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.

Our hero's gum-styled hair and peevish countenance are artfully depicted by Ray Cruz's illustrations.

Judith Viorst flawlessly and humorously captures a child's testy temperament, rendering Alexander sympathetic rather than whiny. He resolves several times to move to Australia. 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. 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. So begin the trials and tribulations of the irascible Alexander, who has been earning the sympathy of readers since 1972. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is the book children need help them understand the downside of things in a positive way.'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.' Through the story of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day children learn that everyone has a bad day, but when looked at closely things might not seem so bad after all. However, in the end Alexander finds comfort in the words from his mother when she explains that some days are just bad days … even in Australia. As the story goes on Alexander discovers that things don’t get immediately better, unlike most children’s story. In Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, Judith Viorst uses a more realistic view of problems children face, and that fact draws children in. Particularly funny to the children I’ve read this story to is the phrase that Alexander repeats to himself when things go south … “I think I’ll move to Australia”. Children will love the mishaps David finds himself in as well as his struggles with his older siblings. And, on top of all that, there were lima beans for dinner and kissing on TV This handsome new edition of Judith Viorsts classic picture book is sure to charm. From the moment Alexander wakes up and finds gum in his hair he knows it is going to be a bad day, and he is correct. The book tells the story of a young boy named Alexander and his bad day that is filled with one crisis after another. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst is a wonderful children’s book that can be enjoyed by all ages.

Horrible terrible no good day book