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| View Larger Image | Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
by Judith Viorst
by Ray Cruz
| | List Price: | $7.99 |  | | Available: | Usually ships in 24 hours | | | | | Sales Rank: | 381 | | Studio: | Aladdin | | | Binding: | Paperback | | Reading Level: | Ages 4-8 | | Number Of Pages: | 32 | | Publication Date: | July 15, 1987 | | Publisher: | Aladdin |
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FEATURES |
- Made with the Best Quality Material with your child in mind.
- Top Quality Children's Item.
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ACCESSORIES |
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EDITORIAL REVIEWS |
Product Description
The story is about Alexander and his very bad day. Read about his best friend that deserted him, and no dessert in his lunch bag and lima beans for dinner and kissing on TV. Paperback. |
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 (Average Customer Rating: 4.5 based on 174 reviews)
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Everyone Can Be Grumpy 
Everyone can be grumpy (even some reviewers of this book).
This book takes you through the day of a crabby boy. There is no moral of the story, nothing redeeming or enlightening happens at the end to save the day.
That's where the parent/care taker has to step in. This book has less value as a "read it and tuck you in" story than as a "read it and talk about it" story. How do you deal with being crabby? Are you going to be crabby all day? What can you do throughout the day so you don't wake up crabby and go to bed grumpy like Alexander? Don't expect every book/toy to do all of the work for you. Sometimes the best stories are those that open up an ongoing dialog beyond the pages.
August 30, 2008 | |
Does not send the right message to children - it's depressing and discouraging 
I don't understand how there are so many positive reviews of this book! It's awful. Simply awful. There is nothing positive about this book at all.
I'm trying to teach my son how to be content with what he has and things that come his way. (Heck, I'm still trying to learn that myself.) Then a book like this comes along and on EVERY page you have a little boy with a whiny, complaining spirit. He is the most discontent character I have ever seen.
Kids have enough trouble these days - why would you go out of your way to teach them to murmur and complain? Or encourage them to do so? It's really quite ridiculous.
I got this book from the library (after browsing Amazon for books with high reviews) but this is definitely one we're taking back without me reading it to my son.
August 27, 2008 | |
Is there a Grumpus Among Us?
This is a solid pick in my boys' bedtime reading collection.
I've found the trick to reading this book at bedtime is to tackle it as one long sentence with breathless pacing, punctuated by exasperated gasps and groans. My kids giggle with delight as Alexander grumps through his day, complaining about every perceived slight or wound as though their sum could prove to be fatal.
The added bonus is that this book gives a name to my sons' occasional lapses. When they are feeling miserable I only need ask, "Are you having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day?"
And that usually brings a smile.
July 29, 2008 | |
It Was Fun, Bad Day Or Not 
I've seen some of the other reviews and how this book is too negative. I liked it! Things don't always so as planned, but this book offers a refreshing and funny way to introduce that concept to your child. The pictures are great and the message is clear that despite everything being topsy-turvy, it'll be allright and we'll make it through. I recommend this book. Another book I like and read to my son is "Ladybug Baby Bug", by Janice and Mark Perkins, which is all good. For those that thought this book was too negative, try it for it's positive family message and colorful illustrations.
July 26, 2008 | |
No redeeming qualities to this book
I thought, after reading the description and some of the reviews, that at least there would be something positive to counteract Alexander's bad experiences throughout the day. The only trace of anything positive is at the very end of the book when it mentions that even in Australia some days are bad too.
This child has everything going wrong for him, from the time he got up in the morning...gum in hair, tripped on his skateboard, didn't get a toy in his breakfast cereal when his brothers did. He thinks he'll move to Australia.
On the way to school he doesn't get a window seat. At school the teacher liked someone else's picture of a sailboat over Alexander's invisible castle (he didn't draw anything). He left out the number 16 at counting time. He "could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day."
And on it goes. So far, his complaints are fairly innoculous. This kind of stuff can happen to any kid, but his behavior begins escalating into bad behavior. "I hope you sit on a tack, I said to Paul. I hope the next time you get a double-decker strawberry ice-cream cone the ice cream part falls off the cone part and lands in Australia."
More everyday "bad" stuff happens to him--he didn't get dessert in his lunch, a trip to the dentist reveals a cavity. Then at the car his brother made him fall and his other brother calls him a crybaby--so he punches him.
He makes a mess at his father's office. He hates lima beans (served at dinner). He hates kissing (saw it on TV). Bath was too hot. Soap in his eyes. Hates his pajamas. Goes to bed thinking of his terrible day, and his mom assures him some days are like that, even in Australia.
The whole thing is so negative. He's a grouch. Why should I read this to my child? (too late, I already did, but never again)
June 30, 2008 | |
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