Illustrated by Giulia Ghigini

On Sale: May 5, 2026
Page Count: 192 pages
Publisher: Union Square Kids
ISBN-13: 9781454953494

$9.99

$12.99 CAD

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From acclaimed middle grade author Maryrose Wood comes the heartwarming follow up to Bad Badger: A Love Story, the recipient of starred reviews from Kirkus, Booklist, and School Library Journal. As Septimus and Gully grow from friends into a family, they weather the challenges of parenting, managing unexpected guests, and navigating the parameters of friendship.

To help raise a trio of gull chicks is a rare task for a badger, even a badger as unusual as Septimus. With three spotted fluff balls underfoot, hiding in his phonograph, and pecking at his seashell collection, Septimus has his hands full. To be perfectly frank about it: living with chicks is a lot to get used to. Especially when Gully is off fishing all day while Septimus—Papa Septimus—is left in charge. Just when it seems Septimus might get a bit of the bird-free, badger-only alone time he needs, a knock at the door brings a big surprise: eight visiting forest badgers!

As the chicks take to burrowing underground and gobbling up worms with their new badger family, Gully worries they will never learn to take flight. Can Septimus find a way to give the chicks a proper liftoff? Or will their family fall apart instead?

This young middle-grade novel is about stretching your wings and discovering what it means to be family—spots and all.

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Series:

Bad Badger

Maryrose Wood is the author of the acclaimed middle grade series The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place. She also wrote Alice's Farm: A Rabbit's Tale, which was an NCTE Charlotte Huck Recommended Book. Maryrose taught fiction writing at NYU’s Gallatin School and now mentors writers through Path of the Storyteller, her own online program. She has two grown children and splits her time between Southern California and Italy.
Author Residence: Southern California and Italy

Giulia Ghigini was born in a small town in the industrious and somewhat dreary north of Italy. She’s always enjoyed drawing, and as she didn't particularly shine in anything else, she sensibly thought to just keep going. Giulia lives and works compulsively in Milan.

Illustrator Residence: Italy

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Maryrose Wood

About the Author

Maryrose Wood is the author of the acclaimed middle grade series The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place. She also wrote Alice’s Farm: A Rabbit’s Tale, which was an NCTE Charlotte Huck Recommended Book. Maryrose taught fiction writing at NYU’s Gallatin School and now mentors writers through Path of the Storyteller, her own online program. She has two grown children and splits her time between Southern California and Italy.
Author Residence: Southern California and Italy

Giulia Ghigini was born in a small town in the industrious and somewhat dreary north of Italy. She’s always enjoyed drawing, and as she didn’t particularly shine in anything else, she sensibly thought to just keep going. Giulia lives and works compulsively in Milan.

Illustrator Residence: Italy

Learn more about this author