independent reading grades 3-5
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is a 1972 ALA Notable Children's Book written by Judith Viorst and illustrated by Ray Cruz. It has also won a George G. Stone Center Recognition of Merit, a Georgia Children's Book Award, and is a Reading Rainbow book.

Independent Reading Level: 1st-2nd
Awards: George G. Stone Center recognition of Merit, Georgia Children's Book Award ( )

I love the humor and relatability of this book. It is about Alexander and how he is convinced everything that can go bad will. My only concern is his over the top ungratefulness that never really gets resolved but still an entertaining read for young children.

A creative and yet universal depiction of what an incredibly awful day for a child can feel like. The illustrations are very detailed and set the mood very well.

Alexander wakes up with gum in his hair and his day just goes downhill from there. His breakfast is no fun, his best friend has new besties and the shoes that he wants are out of stock leaving him with the plain ones, not to mention, he has a visit to the dentist looming in his future. His parents aren’t exactly sympathetic and it still isn’t over because before his day is done he is going to have to watch kissing on television and eat lima beans for dinner. (Actually, I think I got off easy. I HATE lima beans!!) The pencil and ink sketches by Ray Cruz are the perfect medium for conveying Alexander’s day.

Alexander is an ‘every kid’ as the success of the entire series proves and this book is just a classic. Which is why it is still in classrooms and libraries all over the world after nearly fifty years because it perfectly captures the fact that bad days just happen sometimes, even in Australia. ( )