Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible,
No Good, Very Bad Day
No Good, Very Bad Day
A Review by Amanda Kendall
Bibliography:
Viorst, Judith. 1972. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Ill. Ray Cruz. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. 0689300727
Plot Summary:
From the moment Alexander climbs out of bed one fateful morning, nothing goes right. It is just one of those days. He gets gum stuck in his hair. He gets in trouble at home and school. He gets in a fight. He has to go to the dentist and he has lima beans for dinner! Nothing, absolutely nothing in his day is good, so he's planning on moving to Australia.
Analysis:
Judith Viorst is a master storyteller. She creates characters that are real and full of voice. Alexander is no exception. His frustration and grumpy demeanor are palatable through each extensive and masterfully crafted sentence. From page one, the reader feels his every annoyance, large or small, yet sees the humor in Alexander's overreaction. The repetition of lines and phrases create continuity throughout and the reader can't help but cheer for Alexander as he realizes that "some days are like that. Even in Australia."
The exquisitely drawn black and white illustrations capture the enduring nature of this story and the universal truth that bad days happen no matter where you live. The details on each page reveal character attitudes and family dynamics. Alexander's expressions are particularly notable as they are drawn with such feeling and realism. Cruz's illustrations are the perfect compliment to this timeless tale.
The exquisitely drawn black and white illustrations capture the enduring nature of this story and the universal truth that bad days happen no matter where you live. The details on each page reveal character attitudes and family dynamics. Alexander's expressions are particularly notable as they are drawn with such feeling and realism. Cruz's illustrations are the perfect compliment to this timeless tale.
Awards & Reviews:
From Kirkus Review: "...truly attuned to a child's point of view."
From Goodreads: "The perennially popular tale of Alexander's worst day is a storybook that belongs on every child's bookshelf."
- 1977 Georgia's Children's Book Awards - Picture Storybook
- ALA Notable Children's Book
From Kirkus Review: "...truly attuned to a child's point of view."
From Goodreads: "The perennially popular tale of Alexander's worst day is a storybook that belongs on every child's bookshelf."
Connections:
- Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday. 0689711999
- Alexander, Who's Not (Do You Hear Me? I Mean It!) Going to Move. 0689820895
- The Tenth Good Thing About Barney. 0689712030
- LuLu and the Brontosaurus. 1416999620
- LuLu's Mysterious Mission. 1442497475
- LuLu Walks the Dogs. 1442435801
- Share with children of all ages on a tough day, so they know they are not alone.
- Use as a mentor text for writing a personal narrative.
- Compare and contrast various Alexander stories looking for common ideas and themes.
