Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, NO Good, Very Bad Day

Author/Illustrator: Judith Viorst/ Ray Cruz

About the Author:

Judith Viorst is an author, journalist and psychoanalysis researcher, but she is most known for her children's literature.  She lives in Washington D.C. with her husband and has three grown sons.  Viorst is not only known for writing the Alexander series, but for the popular children's book, The Tenth Good Thing About Barney.

Genre: Fiction
Grade Level: 2-4

Synopsis:
This book is about a boy, Alexander, who is having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.  He talks us through his day and tells about everything that happens to him from the time he wakes up with gum in his hair until his Mickey Mouse night light burned out.  Alexander decides that he wants to move to Australia, to escape his problems, and when something goes wrong he mentions that he might be there instead.

Pre Reading Activity:

Have the students predict why they think that Alexander is going to have a bad day.  What do they think will happen to him?

Post Reading Activity:

Have the students write about a bad day that they have had. What happened to them on their bad day?  Did they fix their bad day? How?

Reflection:

I enjoyed this book because it really sends a message to kids that everyone has a bad day.  The kids will see that things happen and that not every day will be a bad day.  This book also has great illustrations to go with the story and makes Alexander's bad day seem humorous.  I think that students will enjoy this even when they are having their own bad day.