This is one of those picture books that punches above its weight. On the surface, it's a funny story about a grumpy sunflower seed who's rude and selfish. But underneath, it's teaching kids that behavior has roots, that 'bad' isn't a permanent identity, and that change is hard but possible.

The illustrations are bold and expressive, the humor is dry enough to keep adults engaged during the 47th read, and the message is genuinely meaningful without being preachy. Parents and teachers love it for social-emotional learning, and kids love it because, let's be honest, reading about a character who cuts in line and never says sorry is kind of fun.

It's not going to change your life, but it's a solid, engaging picture book that earns its bestseller status. The kind of book you're happy to have on repeat.