Bad Badger

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.