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Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day Board book – 7 January 2014

by Judith Viorst (Author), Ray Cruz (Illustrator)

4.8 6,649 ratings

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A Latino-centric movie adaptation is coming soon to Disney+!

From children's book legend Judith Viorst comes the perennially popular tale of Alexander's worst day. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is a story that belongs on every child's bookshelf.

Alexander 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.

About the Author

Judith Viorst is the author of the beloved Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, which has sold some four million copies; the Lulu books, including Lulu and the Brontosaurus; the New York Times bestseller Necessary Losses; four musicals; and poetry for children and young adults. Her most recent books of poetry include What Are You Glad About? What Are You Mad About? and Nearing Ninety.

Ray Cruz is the illustrator of the modern classics Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day and Alexander, Who Used To Be Rich Last Sunday.

Reading age

2 - 4 years
Print length

34 pages
Language

English
Grade level

Preschool and up
Lexile measure

AD840L
Dimensions

18.73 x 2.03 x 13.97 cm
Publisher

Little Simon
Publication date

7 January 2014
ISBN-10

1442498161
ISBN-13

978-1442498167
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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Little Simon; Brdbk edition (7 January 2014)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Board book ‏ : ‎ 34 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1442498161
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1442498167
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 2 - 4 years
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 18.73 x 2.03 x 13.97 cm

Best Sellers Rank: 290,046 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 3,030 in Children's Books on Emotions & Feelings (Books)
- 3,578 in Growing up Fiction for Children
- 8,745 in Humour for Children (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.8 6,649 ratings

About the author

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Judith Viorst

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Judith Viorst has written many books for children, including the classics Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day and its sequels, and If I Were in Charge of the World and Other Stories. She is also the author of Just in Case, illustrated by Diana Cain Bluthenthal. She lives with her husband, Milton, in Washington D.C.

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Dianne W

A timeless classic - bad days can happen to anyone and we can all get through them - recommended

Reviewed in Australia on 27 October 2020

I liked this book. The story is simple but everyone can relate to it - some days it's just safer to stay in bed.

Alexander is having a horrible day - everything that can go wrong is going wrong for him. Things are going wrong at home, things are going wrong at school, things are going wrong after school. He just can't catch a break. He is so frustrated he threatens to run away to Australia. And at the very end of the book his mother tells him that people also have bad days in Australia.

The story is well written and frustration oozes from every beautifully illustrated page and by the end we feel very sorry for poor Alexander. But it's also a comforting book although it doesn't end with any reassuring platitudes. The message is that wherever we are in the world, we all have bad days and we just have to survive them as best we can.

Recommended.

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Stephanie Eddington

Doesn't work on Kindle

Reviewed in Australia on 2 March 2015

Verified Purchase

This doesn't work properly on Kindle. The text is so small you can't even read it. Such a waste :(

One person found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

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Rejane

Excellent book for children (and adults)

Reviewed in the United States on 15 February 2024

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Great lesson in learning that life is not perfect, no matter your expectations or age.
I purchased that book when my children were young. I used it when my grandchildren were growing up. Now I often give a copy of it as baby gifts

JamJam

Great bedtime story!

Reviewed in Canada on 9 October 2023

Verified Purchase

Fun book to read at bedtime! It’s a nice change from the usual storylines

Fabio

Material de qualidade - entrega no prazo.

Reviewed in Brazil on 20 June 2022

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Material de qualidade - entrega no prazo.