Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (Paperback)

"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."

So begin the trials and tribulations of the irascible Alexander, who has been earning the sympathy of readers since 1972. 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. 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. He resolves several times to move to Australia.

Judith Viorst flawlessly and humorously captures a child's testy temperament, rendering Alexander sympathetic rather than whiny. Our hero's gum-styled hair and peevish countenance are artfully depicted by Ray Cruz's illustrations. 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. (Ages 5 to 9) --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Objecting loudly to his family's plans to relocate, the hero of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day "makes a gratifying return," said PW. Ages 5-8.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Alexander's rotten day is the perfect lead-off for this humorous collection of Judith Viorst's stories and poems about the ups and downs of childhood, read by Blythe Danner. Also included are: Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday and The Tenth Good Thing About Barney.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

He could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. He went to sleep with gum in his mouth and woke up with gum in his hair. When he got out of bed, he tripped over his skateboard and by mistake dropped his sweater in the sink while the water was running. He could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. It was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Nothing at all was right. Everything went wrong, right down to lima beans for supper and kissing on TV. What do you do on a day like that? Well, you may think about going to Australia. You may also be glad to find that some days are like that for other people too. END --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Judith Viorst is the author of several children’s books, including Alexander, Who’s Not (Do You Hear Me? I Mean It!) Going to Move. She lives in Washington, D.C.

--This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Few authors empathize with elementary-aged kids with the humor and insight of Judith Viorst. In this collection of stories and poems, the angst of Alexander's money blues and never-go-right days, the steadfastness of friendship, the profound loss and family caring when a pet dies, and the power of poetry to explore this emotional range make a fine listening package. Blythe Danner whines (with a New York twang) at disappointment and injustice, worries when a mother's words prove untrue, and gently reflects the initial sadness of death. Her vocal repertoire of emotions is as broad as Viorst's. In the selected poems, especially, the wide range of the characters' feelings shines through. A.R. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.