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

by Judith Viorst, Ray Cruz (Illustrator)

Overview

The perennially popular tale of Alexander’s worst day is now a board book that belongs on every child’s bookshelf.

Alexander is not having a great day. He has to endure gum in his hair, sitting in the middle of the backseat, third-best-friend status, no dessert at lunch, lima beans, railroad pajamas, and kissing on TV—all in one day! Maybe he’ll just move to Australia.

This funny and endearing story has delighted readers for more than forty years, and now it’s available as Classic Board Book with artwork that showcases Alexander—and only Alexander—in full color, underscoring the misery (and comedy) of his awful 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
Sales rank:	1,938
Product dimensions:	9.52(w) x 7.42(h) x 0.12(d)
Lexile:	AD970L (what's this?)
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

About the Author

Judith Viorst was born and brought up in New Jersey and has lived in Washington, DC, since 1960, when she married Milton Viorst, a political writer. A graduate in 1981 of the Washington Psychoanalytic Institute, Viorst writes in many different areas: science books, children’s chapter and picture books—including the beloved Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, which has sold some four million copies; adult fiction and nonfiction including the New York Times bestseller, Necessary Losses; poetry for children and adults, and four musicals. Her most recent book of poetry for children, What Are You Glad About? What Are You Mad About? was published in 2016. Lulu Is Getting a Sister is the fourth book in the Lulu series.

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

Alexander is a young boy who is having the worst day of his life. He wakes up with gum in his hair and does not receive a prize in his cereal box. This is just the tip of the iceberg. His day quickly becomes even more tumultuous. He is scolded at school and struggles to learn how to navigate his social world. While it would seem that Alexander is the main perpetrator in letting his day get out-of-control, Vorst does a great job of presenting a child’s perspective. It is easy to relate to Alexander’s plight, and this is might be why the title continues to be a favorite among children and adults alike. This edition presents Alexander’s full story in the form of a board book. This is a unique choice, since the reading level of the text is much higher than the book’s format would suggest. It might also be difficult for a young child to sit through the lengthy story. Color has been added to this version of the book, but only to the illustrations of Alexander. In a way, this adds to the sense of Alexander’s feeling of being misunderstood. Given that this title is available in picture book format, this board book is probably suited best for parents looking for a more complex story to read to their young children. Reviewer: Brandon West; Ages 3 to 5.

Children's Literature - Brandon West