First edition

An illustrated middle-grade misadventure → ages 9–12

The veryBadPlan

Notes from a Kid Who Meant Well

Book cover of The Very Bad Plan by Ali Babaee, an illustrated story for readers ages nine to twelve.

The Very Bad Plan is a funny illustrated novel about five friends, one ambitious school project, and the useful mess that happens when real life edits the plan.

Open the case Is it right for my reader?
  • 50quick chapters
  • 100+illustrations
  • 5good hearts

Book information reviewed 17 August 2026

Scroll to break the plan
THE INCIDENTPlan status: changing

What could possibly go wrong?

A plan is a story that hasn’t met real life yet.

This is not a guide to making good plans. A guide to good plans would be shorter, safer, and probably laminated.

It is the story of one school year, one notebook with the wrong name on the cover, and four friends who refuse to behave like supporting characters.

A
01 / EVENT

One impossible idea

Sam sees a forgotten room. Obviously, he makes a plan.

B
02 / EVENT

Fourteen forms

The plan meets school rules. School rules are undefeated.

C
03 / EVENT

Weather + hamster

Reality submits two edits nobody asked for.

D
04 / EVENT

Four other voices

The supporting characters refuse to stay in the background.

E
05 / EVENT

A better plan

Not perfect. Shared, honest, alive, and finally working.

Sam Carter writing a plan in his notebook at a desk while a dog sleeps nearby.
NOTE TO FUTURE ME #01Perfect is not the point.

The point is noticing what the plan could not.

Choose your way in

One story.
Three doors.

Adventure stays first. The useful conversations about planning, honesty, flexibility, friendship, and shared credit arrive naturally after it.

01 / READERS

Funny chapters.
Real story stakes.

See how short chapters, visual clues, and escalating mishaps shape the reading experience.

02 / FAMILIES & SCHOOLS

Talk about the mess
after the laugh.

Explore teamwork and planning without turning the story into a lecture or workbook.

03 / QUICK ANSWERS

Know the book
before they open it.

Age guidance, format details, classroom ideas, and clear answers for grown-ups.

THE VARIABLESFive people ≠ one opinion

Meet the crew

Big ideas.Small disasters.Good hearts.

Sam, Ben, Mia, Omar, and Leo, the five main characters in The Very Bad Plan.
01Starts the plan

Sam

Confidence first. Instructions later.

Sam Carter
02Keeps it real

Ben

Loyal, practical, usually hungry.

Ben Torres
03Finds the gaps

Mia

Organized, honest, allergic to chaos.

Mia Patel
04Raises the volume

Omar

A born performer learning when to listen.

Omar Haddad
05Redraws the map

Leo

Quiet ideas. Very visible results.

Leo Park

Recovered from the plan

Illustrations do more than decorate the pages. Expressions, signs, weather, notebook details, and physical comedy carry part of the story.

Sam and his friends drawing a large orange arrow together at a classroom table.
FIELD NOTE 02A plan gets better when everyone can draw on it.
The five friends carrying their school project through heavy rain.
WEATHER EVENTThe weather changes. So does the team.
Students and adults gathered around the finished Story Lab in warm evening light.
ROOM FOUNDA room nobody wanted becomes a place everyone needs.
A handwritten letter to future students from Sam, Mia, Omar, Ben, and Leo.
PASS IT ONTell the truth early. Share the credit. Keep snacks outside.

What survives the disaster

Makea plan.Let itbend.Make the winbig enough for everyone.

Life isn’t about making every plan perfect. It is about enjoying the moments along the way while leaving room for other people’s ideas.

Sam and his friends working together in a garden outside their school.

The grown-up behind the bad plan

Ali
Babaee

A father and storyteller whose children have always been his most enthusiastic audience.

Their joy in his made-up stories inspired him to turn one idea into The Very Bad Plan. It is a reminder that planning matters, but so do curiosity, kindness, teamwork, and knowing when to change course.

“Sometimes a plan going wrong is simply the beginning of a better adventure.”
Read the story behind the story
FIRST EDITION / PRE-LAUNCHNot perfect.
Nearly ready.

Kindle · paperback · hardcover

The next move
is yours.

The first edition is preparing for launch on Amazon. The official purchase links will appear here as soon as each format is live.

Amazon release coming soonParents & guardians ↗

Readers under 13: please write through a parent or guardian. Never include private information.