MaiStoryBook Library

MaiStoryBook: The Good, the Bad, and the Spooky + *My Spooky Seed* Surprise Craft

by MaiStoryBook

Introducing a story about finding the joy in Halloween and having festive fun with friends ~ featured in the MaiStoryBook Library Collection:

“The Good, the Bad, and the Spooky” by Jory John, Illustrated by Pete Oswald

*~Click here to purchase your own copy of “The Good, the Bad, and the Spooky” to start on your own reading adventure! (This is an affiliate link~ a small percentage of your purchase will go to MaiStoryBook to help create Reading Resources for your littles)

Book Synopsis and Review

The Bad Seed is back in this Spooky Halloween tale, and he’s in a baaaaaaad mood! Why is he in a bad mood? Well, Halloween is his favorite holiday, but he can’t find the perfect costume! The Bad Seed worries and worries that he will be *outdressed*, and decides if he isn’t having a very fun Halloween, NO ONE can have a very fun Halloween. Halloween must be POST-PONED! Will Bad Seed let his baaaaaad attitude ruin the holiday for everyone, or will a special seed help Bad Seed change his perspective in time to save Halloween?

Holiday themed books featuring favorite characters are always fun, and this one doesn’t disappoint! Per usual to this series, puns are interlaced throughout the text and illustrations, creating a fun, laugh-out-loud read aloud. The SEL focus in this one addresses worrying too much and how to handle a bad mood. Bad Seed realized perhaps he was worrying too much over something *trivial,* and realized that maybe not everyone would be as obsessed as he was about his costume and what he would wear. Bad Seed models how to have a change in perspective to save the day and have a better mood. Plus, I love the focus on fun fall activities, and the message that what’s important is having fun with friends!

Vocabulary

  • crummy (p. 2) rotten, bad
  • travesty (p. 3) disaster, something really bad
  • postponed (p. 12) to push something back to another day
  • bold (p. 18) brave
  • trivial (p. 20) something small and unimportant

Themes/ Main Ideas

  • Worry less about what other people think and have fun!
  • When you are in a bad mood, try talking to someone about it or changing your perspective.
  • Spending time with friends is a fun way to celebrate occasions!

YouTube Video: Guided Shared-Reading Read Aloud Example

Example of a shared-reading, interactive Read Aloud of “The Good, the Bad, and the Spooky” – how to subtly introduce the vocabulary list words within the text, ask guided questions, and spark conversation!

Subscribe: MaiStoryBook Youtube Channel for more *interactive* read aloud videos!

*My Spooky Seed* Surprise Craft

Do you have your Halloween costume picked out yet? As soon as September starts, according to Mai Little Learners, it’s already *almost* Halloween! They have their costume ideas selected and ready to go, and are already counting down the days! When I was younger, sometimes I would fret over my costume selection… Similar to Bad Seed, I worried about if other kids would think it was cool, or I felt pressure to make it super creative. Even now, when there is a costume party there is a low-grade anxiety bubbling over what costume to wear! However, if I learned anything from Bad Seed, it’s to not worry so much about it! After all, I’m probably the only one obsessing over it. No one else will care so much. what is important is having fun with friends on this festive holiday! To help get into the fall, spooky spirit, check out the *Spooky Seed* bookish crafts below, for 4 different template ideas inspired by the story! Happy crafting, Mai Friends!

Materials

Directions

  • Choose a ”Bad Seed”  seed-shell template. There are 4 different options in color or black and white : “Spooky Halloween” “Costume Ideas” “Fall Favorites”or “When I’m in a Bad Mood”.
  • There’s also a coloring sheet template without the dotted line for cutting.
  • Color and Cut the seed-shell in half on the zig-zag dotted line so that you have two pieces. The “Inside Kernel” will go in between the two pieces and attach them together. Write your name in the blank if you chose a personalized template.
  • Next, choose an “Inside Kernel.” Each Seed template comes with two different choices of Inside Kernel, in color or B&W: 
  • Spooky Halloween: Choose all  picture responses, or picture + writing
  • Halloween Costumes: Choose pre-written labels, or label your own
  • Fall Favorites: Choose Pictures or Writing
  • Bad Mood: Choose write your own ideas, or cut-and-paste from the idea list and glue them onto the kernel
  • Cut out the kernel. **Keep the top and bottom tabs on! Do not cut them off*
  • To connect the kernel and seed shell, fold back the two tabs. Tape or glue the front side of the bottom tab to the top-back of the bottom half of the seed-shell. Then, tape/glue the front side of the top tab to the bottom-back of the top half of the seed-shell.
  • Next, fold the kernel in on itself: Fold the top half halfway down to the middle, then fold the bottom half up to meet in the middle to “close the seed” 
  • The kernel should fold in on itself as you close the seed-shell to make it whole, and then when you open the seed-shell, your responses will be revealed! Surprise!

Enjoy Your *Spooky Seed* Surprise Craft

  • Share your Spooky Seed craft with family and friends and brainstorm costume ideas together, share favorite Halloween memories, plan a fun fall activity or snack, or share ideas of what to do when you are in a bad mood
  • Depending on which template you chose, use your Spooky Seed Craft to remind you of tools you can use when you are in a bad mood. Or use it to plan a fun Fall Day filled with Fall foods and Activities. Or use it to help pick a costume idea and prep for Halloween!
  • Display your Spooky Seed Crafts for festive decor this Fall!

*~ I hope you are enjoying plenty of *Spooky* reading adventures this fall, Mai Friends! Tag me on Instagram @MaiStoryBookLibrary or FaceBook , find me on TikTok, or contact me via email to share your own *Spooky Seed* Surprise Crafts and your own reading adventures! I’d love to hear from you and learn more ideas on how to embrace a grumpy mood!~*

Enjoy More Fall & Halloween Interactive Read Aloud Videos Here!

*~Until next time, Happy Reading~*