Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst


"Who needs sixteen?"

Bibliography:
Viorst, Judith. 1972. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Illustrated by Ray Cruz. New York: Little Simon. ISBN: 9781442463165

Plot Summary:
Alexander wakes with sticky hair from the previous night's bedtime gum-chewing, thus starting his terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. As if Alexander's day couldn't get any worse, the events throughout the story continue to decline into a steady pace of defeat, including the teacher's preference for Paul's sailboat drawing over his invisible castle to yucky kissing on TV. Will the day get any better, or is Alexander destined to move to Australia (where nothing goes wrong) to escape the terribleness that pursues? Alexander may have the worst day ever, but he learns the importance of how everyone, at some time, has a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

Critical Analysis:
Poor Alexander. From the book's first page, readers will sympathize with Alexander and reminisce on terrible days when we have felt alone and that life will never get better. Viorst's beloved classic is still celebrated nearly 50 years later with Alexander, a self-assured character who has a strong sense of emotions and sentiment. Although the story doesn't represent cultural markers, children of all backgrounds can relate to Alexander's day, where nothing goes right.
  
The story's setting is easy to follow as readers live through a day in Alexander's life from when he wakes up until he finally rests for bedtime. The author's literary elements of repetition emphasize the story's tone as Alexander continues to predict that he could tell he would have a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.  The theme is subtle and revealed at the end of the story, when Alexander's mom casually mentions how some days are worse than others, even for people in Australia; this is an important message for anyone who ever feels alone or unheard. This story teaches us that everybody has bad days, no matter where we are in the world, but life will get better, and readers of all ages can relate to that message.
 
The version of the book that I'm reviewing is an e-book, and Alexander is illustrated in full color while the rest of the story is in black-and-white. Alexander's simple addition of color helps make the story come alive as readers focus on the protagonist. The facial expressions drawn by Ray Cruz are realistic and perfectly convey how Alexander is feeling or reacting on each page, which sets the mood, tension, and pace. The illustrations also include some diverse characterization. Overall, Cruz successfully compliments the text by portraying Alexander's emotions and innocence with subtle details throughout the book, such as the invisible castle (a blank piece of paper).
 
Everyone will enjoy reading Alexander's story, even those who may think that he complains too much because, after all, he's only a kid who is having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day, which is a relevant experience we all share. As Alexander discovers that everyone experiences terrible days, readers will also learn that no matter how bad the day is, it will get better soon.

Review Excerpts:
Awards & Recognitions:

  • ALA Notable Children's Books
  • Reading Rainbow Book
  • Georgia Children's Book Award
  • George G. Stone Center Recognition Of Merit
  • Top 100 Picture Books #8 by School Library Journal.
From Kirkus Reviews, "If Alexander's mother is smart to offer casual sympathy without phoney consolation, Cruz and Viorst accord readers the same..."

Connections:
  • Share a story of a bad day, why it was terrible, and how it got better. 
  • Draw your best invisible castle.
  • Share your dessert with someone who doesn't have one. I bet it could make that person's bad day better!  
Follow more of Alexander's story here: 
  • Viorst, Judith. Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday. Illustrated by Ray Cruz.
    ISBN: 9780689711992
  • Viorst, Judith. Alexander, Who's Not (Do You Hear Me? I Mean It!) Going to Move. Illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser. ISBN: 9780689820892
  • Viorst, Judith. Alexander, Who's Trying His Best to Be the Best Boy Ever. Illustrated by Isidre Monés. ISBN: 9781481423533 
Other books by Judith Viorst: 
  • Viorst, Judith. And Two Boys Booed. Illustrated by Sophie Blackall. ISBN: 9780374303020 (Also featured on my blog for Hello Lighthouse!) 
  • Viorst, Judith. I'll Fix Anthony. Illustrated by Arnold Lobel. ISBN: 9780689712029
  • Viorst, Judith. Lulu and the Brontosaurus. Illustrated by Lane Smith. ISBN: 9781416999614
  • Viorst, Judith. Lulu Walks the Dogs. Illustrated by Lane Smith. ISBN: 9781442435797
  • Viorst, Judith. Super-Completely and Totally the Messiest!. Illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser. ISBN: 9781416942009
Georgia Children's Book Award Winners: 
  • Clanton, Ben. It Came in the Mail. ISBN: 9781481403603. 2017-2018 Winner. 
  • Higgins, Ryan T. We Don't Eat Our Classmates. ISBN: 9781368003551. 2020 Winner. 
  • Sima, Jessie. Not Quite Narwhal. ISBN: 9781481469098. 2018-2019 Winner.

Extra Content: To Kick Those Boredom Blues.

Follow along with a storytime:
  

Song Pairing: Bad Day by Daniel Powter

Movie Trailer: Watch the film adaptation on Disney Plus!