Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

by Judith Viorst, Ray Cruz (Illustrator)

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

An infinitely amusing picture book that touches on the important subject of how to handle bad days. They’re going to happen, you can’t avoid them, so why not try to understand them early? A great read-aloud that never gets old!

A Latino-centric movie adaptation is now streaming on Disney+!

From children’s book legend Judith Viorst comes the perennially popular tale of Alexander’s worst day. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is a story that belongs on every child’s bookshelf.

Alexander wakes up with gum in his hair and quickly realizes it’s going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. From missing out on the window seat in the car to getting in trouble at school, nothing seems to go his way. As the day unravels, Alexander’s mood gets worse, leaving him feeling cranky and convinced moving to Australia might be the only solution.

With relatable humor and timeless illustrations, this children’s book classic gently explores emotions, behavior, and the ups and downs of everyday life, making it the perfect story for teaching kids about feelings and how to handle a bad day.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780689711732
Publisher:	Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	07/15/1987
Series:	Alexander Series
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	9.50(w) x 7.30(h) x 0.20(d)
Lexile:	AD840L (what's this?)
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

About the Author

Judith Viorst is the author of the beloved Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, which has sold some four million copies; the Lulu books, including Lulu and the Brontosaurus; the New York Times bestseller Necessary Losses; four musicals; and poetry for children and adults. Her most recent books of poetry include What Are You Glad About? What Are You Mad About? and Nearing Ninety. She lives in Washington, DC.

Ray Cruz is the illustrator of the modern classics Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day and Alexander, Who Used To Be Rich Last Sunday.

Editorial Reviews

From the moment Alexander wakes up and finds gum in his hair, everthing goes wrong! His brothers both get prizes in their cereal boxes, his best friend demotes him to third-best friend, there are lima beans for dinner, and there is kissing on TV. All kids experience this type of day, and will be glad to find they are not alone!

Barnes & Noble Staff

[Editor’s Note: The following is a combined review with ALEXANDER, WHO’S NOT (DO YOU HEAR ME? I MEAN IT!) GOING TO MOVE and ALEXANDER, WHO USED TO BE RICH LAST SUNDAY.] -- Everyone loves the cranky, downtrodden, belligerent, and lovable Alexander. We've read and re-read Viorst's three picture books about him over the years. But no reader has experienced Alexander quite like this! Johnny Heller's whiny, often-wise grammar school hero is sufficiently self-righteous to elicit sympathy from kids and knowing smiles from adults. He never gets a seat by the window, he complains. And he only punches his brothers when they deserve it, he explains. His mother never puts interesting desserts in his lunch, he moans. And his money never lasts because saving money is too hard, he groans. He won't move, he threatens. He won't pack, he wails. He won't have any friends if he goes, he sobs. Sniffling and fussing, Heller's Alexander holds up a mirror for us all--and we laugh at our own reflections. T.B.

DEC/JAN 01 - AudioFile