Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (Alexander)
Published July 15th 1987 by Atheneum Books for Young Readers (first published 1972), Paperback 32 pages
The perennially popular tale of Alexander's worst day is a storybook that belongs on every child's bookshelf.
Alexander knew it was going to be a terrible day when he woke up with gum in this hair.
And it got worse...
His best friend deserted him. There was no dessert in his lunch bag. And, on top of all that, there were lima beans for dinner and kissing on TV!
This handsome new edition of Judith Viorst's classic picture book is sure to charm readers of all ages.
User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
Burned in my brain forever. First, because of the wonderful list of descriptors in the title, repeated throughout the story. I must have hit it at the right time in language development, because it stuck in my mind. I think I used that phrase "terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day," for a couple of decades, usually in jest or as a way of mocking my drama. Second, because it was the first library book I ever lost. I'm pretty sure I was freaked out, but I remember the librarians as being nicely firm about it. Yet it remains a guilty scar.
Rating: really liked it
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, Judith ViorstAlexander 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.
تاریخ نخستین خوانش روز بیست و نهم ماه اکتبر سال 2010میلادی
عنوان: یک روز ترسناک خیلی بد؛ نویسنده جودیت ویورست؛ مترجم زینب رضایی؛ تهران، پیدایش، سال1388؛ در32ص، مصور؛ برای گروه سنی هفت تا نه سال؛ شابک9789643497446؛ موضوع داستانهای نویسندگان ایالات متحده آمریکا - سده 20م
آن روز، یک روز سخت، ترسناک و بد برای «الکساندر» بود؛ صبح که از خواب بیدار شد، موهایش با آدامس به هم چسبیده بود؛ هنگام بلند شدن از رختخواب، پایش را روی اسکیت گذاشت، و به زمین خوردد؛ سپس ژاکتش را خیس کرد؛ «الکساندر» پیش بینی کرد، آنروز روز چندان خوبی برایش نخواهد بود؛ برای همین دلش خواست به «استرالیا» برود؛ آیا در «استرالیا» اوضاع بهتر خواهد بود؟
همه ی کودکان همانند «الکساندر» روزهایی را تجربه میکنند، که هیچ چیز درست پیش نمیرود؛ این کتاب میتواند به آنها یاری کند تا آن روزها را راحتتر از سر بگذرانند؛ نویسنده ی کتاب «جودیت ویورست»، روان شناس هستند، و کتابهای بسیاری را برای کودکان نوشته اند
تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 07/08/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی
Rating: really liked it
My son and I adore this book! It is a wonderful story about a kid who is really having a tough time. Maybe he should move to Australia? The artwork is wonderful. This is the PERFECT book for kids who are feeling the blues and need a bit of perspective. Fantastic.
Rating: really liked it
2 Bad Day ★'s “It was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.” 
I read this to my little niece the other day, let's just say we weren't very impressed by this book. I get the meaning behind it and it's true sometimes you just have a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Days where one thing after another go wrong and it puts you in a terrible mood but... still, I didn't like the overall negative feeling of this book. Really Alexander just came across as a little brat and was a bit annoying at times. I certainly won't be reading this one again and It's not one I'll be recommending either. It's just not for us!
“Some days are like that. Even in Australia.” 
Rating: really liked it
Who hasn't had this sort of a day? For Alexander, it starts out bad and just gets worse and worse.
A great book to share with a kid who gets frustrated when 'everything seems to go wrong for me!'
I love the illustrations in this, the simple situations gone bad, and Alexander's very real reactions to them.
Rating: really liked it
I bought this book in 1989. Well, my parents bought it for me. There's a half-peeled-off sticker that says, MY BOOK in red bubble/block lettering with "Philip" scrawled on the name line. I was in first grade.
I loved this book as a kid.
I read it tonight to my daughters for the first time. I'm pretty sure they didn't understand the message that everybody has bad days, no matter where you are, but it was fun reading to them - all tucked in and what not.
It was a nice piece of nostalgia for me, as well as making me picture myself as an adult and a kid at the same time. I wish I found a Junior Undercover Agent code ring in my breakfast cereal this morning, but I didn't. I didn't either, Alexander.
(Granted, I
did have coffee cake. One of the perks of growing up I guess.)
Rating: really liked it
I've read dozens of Judith Viorst's books....(my kids had most of them)....
A new book is coming out soon! Sounds wonderful!
Great books to give the grandchildren) .... (Lisi & Jan)...............
This review is in honor of *Jan*....who's daughter is having her first baby today!!!!!
Congratulations, JAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My candle is glowing .....in honor of the new Bambino!!!!
Sooooooooooo Happy for you 'grandma'!
Rating: really liked it
I thought this book was an appropriate book to read. Alexander is having a horrible day. He wakes up out of sorts and the day is one big horror show. I think what I like most about this story is the end. The mother comes in and she doesn't try to make it better or make light of it. She says, some days are like that. Basically - this is life and it's ok. This is part of the human experience. That is the best part to me.
I was sick yesterday, which is why I didn't post. I pretty much slept the entire day. I feel like I'm back in the land of the living today. It was a rough day.
The artwork is black and white drawings, nothing fancy. The kids related to this story instantly. Both of them were relating stories of bad days. They both gave the book 4 stars.
Rating: really liked it
One of the all-time classics. I loved this one as a kid, and I love it all the more as a grown-up reading it to my boys.
I'm dimly aware they made a movie based on the book, though I have no idea why.
If you watched the movie and haven't read this book, I fear you're done yourself a great injustice. Please consider picking up the book. It's well worth your time.
Rating: really liked it
I remember liking this book when I was a kid, but now it's kind of a downer. Like, I guess it's good that kids can empathize. There are going to be bad days. But still. Downerrrrr.
Rating: really liked it
"Some days are like that... Even in Australia."
This is one of those books that has so many levels (like a parfait, or an onion). It begs for multiple readings. On one level it is the story of Alexander, an ordinary kid whose day doesn't go as he wants it to. Yet it is also a treatise on the human condition - our selfishness and self-centeredness, the travails and hardships that assail each person's life, and the resolute courage needed to stand our ground and live our lives where we find ourselves, one day at a time. Even on the days we'd rather move to Australia.
Rating: really liked it
First Read: I read this at my sister's house and thought it was one of the best children's books I had ever read. I laughed and laughed. Enjoyed it so much.
Second * Read: Something about this book that has tickled me in every way. So I found another copy and have read it several times. Then this last week I went to the library and found a video of "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day." Again we enjoyed it so much and laughed and laughed. We don't always enjoy life as much as we should. Enjoy!!!
Rating: really liked it
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.
Rating: really liked it
“Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” (whew what a title) is a children’s book by Judith Viorst along with illustrations by Ray Cruz and it is about how a young boy named Alexander who ends up having a terrible day. “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” is truly one of the most memorable books ever created!
I have clearly enjoyed this book as Judith Viorst has done a great job at writing this book and Ray Cruz’s illustrations also contribute greatly to the story’s humor. Judith Viorst makes the story extremely humorous and creative as the book is narrated by Alexander himself as he tells the audience about the terrible day he is having and many children will definitely relate to Alexander’s situation as the situation appears from his own perspective. I also understand Alexander’s predicament since I had my share of bad days and I wished that I was somewhere else rather than the place I am at now when I am having a bad day. Ray Cruz’s illustrations are simply beautiful and hilarious, especially the image of Alexander with his matted hair and a scowl on his face all throughout the book. I also loved the black and white coloring used in this book as it reflects an old-fashioned feel to the story in a modern world.
“Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” is truly one of the most inspirational books for children who have had their share of bad days and I’m definitely sure that many children will enjoy this book as much as I did! I would recommend this book to children ages four and up since there is nothing inappropriate in this book.
Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog
Rating: really liked it
Not so much for preschool because it's a more formulated story and it's in black and white, but my 5 yr old loves it. About a boy who just has a bad day, something any kid can relate to. A great story.
