Customer Reviews

Absolutely, Positively Alexander

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Judith Viorst, well known adult author and the mother of sons, uses real life frustrations for this humorous (because its so true) story line, featuring Alexander, the youngest brother in a a family with three boys.

The first book is the best - Alexander has the worst days ever in "Alexander and the Horrible No Good Very Bad Day" (the best of the stories). In "Alexander Who Used to Be Rich," he fantasizes about all you do with a dollar, while in the third book, he resists (as most kids do) the family's need to move far away.

My own sons have enjoyed these books - starting in 1972 and into the present. The stories are not dated, as any parent of a child like Alexander can tell you - every untied shoelace is a major tragedy, a move around the corner can be traumatic and 'unfair,' and a dollar can buy you just about anything when you're in that wonderful 4 to 8 year old time of life.

Parents reading the book will see the humor. Children hearing the words will feel as though they are being understood.

As kids grow up (8 to 9 is about the end of the line for this series) they'll begin to see the humor in Alexander's thoughts.

Well written, with illustrations that are well above average, these books are a wonderful addition to any family library. And as long as you are going to get one, you may as well get all three and save yourself time and money!

My wife and I secured "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" at a book fair at school. Our two boys loved listening to it. We read it often enough that we only had to pause for a moment to have the boys (in unison) insert the title phrase. We then obtained the other two titles contained in this book. We read them so much, we wore out the paperback bindings, so I bought the hard cover collection. The narratives, written in first persion tense, would also make excellent speaking parts for those school talent shows. The stories are simple, yet entertaining. Having two boys, I see a little of Alexander in each of them.

Though I'm twenty now, I still appreciated Viorst's view of the world through Alexander. When I was younger, I wanted to be him. But now, with a few years, I see that Alexander is more a lesson than a model. These stories are great for kids under age five, and I promise they'll remember them for a great while...even to the point where they walk into the young readers section at age eighteen looking for a copy.

When I discovered Judith Viorst's Alexander books I thought she must have been peeking into our home! How comforting to know that other families had Alexanders (my son, Alex is now 15)! And, I must confess, there's a bit of Alexander in me, too! It's great to be able to laugh at ourselves. Thanks, Judith Viorst and your terrific illustrators.

I grew up just loving Alexander in Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day. My mother read it to us a children (ok, so now you know I'm not too old!) and I was just thrilled to see such a good copy of not only it but the other Alexander stories as well. The library binding is very nice and this book will definitely be a keepsake for my children someday. If you like to have books to pass on, this one's for you!

I grew up with the Alexander books by Judith Voist and now plan to read them to my newborn son, Alexander :-), as he grows up. The stories are so meaningful to children that age, and having been a child that moved many times myslef, I know that he is a boy that many kids can relate too. The use of language is so colorful and playful that it makes you want to read it again and again.

My son's name is Alexander (goes by Alex). I gave this to him as a birthday gift and we have read it over and over many times. The three short stories are just the right length for a bedtime story. This book has humor and the boy, Alexander, is one boy that all children can relate too. The illustrations are great too! I highly recommend this for any child.

Alexander? He'd be quite middle-aged by now, perhaps with children of his own.

It would have been great if we had seen some stories of middle-school Alexander, teenage Alexander, Alexander at college, Alexander starting his career, meeting Mrs. Alexander, dealing with his own kids. . .

I was so excited to see all of the Alexander books in one hardbound volume! My paperback versions are all very worn and falling apart from love! I loved these as a child and my children love them along with me. A favorite in our home.

Okay, I'll admit it. It's cool to see the look on Alex's face when he gets books that have his name in them. And this was definitely a winner. We'd checked out 'the horrible, terrible, no-good, very bad day', so I knew he'd like this one. Of course when we read it together he reads what Alexander says. It's pretty cool.