Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
by Judith Viorst
illustrated by Ray Cruz
New York: Simon & Schuster, 1972
28 pp.
Age: 5 +
Interests: school, family, siblings, bad days, bad behaviour, moods
Other ‘Alexander’ books: Alexander, Who Used to be Rich Last Sunday; Alexander, Who Is Not (Do You Hear Me? I Mean It!) Going to Move
Alexander lists the bad things that happened to him today… and it’s a long, long list, from waking up with gum in his hair to going to bed and the cat wants to sleep with his brother instead of him. He decides he’s going to move to Australia.
A much beloved book about a bad day to beat all other bad days. Alexander is an extremely sympathetic character, even when he brings a few of his misfortunes down upon himself. Between bad luck, fickle schoolyard friendships, a dentist appointment and two older brothers who just won’t cut him any slack, Alexander scowls his way through this abysmal day. School-age children will totally identify with him, and the really wonderful lesson is that not all wrongs are righted – sometimes bad times just have to be survived and put behind you.
The drawings are fantastic – cranky and dishevelled Alexander is unforgettable.
Rarest Kind of Best 