Unsettling Salad!

Jasper Rabbit's Creepy Tales!

by Aaron Reynolds, Peter Brown (Illustrator)

From the team behind the New York Times bestselling and Caldecott Medal–winning Creepy Carrots! and its sequels comes the second entry in a spin-off chapter book series in which Jasper Rabbit tells the story of a badger who discovers broccoli can bite back!

Jasper the Rabbit is back! A little older and wiser, he collects creepy stories to share as cautionary tales. If you’re ready for some chills and chuckles alike, tune in as Jasper weaves the yarn of Thaddeus Badger and the sticky situation he found himself in.

Now, Thaddeus is a typical badger. He and his best friend, Oliver Possum, love burgers as much as they dislike exercise. And they hate eating veggies even more. But when they make a deal with Oliver’s parents to eat an entire salad…well let’s just say the chompers might soon become the chomped. This is a creepy tale after all and even the healthiest things can turn on you.

Join Jasper and Thaddeus in this second Creepy Tale chapter book and learn from Thaddeus’s mistakes before it’s too late!

Genres: Middle Grade, Horror, Childrens, Animals, Food, Humor, Fiction

96 pages, Hardcover

First published February 3, 2026

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Aaron Reynolds is a New York Times Bestselling Author of many highly acclaimed books for kids, including Dude!, Creepy Carrots!, Creepy Pair of Underwear!, Nerdy Birdy, and tons more. He frequently visits schools and his highly participatory presentations are a blast for kids and teachers alike. He lives in the Chicago area with his wife, two kids, four cats, and between three and ten fish, depending on the day.

(source: Amazon)

Reviews

[DianaRose · Rating 5 out of 5]

another fun and quirky installment in the creepy tales series! this one reminded me of the powerpuff girls episode where the broccoli aliens invaded 😭

[Emily Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A silly story about kids who aren't excited about eating vegetables. They crave meat! Unfortunately, so do the vegetables! The creepy tales series has grown with the original audience and is now geared toward 4th graders. To be honest, I would have preferred that they stayed the same age as the vocabulary and patience of my little hasn't grown as fast as this series has. But this title will be appreciated by the average 4th grader. I received this book as a digital arc.

[Sarah Sammis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each book is presented by Jasper Rabbit dressed in a suit. The drawings are grayscale and all together the effect is an homage to The Twilight Zone. When I was the targeted age for these books the old Rod Serling series was still on TV due to syndication. But that was forty years ago.

The Twilight Zone these days is still available but via streaming services: Paramount and Netflix last time I checked. My point is, children would have to go looking for the series and are less likely to grow up with it as part of the cultural foundation.

So the question is: does the book work by itself? Probably. The Twilight Zone codified how short form horror or what-if stories are told. They are presented by a person of authority, often in an environment apart from the story and bland enough to not build expectations of the story through visual clues. Jasper Rabbit is presented in a suit in a darkened setting mimicking Rod Serling but also serving as a neutral setting.

https://pussreboots.com/blog/2026/com...

[Casey Densmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love anything by Aaron Reynolds and so does my class! He has a way of getting children's attention through humor. His stories are "dark," but not so dark that you need warnings. I have not met a child that does not enjoy his stories, and I've read a lot of them to my class. I really love that he's coming out with chapter book because I think they really interest kids with a more "grown up" book that is age appropriate. With that said, this book did not disappoint and goes perfectly with his other books. This book ends on a cliffhanger, which I haven't really seen with other children's books. I like that they have the opportunity to experience one and then it builds anticipation for the next book. Hopefully they don't need to wait long because we all know their attention span is quite short. I do think there are a lot of aspects a child can relate to in this story, like the parents that only want healthier options for their children. I also think they would really understand not wanting to eat vegetables! The illustrations are typical for his books, they are mostly black and white with some mystery. They go well with the text and enhance the humor. I really enjoyed this book and found myself turning the pages to find out what happens next. I do think this will be a book I purchase for my classroom. I am always looking for new books to add to my library as the interests of 2nd grades changes often. I also like being able to introduce new books to my class and then watching the excitement build and seeing them check out the same books from the library. I could see myself reading this book as a read aloud at the end of the day because the chapters are very short and it moves pretty quickly, so it will keep their interest while waiting to be dismissed. for the day

Thank you Aaron Reynolds and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read and review this advance review copy via NetGalley! This review was written voluntarily and all opinions are my own.

[Jody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unsettling Salad! is undeniably charming and entertaining, with Peter Brown's signature illustrations bringing the quirky horror-comedy to life. The artwork is great, striking a balance between modern and timeless that gives the book a fresh feel while maintaining classic appeal. The premise of vegetables fighting back against veggie-hating Thadeus and Oliver is creative and fun, perfectly capturing that slightly spooky vibe fans of Creepy Carrots! will love.
However, the messaging does feel a bit muddled. While it seems to encourage healthy eating, the resolution doesn't quite land with clarity, leaving me uncertain about what young readers are supposed to take away. Additionally, some of the humor has a tongue-in-cheek quality that feels more geared toward adults than the target chapter book audience. Parents reading aloud will likely catch jokes that might sail over kids' heads.
That said, it's a super cute read that both children and adults can enjoy together, even if for slightly different reasons. The spooky-silly tone works well, and it's a quick, engaging story that early readers will zip through. Just don't expect a straightforward moral at the end!

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Little Batties · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aaron Reynolds is a devilish storyteller who knows how to write a great cliffhanger. Unsettling Salad is the next installment of "Jasper Rabbit's Creepy Tales!" and the story did not disappoint. It held the same ominous, suspenseful nature I was expecting, and I loved it.

Thadeus Badger and Oliver Possum are best friends. They do everything together, including eating food they deem unhealthy and avoiding vegetables like it's an optional survey at the end of a phone call. All they want to do is eat their burgers, but after a trick played by Oliver's parents that end with them having to eat their vegetables, things begin to get strange...

It was honestly delightful at every turn, even if it was a little silly. This short book would be great for reluctant and emerging readers. The short chapters and pages will leave them feeling accomplished, and with a storyline like this, I can see them wanting to pick up another book in this genre.

Thank You NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dynamic duo author Aaron Reynolds and illustrator Peter Brown are at it again! In this second installment in their illustrated chapter book series (spun-off the popular picture books), a pair of burger-loving friends are forced to eat salad, resulting in an unsettling outcome. If you enjoyed Creepy Carrots but want something more to chew on, this book will fill you up. Packed with wry humor, this noir-style anthropomorphic tale builds suspense toward its dramatic and horrifying climax that kids will appreciate. While I’ve enjoyed other books in this series (including multiple re-reads of Creepy Underwear), this book felt like it lost its way after the fateful salad consumption. Unlike its immediate predecessor (Terrifying Tonsils), it was hard to pinpoint who/what was the villain and anticipate where was this story heading. While it hit the right narrative voice, aesthetic ambiance and suspenseful tone, the plot felt muddy and unresolved. Still, readers should give the other picture and chapter books in this unique series a chance- especially during the spooky season! I received a digital ARC of the ebook for review from NetGalley.

[Kristina Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

From author Aaron Reynolds and illustrator Peter Brown comes another one of Jasper Rabbit’s Creepy Tales. Jasper Rabbit collects creepy stories to share as cautionary tales. In this second chapter book of the series, Thadeus Badger and Oliver Possum love food. Specifically, they love junk food and meat. So everyday after school, unbeknownst to their parents, Thadeus and Oliver eat greasy burgers and fries at Hurt-A-Burger. They absolutely detest the vegetables that their parents try to get them to eat.

One afternoon, Oliver’s health conscious mother picks the boys up from school and takes them the Hurt-Burger. She convinces the boys to eat a salad before eating a burger for dessert. Only Oliver bites the inside of his cheek while eating broccoli.

Read this book to find out what happens when Thadeus and Oliver learn that eating vegetables can be more dangerous than avoiding them.

As a librarian, I highly recommend this chapter book for children who loved the Creepy Carrots, Creepy Pair of Underwear, and Creepy Crayons books. The story mixes humor with suspense for younger readers.

[Lexi Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unsettling Salad has just the right amount of creepy mixed with humor, which is exactly what I love about the Jasper Rabbit series. This one keeps all the charm of the original picture books but adds a bit more story and suspense, which makes it even more fun to read. The writing leans into that playful, eerie feeling without ever going too far, and the pacing makes it easy to stay engaged from start to finish. I also loved the signature single pop of color throughout the illustrations. It gives the artwork so much personality and makes every page feel intentional and memorable. This is a great next step for middle-grade readers who enjoy spooky-but-silly stories.

Bentley’s review (age 10):
“It reminded me of the Jasper Rabbit picture books, which I’ve always liked, but I liked this one even more because it’s a longer story.”

Emma’s review (age 8):
“The pictures were really cool and a little weird, but in a good way. I want to read it again.”

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing for this eARC in exchange for our honest and unbiased review.

[Jessica Yeager · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unsettling Salad is the newest addition to this delightfully quirky series, and it absolutely delivers!

My kids love the picture books, so I was excited to see this shift into short, high-interest chapter books for younger readers. This story taps into a scenario every kid knows well - most children would happily choose a burger and fries over a bowl of veggies.

Thaddeus and Oliver’s over the top refusal to try salad makes them instantly relatable, and things take a wonderfully eerie turn once Oliver’s parents insist on ordering salads at their favorite burger restaurant. What begins as a simple dinnertime standoff quickly spirals into a strange, mysterious adventure that leans just creepy enough to keep readers on the edge of their seats.

I especially love how this book prompts early comprehension skills - like making inferences and noticing small clues while still feeling playful and fast-paced. The slightly spooky, open-ended conclusion will leave kids buzzing with theories long after they finish reading!

[Bibliohiker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. I love the Jasper Rabbit series and this one was another hit! This series reminds me of “The Twilight Zone” tv series and the unusual happening. Thaddeus the badger and Ollie the possum love junk food, burgers, etc… while Thaddeus’ parents remind me of Gen Xer parents in that as long as he’s eating something and home before the street lights come on, he’s good. Ollie’s parents are the complete opposite; he has to get straight A’s and they want him to eat healthier. The boys love nothing more than eating at Hurt a Burger. Ollie’s parents decide to take the boys to Hurt a Burger but make them get salads. Unbeknownst to them, something is lurking in Ollie’s salad. A few days later Thaddeus hasn’t seen his friend and becomes concerned. Ollie is sick bc and grounded according to his parents but Thaddeus is suspicious. He decides to help Ollie escape and they goto the carnival. As the night proceeds, Thaddeus gets more than he bargained for.

[Kayla Conley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This quirky, fast-paced tale is a fun blend of humor and kid-friendly suspense. Centered on two friends Thaddeus the Badger and Oliver the Possum whose simple trip to a local burger joint spirals into something far stranger than either of them expects, the story keeps readers hooked with its unexpected twists and playful creepiness. The author does a great job balancing comedy with just enough eerie atmosphere to make the bizarre events feel both surprising and entertaining.

The tale feels like one of those classic campfire stories meant to be shared and retold. Without giving anything away, this is a delightfully weird adventure that blends everyday kid problems with over-the-top supernatural trouble. Young fans of humorous spooky stories will find plenty to enjoy in this new book by Aaron Reynolds.

[Megan | Reads Alotl Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have read any of the books before, you will love this 2nd book in the Jasper's Creepy Tales chapter books.
My kids loved it! It was funny, clever and creepy in a silly way, instead of a scary way. Badger and Opossum like to get burgers after school, but one day instead of burgers, they are forced to choose a salad by their parents. However, something strange happens after eating the salad. What happens next, you'll have to read to find out! The story keeps going and it leaves on a cliffhanger! My kids can't wait for the next one.

As a teacher, it's a fun book for kids. It's not downright scary. The illustrations add a fun element and my 4th grade students were hanging on every word. They did not appreciate the cliffhangers I was giving them! It's a little more advanced than the first in the series, but still fun.

[Kelly Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a digital ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Jasper Rabbit is back with another Creepy Tale. I love the switch from picture to short chapter books, especially for my older students who grew up listening to Creepy Carrots, Crayon, and Pair of Underwear. 

After reading Troubling Tonsils, I was really excited to pick this one up. In Unsettling Salad, we meet Thaddeus Badger and Oliver Possum, two best friends that share a love for junk food; specifically burgers from Hurt-A-Burger. When Oliver's parents catch wind of his fast food junk addiction, they decide to take things into their own hands. 

But when Oliver gets suspiciously sick after being forced to gobble down a broccoli salad, things take a dark turn...

This is a perfectly twisted tale that is just dark enough to creep out a young reader, but not horrifying enough to turn them away. 

[Gen socalmom24 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this with my 8yr old son. We've read other stories from the Author, but beware this is a chapter book and definitely is meant for an older, more skilled reader. I wanted to like this book, but I actually found many issues with theme and message to kids. I was not a fan of the name "hurt-a-burger." The story felt unconnected between the story of eating a salad and then becoming a scary broccoli. I feel like messaging didn't make kids want to be healthy or eat vegetables - quite the opposite actually. I'm very disappointed, and it also felt unfinished and not wrapped up nicely or meaningful at all.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing and Netgalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Little Bitts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unsettling Salad is a chapter book from the author that brought us Creepy Underwear, Crayons, and Carrots. My kids were very excited to see there was a new title, but it didn't quite hit the mark for us. I think they were expecting a book similar to the others, but it's decidedly a chapter book. We broke it down over time, but it still did not hold their attention well. It is very text dense, even as an early chapter book. It might have been better suited for even older children who had not read the other books. As a parent, I also don't need anything keeping my kids from wanting to eat veggies haha.

Thanks to Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for an eARC of this book for an honest review.

[Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book two from the Jasper Rabbit’s Creepy Tales series is giving me serious greens.

As a modern reader living in modern times, I am made unaware that something unsettling might be lurking in my salad at least according to legend. Good thing broccoli isn’t a core part of my spring mix. But for our woodland friends, Thaddeus and Oliver, they weren’t so lucky.

It feels kind of good placing the full blame on grownups this round with their know-it-all wisdom on nutrition. And if you can’t ever trust parents to have your own interests at heart, then exactly who can you trust? Perhaps we will never know.

I’m highly recommending this one - for the eerie feel, entertaining dialogues, and silliness of it all.



Thank you Simon & Schuster, Simon Kids for my advance reader copy.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Children's first chapter book. Jasper Rabbit presents another creepy tale: Unsettling salad! Two friends, Thaddeus and Ollie are junk food addicts, frequently sneaking off to the Hurt-a-Burger restaurant to get their greasy fix. But one night, Ollie's parents take the boys out and make them order salads. Something happens to Ollie at the restaurant, and it seems like the broccoli bites back. After that things get weirder and weirder, and Thaddeus is not sure what is happening to his best friend.

This is a fun, creepy --but not overwhelmingly so-- story. Not all kids will like it, but those that like a little bit of scary will enjoy it.

[Legend_of_Loren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start off by saying my children and I love all of the Jasper Rabbit books. This creepy tale is a fun read with your children. How trying to eat healthy can result in you turning into a were-broccoli, to only prove your child right, on why broccoli is yucky. My first child said it was 10/10. That they loved how the possum parents tricked the kids and how it was funny getting their surprise. My other child loved that eating broccoli turns you into a monster, and how they can’t eat broccoli now, logically. They both loved the artwork, and had fun guessing what was going to happen. They also said, that what possum parents did, sounds like something I would do (which is plausible).

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is kinda cute, it's like Twilight Zone but for kids. A little curious, a little mysterious, and a little twisty.

Story about 2 middle grade friends Thaddeus and Oliver. One day they got tricked by their parents, and Ollie has been 'ill'. Not understanding why, Thaddeus sought it as his mission to break out his friend so they can go to the Carnival together. Only that's when he realized why Ollie's parents been keeping him home.

It's cute, and my kid now is using this to not eat salad... geez thanks. But it's a cute read and a fast read.

Thank you NetGalley & Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for the ARC

[Anna R · Rating 4 out of 5]

My five-year-old daughter and I thoroughly enjoyed Jasper Rabbit’s newest creepy tale: The Unsettling Salad. My daughter is a huge fan of previous Aaron Reynolds books, especially The Creepy Pair of Underwear, so we were excited to read his newest creepy story. In The Unsettling Salad, the story is presented in a chapter book style, longer and better for slightly older children. It still had super creative plays on words, a premise that is a little creepy but not that creepy and fun illustrations to go with it. My only disappointment was the lack of a clear conclusion — but perhaps that was left for the reader’s imagination to run with it.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

In UNSETTLING SALAD by Aaron Reynolds, humor and horror intersect in a tale about Thaddeus and Oliver, a pair of junk food loving critters. After the pair find themselves tricked into eating a veggie filled meal by Oliver’s health-conscious parents, a strange and sinister sequence of events begins to unfold. With short chapters combined with Peter Brown’s signature artwork in grayscale with bold pops of green, and its spooky but not too scary events, this will delight fans of the Jasper Rabbit series who are ready to go beyond picture books, but probably not thrill parents of readers who want their kids to eat more veggies!

[Chelsea Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aaron Reynolds and Peter Brown have done it again! I'm a huge fan of the Creepy Carrots series, and this new chapter book delivers the perfect blend of humor and spooky fun. The story of Thadeus the badger facing off against a truly "unsettling salad" is both creative and laugh-out-loud funny.

My kid was captivated by the story and the awesome illustrations from start to finish. It's a fantastic read for any child who loves a good scare without being too terrifying. Highly recommend for the whole family!

[Mary Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 2nd installment of Jasper Rabbit's Creepy Tales, this is another fun, slighty-scary tale for kids (and adults!) who love a little bit of a light hearted scare - fun for adults and kids to share together! This time we are tackling the age-old struggle that almost all kids and adults experience, Junk food vs. vegetables!!! This is a fun tale that shows us what just might happen when a parent's good intentions go horribly wrong...

This is a fun story with more great illustrations - definitely recommended!!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC ebook edition!

[bookmom0708 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unsettling salad is a creepy story set in the Jasper Rabbit universe! We follow two junk food loving animals, Thaddeus and Oliver, who may or may not sneak behind their parents backs to gorge on greasy burgers most days. When Oliver's parents make the boys eat a salad, Oliver has a creepy experience with the broccoli that turns into something even creepier! Loved this creepy story. It had the right amount of silly and creepy. And who can't relate to trying to decide between a burger and a vegetable! Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC ebook edition!

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thaddeus and his good buddy Oliver are modern kids living in a modern world. They enjoy eating junk food and would rather pass on all vegetables on their plate. Oliver's parents realize that he might be eating more greasy burgers on the side then they would rather allow. A concocted plan to get the boys to eat their vegetables first has a different outcome than they expected. Will Thaddeus be able to get to the bottom of his friend's mysterious illness?

This quirky, suspenseful installment in the Creepy Files is great for kids who loved Bunnicula and grown ups who enjoy Twilight Zone!

[L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Parents, did you love The Twilight Zone? Did you love Fact or Fiction?

Let’s introduce your kids to Jasper Rabbit’s Creepy Tales.

Unsettling Salad! is a frightful tale of a young possum and badger who decide that vegetables are the enemy. Nasty vegetables! But they never learned the legends and it comes back to bite them.

A wary tale of what happens if you don’t eat your vegetables…. Or rather, what happens if you do.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon Kids for the ARC! I can’t wait to add this to our kids’ collection!

[The Loco Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for my ARC! It’s always a pleasure to read anything from Reynolds!

Unsettling Salad! tells the harrowing tale of what happens when your parents force you to eat your yucky veggies!!! A hilarious tale that will make kids, and adults, laugh out loud. YIKES!! Beware the dreaded BROCCOLI!!! 🥦

Aaron Reynolds has a knack for making dark yet humor books for children. You laugh and gasp in the same book! He writes the perfect read alouds for kids and I highly recommend his books for any elementary library!

[Rachel Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fabulously creepy tale from Aaron Reynolds! In this installment, the classic “eat your vegetables” advice takes a wonderfully weird turn. The big takeaway? Maybe think twice before ordering a salad at a burger joint.

This series is perfect for readers who are just starting to feel confident with chapter books. It’s spooky enough to satisfy kids who love a little creepiness, but still totally elementary-friendly

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for being able to read this book for review. My daughter, whose 9, absolutely loves the Jasper Rabbit tales and this one was no different. I loved that this one was a chapter book. We read this for our bedtime story and she didn’t want to stop until it was finished. She was so excited to have the opportunity as well and also wanted me to share from her pov that this book was awesome.