Go Away, Bad Mood

Go Away, Bad Mood is a rhyming picture book for children aged 4 to 9 about Bad Mood, a gloomy, grumpy fellow who tries his best to spoil everyone's day, and who is changed into Good Mood at the end.

Bad Mood loves to make every creature grumpy, grouchy, sulky and sad. He creeps up on some children and Big Bell as they laugh and play, but Big Bell barks the words that send him packing: "Bad Mood, Bad Mood, go away and never, ever come back!" The wind carries him to the woods, where he tries again with Susie Squirrel and her friend Gus, then with Dorothy Doe and her fawn, then with Lady Goldenbeak and her chicks. Each time, the same words chase him away, and each time he cannot believe that, with all his might, he cannot start a single fight.

At last he falls into a deep, dark hole and cries for help. Felicia, the queen of happiness, laughter and smiles, helps him out, and with a swish of her wand she gives him a new name: Good Mood. Now he is gentle and huggable, and the rabbit family ask him to stay and hop and sing with them all day.

The repeated line gives children words they can say themselves when a bad mood creeps up on them, and the ending shows that a good mood is something we can share. It is written by Nayera Salam and illustrated by Elsa Estrada. It takes about seven minutes to read and is music-free.

Bad Mood was irritable and crabby, a gloomy fellow who loved nothing more than making every creature grumpy, grouchy, sulky and sad. He loved to hear them scream and cry, just because he was Bad Mood.

One day he spotted some children and Big Bell, laughing, playing and having fun. Bad Mood decided to make them miserable and cranky, one by one. He would sneak in and ruin their joyful day in his own special way.

But Big Bell was having none of it. Big Bell growled and barked, very loudly, "Bad Mood, Bad Mood, go away and never, ever come back!"

The words chased Bad Mood away. The wind carried him over the high buildings, across the river and all the way to the woods. He could not believe it. With all his might, he could not start a single fight. That was not right. It was ridiculous, nonsensical, preposterous!

In the woods, he saw Susie Squirrel and her friend Gus feasting on apples, berries and nuts. Once again he crept closer, ready to ruin their cheerful day. But the two of them caught a glimpse of him and screamed the same words: "Bad Mood, Bad Mood, go away and never, ever come back!"

The words chased him away again. He stumbled over the rocks and landed at the bottom of a hill, grumbling that he could not even start a squirrel fight.

Next came graceful Dorothy Doe and her carefree baby fawn, as happy as could be. Bad Mood crept towards them, and this time Dorothy Doe let him come close. Then she played her trick. With a quick, hard kick, she sent him twirling into the air, bellowing, "Bad Mood, Bad Mood, go away and never, ever come back!"

Bad Mood landed at the top of a tall tree, right beside Lady Goldenbeak's warm and cosy nest. Kicked by a doe! It was ridiculous. But inside the nest, the little ones were resting. Just one quick peek, he thought, and he could ruin their restful day. But Lady Goldenbeak let out the loudest shriek: "Bad Mood, Bad Mood, go away and never, ever come back!"

This time the words chased Bad Mood into a deep, dark hole. It was dark and scary down there, and he cried out for help.

"Hi," said a gentle voice. "And who are you? I haven't seen any of your kind before." It was Felicia, the queen of happiness, laughter and smiles. She had heard him call for help, and she had come.

With a swoosh of her wand, Felicia spread her sparkling dust and helped him out of the hole. Then she swished her wand back and forth and changed his name. "Bad Mood, be gone," she said. "You are Good Mood from this moment on."

Good Mood said goodbye to grouchiness and gloom. Now he felt happy, lovable, gentle and huggable. He felt fantabulous.

Just then, Mama Cottontail passed by, followed by Papa and their four bunnies. "Good Mood, is that you?" she asked. The rabbits begged him to stay. "Stay with us, Good Mood, and don't go away. We'll have fun, and we'll sing and hop all day."

Good Mood promised he would not go away. From now on, he said, he would make their days joyous, festive and glorious. He thanked Felicia for being so marvellous. The sky was bright, his heart was light, and it was the perfect day to fly a kite.