Badger's Bad Mood (Picture Lions) [Paperback]

*When Badger acts crabby and sad one day, it takes everyone by surprise:"But Badger's NEVER in a bad mood," his friends say. Hoping to cheer him up, Mole, Squirrel and Rabbit pay Badger a visit but they are met with grumpy replies, and subsequent well-wishers are turned away. Mole assures Badger that everyone will just wait until he feels better. In the meantime, Mole devises an ingenious plan to let Badger know how much he is loved and appreciated, and soon Badger is back to his old self. Oram's friendly woodland community reinforces a message that bears repeating. Her characters are expressive and concerned without being sappy, and her story makes room for throwaway jokes (Miss Snail turns out to be fond of slow dancing, while Frog is known for his gallant courting). Varley's (BADGER'S PARTING GIFTS) breezy ink-and-watercolor paintings, rendered ina pale, earthy palette, create a convincing whole word for Oram's sweet animals. Smartly clad in their timeless Sunday best, they exude charm and personality. Their cozy environs, like the story, make readers utterly welcome.

I was surprised to see this book so breezily reviewed. I myself found it disturbing. There are lots of good books around that deal with bad moods--"Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Really Bad Day" and "Today I Feel Silly & Other Moods That Make My Day" come to mind. This book goes way beyond moodiness and knocks on the door of clinical depression. First, the animals find Badger sitting in his chair in the dark. When they switch on the light, Badger snaps at them to turn it off and leave him be. The other animals leave, but Mole is worried about Badger so he stays and cleans up the place a bit. Badger eventually speaks: "I'm sorry about this. 'Spect I'll get over it. But right now, I'm just no good, you know. No good for anything." Mole tells him they'll "just wait". Eventually the animals call a doctor. Badger refuses to see her and sends Mole out to get rid of her and the other animals trying to help: "Close the curtains," he begged Mole. "Keep them away." Then we have a scene where Mole watches Badger "staring and dozing and turning heavily in his chair." YIKES! And then, just when you're sure Mole is going to be calling the suicide hotline, things turn rosy and child-appropriate again. Mole comes up with the idea of an Awards Ceremony (this causes Badger's eyes to move "sharply for the first time in days"). Badger and all the other animals attend. Badger wins all sorts of awards for being a good person/badger. At last he feels "appreciated" and is happy. Everyone dances. I was confused (and creeped out). My child was confused: "How come he wants to sit in the dark?...How come he doesn't want the doctor to help him?...Doesn't he like the other animals anymore?...Does he like them better now that they had a party for him?" If this had been a book to help children understand depression--a book with an appropriate resolution and ending--it would have been fine. If this had been a book about a badger who was feeling glum and unappreciated, who was then cheered up by an awards ceremony, it would have been fine. But this book is a bizarre marriage of the two and it is AWFUL.

Teachers might be interested in using this book to help children identify with building relationships among fellow students. The book would help the students to understand that every student has positive qualities to contribute to the classroom. It teaches the principal of caring for one another. It also teaches unity and loyalty among a group.