Alexander And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

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Illustrator : Ray Cruz

Product Details

Author : Judith Viorst
Binding : Paperback
EAN : 9780689711732
Edition : Reissue
Number of Pages : 32
Product Group : Book
Publication Date : 1987-07-15
Publisher : Aladdin
Reading Level : Ages 4-8

ASIN : 0689711735

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Editorial Reviews

From Amazon.com

"I went to sleep with gum in my mouth and now there's gum in my hair and when I got out of bed this morning I tripped on the skateboard and by mistake I dropped my sweater in the sink while the water was running and I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day."

So begin the trials and tribulations of the irascible Alexander, who has been earning the sympathy of readers since 1972. People of all ages have terrible, horrible days, and Alexander offers us the cranky commiseration we crave as well as a reminder that things may not be all that bad. As Alexander's day progresses, he faces a barrage of bummers worthy of a country- western song: getting smushed in the middle seat of the car, a dessertless lunch sack, a cavity at the dentist's office, stripeless sneakers, witnessing kissing on television, and being forced to sleep in railroad-train pajamas. He resolves several times to move to Australia.

Judith Viorst flawlessly and humorously captures a child's testy temperament, rendering Alexander sympathetic rather than whiny. Our hero's gum-styled hair and peevish countenance are artfully depicted by Ray Cruz's illustrations. An ALA Notable Book, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is a great antidote to bad days everywhere, sure to put a smile on even the crabbiest of faces. (Ages 5 to 9)

Customer Reviews

Adorable (2006-12-28)

I think this is one of the best kids books I've read. It is warm, and funny. At the same time it reminds us that everyone has bad days! I adore this book not only because it's an excellent children's book, but because it appeals to the child in all of us. Another such book is [...]. Make them available to your children.

I can relate to this! But Alexander could have had a better attitude! (2006-07-31)

A classic that we'll never tire of! Poor little Alexander ... things just didn't go right all day long ... from the moment he woke up with gum in his hair. I would say he was having a very bad 'hairday!" Ha-ha ... A charming, delightfully illustrated book.Also recommended: The Toonies Invade Silicon Valley, Wild About Books, Fairy Chronicles, Willow King, Dragon Rider, The Anybodies, The Nobodies, The Boy Under the Bed

Uplifting , funny, make you feel good book (2006-02-21)

I very much enjoyed this book as a child. Always felt better after hearing it and couldn't wait to hear it again, and again and again!!!!Please tell me how such a "negitive book" can make you feel so warm and happy after reading it??? This really is a great book. Never mind the senseless few individuals who state otherwise. Bad days happen to everyone. Kids enjoy hearing stuff they can relate to and laugh with such as this book.

Run-on sentences and extremely negative energy. (2004-06-30)

Allow me to quote the first page of this book:"I went to sleep with gum in my mouth and now there's gum in my hair and when I got out of bed this morning I tripped on the skateboard and by mistake I dropped my sweater in the sink while the water was running and I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day."

This is not posting on an Internet forum about your favorite movies where you can write what, how much, and however you want; it's a book written for children, and we can't have blatant mistakes such as run-on sentences. Therefore, I'm wondering how this page, as well as many other sentences in the book, made it past the editor(s).

As I finished the first page, the five year old child I was reading to, looked at me funny and wondered why I seemed out of breath. Even she noticed the run-on sentences and found it an awkward listen. So for the rest of the book, where I deemed it appropriate, I paused as if there were actual periods and commas where there should be.

Not only is this book an expert at run-on sentences, but it also showcases an extremely negative attitude in a boy. That may have been justified had the book addressed the issue by the end, but it alas, it doesn't. It just plays it off as if it's normal for children to be this negative. Many people wrote that they can relate to this child and his negative experiences, but if you stretch it, you can say that in reference to many other children's books as well.

Negative people give off negative energy, and without ways to deal with this issue, this is not the kind of book I want children exposed to.

An extremely negative character and ugly grammar does not make a good children's book. I would give it no stars if Amazon allowed it. This is the worst children's book I have ever purchased.

I found a kindred. (2004-06-13)

As a child plagued with bouts of unluck, I thought I'd found a kindred when I stumbled over the beleaguered Alexander and his tale. He was everything I was. I found this book tucked away in an elementary school's library at a very young age and thought it was hysterical....and I felt the utmost empathy for Alexander, of course.

Everyone has days like these. Grownups can also surely relate to it. I know I still can. It's a great book and I don't see why so many people have posted negative reviews; perhaps they never have bad days??

Children will find a delightful and compassionate friend in Alexander; I would reccomend this book - vehemently - to anyone with children. Or without - if you'd simply like a good smile.

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