many adults, too, come to that. It’s a cozy, gentle, beautiful story that feels like a warm, supportive hug with a tinge of seaside melancholy. I recommend it with all my heart, particularly to those in search of worthy stories to offer the voracious minds of their developing children. The writing is simple and powerful in the way that well-crafted children’s books can be, and the illustrations are positively gorgeous. Truly, a terrific addition to any library.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Septimus is an unbadgerlike badger who lives alone in a cottage close to the sea. He loves opera and collecting seashells. Septimus doesn't mind being on his own but he wants to have at least one good friend. That one special friend turns out to be Gully, a seagull. Septimus and Gully get together regularly every Wednesday. Although they don't have much in common, they do have a warm relationship that is based on trust, mutual respect, and kindness. Then without warning, Gully fails to show up and after awhile Septimus is convinced something has happened to Gully and he goes on a search for his friend. This is a simple, quiet story, but the plot is clever and the writing is comforting and cozy. A heartwarming gem of a friendship story!

[Lyon.Brit.andthebookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Report: Bad Badger

At First Glance: Delightful!

The Gist: A heartwarming story of an unlikely friendship between a gull and a badger.

My Thoughts: I knew absolutely nothing about this sweet book…Only that my friend over @megsreadingroom recommended it and she is queen of the “Makes You Feel Something” book recs. With the coziness of Frog and Toad… and all the Shady Hollow vibes… Septimus lives in his cottage by the sea… loves sunsets and tea, good music and company, befriending a Gull of few words and there launches an unforgettable friendship. A book you will hug once completed.

My Question for Maryrose: Did any real-life animals or people inspire the character of Badger?

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[Susan Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely lovely story of friendship. I hope many will discover this for a read aloud!

[Jan Raspen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, my. This is the sweetest little story of a badger who doesn't think he's such a good one, and also the story of his friendship with a seagull. Septimus the badger does most of the talking throughout the book, and a fair amount of introspection, too. Great lessons to be learned in this book, and it does not hit you over the head with them, so that's a definite win.
I listened to it, but after looking through some other reviews, I realize I may have to get it in print so I can see the illustrations as well.
I think the vocabulary and syntax might be a bit high for young readers, but this would be a wonderful read aloud to share.

[Tamara York · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was just perfection. Wonderful in every way. Just a delight! I wish I had little kids to read it aloud to. It’s an easier chapter book reminiscent of Frog and Toad but with enough depth for all ages to enjoy.
The illustrations are adorable and the story is just beautiful. A badger and seagull form a friendship and the badger discovers that he’s not a bad badger after all. Oh, and there are snails! 🐌

[Chada Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for an adult and a child (maybe 1st-3rd grade) to read together.

It's a wonderful story about friendship between 2 unlikely creatures, a badger and a seagull. Although the story is sweet and simple, the language is quite sophisticated. Beautiful illustrations is an added bonus.

[Maddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out of nowhere, this might be my favorite new middle grade novel. We have lovely and flawed characters, lessons without moralizing, a little mystery, a lovely setting, opera and tea, and a beautiful friendship. The narrator did a gorgeous job and I will be gifting this one again and again.

Thanks to Libro.fm for their educator ALC program for this delightful audiobook!

[Jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bad Badger really is a love story: to ourselves, to each other, and to the world. Its slower pace and offbeat characters (with beautiful grayscale illustrations) make for a reading experience that is just different from most others’. I enjoyed the character growth, lessons learned, and sweetness of the story. 🩵

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

An opera-loving badger!? I could not stop smiling as I finished this book.

[Barb Middleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

My second pick for a 2026 Newbery award. This is middle grade book good for 2nd grade and up. Septimus is a badger that doesn’t like regular activities so he dubs himself a “bad badger”. He makes a friend with a gull who disappears and has to figure out why. A lovely story about self-acceptance, friendship, and exploring differences in tastes, personalities, and groups. It might be hard as a read aloud unless you’re good at making gull noises. The audiobook reader does a terrific job at it.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book is fine. It's cozy. It just wasn't my cup of tea.

[Katharine Ott · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Bad Badger: A Love Story" - written by Maryrose Wood and published in 2025 by Union Square Kids. Poor Badger is uncertain about his identity, but works himself through it with the help of some friends, especially Gully. Middle grade readers should appreciate how earnest and caring Badger is, while also realizing and enjoying how unlikely the whole story is. I liked Wood's "The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place" series, also featuring animals in improbable situations. A fun read.

[Nancy Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want Septimus and Gully to have more adventures!

[little free lib-rei-ry (•̀ᴗ•́)و ̑̑ · Rating 5 out of 5]

when i talk about the meat-and-potatoes types of books that i fundamentally designate "books that describe who i am," i will tuck this neatly on the shelf next to such titles like Witch Hat Atelier and Little Shrew and The Hobbit. Bad Badger is about a very-not-bad badger named Septimus whose love for life - a bit overflowing, but still within parameters - is so great that all he desires is to share it with someone else, even just one single friend, and in turn, learn about everything that brings them as-much-if-not-more than the joys of his life bring him. enter Gully.

[Leonard Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This may merit 5* but somewhat surprisingly to me, it wasn’t really my cup of chamomile.

[Catherine Mustread · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wood is the author of the middle-grade series The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place. She also wrote Alice’s Farm: A Rabbit’s Tale. Bad Badger: A Love Story is a young middle-grade novel by Maryrose Wood about a badger named Septimus who doesn't fit the typical badger mold. He prefers watching sunsets and dreaming of Venice to digging and foraging, and his solitary life is disrupted when he befriends a gull named Gully. When Gully goes missing, Septimus must embark on a journey to find him, encountering new characters and discovering his own bravery along the way. The book is praised for its heartwarming story of friendship, its wry humor, and its detailed black-and-white illustrations. 

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a quirky, lovely, slightly awkward friendship story between Septimus Badger and his friend Gully the Seagull. I’d love them to get together with Amy Timberlake’s Skunk and Badger. Septimus desperately wants to figure out if he’s truly a badger. After all, he loves teacups and opera and lives by the sea. And, his best friend is a bird, without a lot of variety in his conversation (perfect in the audiobook.) Maybe he’s a skunk. The two of them aren’t sure, so they set off to the woods to find the answer. This reads like a classic, reminiscent of Winnie the Pooh and Charlotte’s Web. A fabulous read-aloud, great for all readers (and listeners) especially the younger set, early elementary school. A quick, lively read.

[Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 rounded up

This was adorable. I can see this becoming a Children's classic. The book follows Septimus, a badger who does some un-badgerlike things. As such, he has a bit of an identity crisis. But with the help of his friend, Gully, he learns where he belongs. I think the story was super cute and relatable. The illustrations are GORGEOUS. The vibes are like Frog & Toad for a child who's a bit older but still wants something cozy. Only reason it's not a 5 is because of some ambiguity with the ending that made me scratch my head a bit. HIGHLY recommend!

[Heidi Ostergaard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a lovely read with the kids. The audio is so good. It opened up several discussions of friends. I want to read the physical book now to see the illustrations. I’m sure they are wonderful.

[Stephanie Lynne]

Just the cozy book I needed

[Jill Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

Middle Grade Fantasy Fiction.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is just the sweetest story of learning about yourself and others and occasionally being surprised by both. To be savored.

[Tiffany Hough · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charmer.