Publisher Atheneum Books for Young Readers; Reprint edition (July 15, 1987)
Language English
ISBN-10 0689711735
Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day Judith Viorst Ray Cruz 8601400434437 Books Reviews
I worked in a High School. The School Librarian had this book. Students having a bad day would go in to the library and she would tell them to sit down, relax and then would give them this book to read. From the boy who didn't make the team, to the girl whose boyfriend broke up with her, to the student who just blew a test or had a bad day, she would make the student comfortable and have them read this book. Within a few minutes, the student sitting quietly reading this book would calm down, smile and/or laugh. So, when my Grandson fell off the swing at school and broke his elbow and arm last week, I got him this book. He is 8 and he loved it. He giggled all through it and suddenly the world wasn't such a bad place afterall -) Kathy
I purchased this book for my six year old based on the rave reviews and because it was on her reading list. She did not like it and I do not blame her. It was not positive at all and even the ending was depressing.
We pass this around the office as an "award" for the person who has had the crappiest day/week. A lovely pick-me-up!
I really love this stuff, it’s organic and it has little to no taste. Video and photos are after the first use. I can see a big difference in the shade of my teeth. I will definitely buy again. All I did was brush twice for two minutes each with the powder, then brush with my regular toothpaste for 1 mom to help remove black residue from powder.
* don’t pay attention to crust in eyes and everything. I just woke up
My great grandson started kindergarten this year. He has a quick response to things that gets him into trouble. This book about Alexander allows you to explain Alexander's problems and that there are consequences to his actions. It's a great bedtime, let's talk book for little people with a quick a response button.
That was the phrase that my 3 and a half year old used one day. He'd gotten in trouble at daycare. He had an 'accident' right after we got home. He broke a toy. He was cranky and awful. So, at the end of my rope, I pulled him into my lap and asked him to tell me what was wrong, and he said that phrase. He looked me in the eyes and said, 'Momma, today- I am Alexander'. And then he started to cry.
I had this book when I was a little girl, and loved it, so I of course had to have it for my son. I remembered it comforting me. I remember commiserating with poor Alexander, who was so set upon.
And, my wonderful little boy finds the same comfort in Alexander as I once did. The knowledge that- sometimes, the world is not a fair place. Sometimes everything just seems to go wrong.
This book gives us a wonderful starting point for a conversation. We talk about how Alexander's choices are making things harder for himself. We talk about how some things just aren't going Alexander's way. We talk about things that Alexander could have done instead, to perhaps make things better, instead of worse. And, one of the most important things that we talk about is how, no matter what, I love him. Even when everything goes wrong. Even when he isn't acting very nice. Nothing that he can do can make me love him any less, he can only make me love him more. And- tomorrow is another day. We can always go to bed, and try to have a better day, and make better choices, tomorrow.
I read some of the negative reviews on this book, and they really confuse me. Are children not supposed to have bad days? Or, if they have bad days, are they not supposed to be able to talk about them? The safety of cuddling up with Momma and being able to talk about how everything is going wrong is one of the greatest gifts a child can be given. I can't make the world a wonderful place- but I can help my son deal with it, when it isn't. Alexander won't bring world peace, but I know that it helped my little boy explain to me why he was acting so terrible- he was really just sad, and needed me to understand that he felt the world was unfair sometimes.
So, while I can hope against hope that my son will always have good days, and that when faced with upsetting things he will act with nothing but smiles and good cheer- I realize that I am raising a person, and not a machine. Some days are like that. Even in Australia.
I purchased Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day to read to my little girls at bedtime.
This book is beautifully illustrated. My girls loved the story, and the book is a nice size with quality weight paper pages. I think the little ones can kind of relate to all the terrible things that happen to Alexander in the book, and it's a nice way to kind of let them know that sometimes their grumpy feelings are normal. This is now one of our favorite nightly stories, and they ask for it often.
I actually bought this book, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day, around the age of 4 years old. He was having a hard time with friends and school so I went to our local book store and found this book. I had a great time reading it to him and he enjoyed it so much that we read it every night. When I saw that carried the book I ordered one for me just for the memory of a wonderful time with my son. It now sits on the coffee table and visitors do pick it up and read it. It's a fabulous book - buy a copy for yourself!
