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

Bibliography

Viorst, Judith. 1972. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Ill. by Ray Cruz. New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN0689300727

Plot Summary

Alexander is having one of those bad days. It is one of those days where nothing is going his way at school, at home, or out and about. If only he lived in Australia! Everyone would get a window seat, there would be a dessert in each lunch box and the Mickey Mouse night light would never burn out. Alexander learns a lesson, that he might not like, but one we all must learn. Even people in Australia have terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days.

Critical Analysis

Alexander is a young boy who is having a bad day. One of those days everyone can have regardless of their age, creating a character we can all relate to. Like any person that is having a rough day, Alexander thinks the world is out to get him. And just as we all do, he wants to escape. Young readers who are reading this story for the first time and adults who are reading it for the 10th time to their children can relate to Alexander’s need to escape his terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

Judith Viorst has created a simple plot with a problem that grows and grows and grows. The solution to his problem is just as simplistic with a simple answer: bad days happen, even to those in Australia. The concept is a simple one to understand for the young readers the story is intended for, but a lesson that even the adult readers need to hear from time to time. The final illustration of the book leaves the reader with the hope that going to bed allows us to wake up to new not so terrible day.

Alexander’s setting is one that students experience every day, just one more aspect that makes this story so relatable. Jay Cruz has created illustrations full of detail that take the setting to a deeper level. The reader is able to feel the pain Alexander feels sitting at the lunch table with no dessert and understand the frustrations of being in bed unable to sleep and looking across the room to see two happy, sleeping roommates. Even with reading through this story several times, new details popped out in the illustrations each time making the setting even more realistic.

Everybody has their bad days no matter where you are. It’s a underlying theme in life and it is the theme of this book. Without being preachy or repetitive Judith Viorst has taught us that everyone has those days when things just aren’t going our way. It’s a part of life and we have to cope with it. Sometimes, just as with Alexander, the solution to all of our problems is to get a good night’s sleep.

This book was written much the way I consider a child Alexander’s age to speak or write. The text opens with a run on sentence that seems to go on for hours. The way it is written forces the read to speed through without taking a real breath, setting the tone of the story reminiscent of a child’s way of speaking. This same tone is evident throughout the story.

The illustrations by Ray Cruz only add to the gloomy tone of the story being told by Alexander. His detailed pen and paper drawings share with the reader the full range of emotions felt by Alexander from depression, to disgust to the anxiety felt throughout his day. The details of the illustrations pull the reader into the setting giving them new bit and pieces to notice with each reading, keeping the story fresh and loved time after time.

Review Excerpts

1988 winner of the George G. Stone Center for Children’s Books Recognition of Merit Award

“This handsome new edition of Judith Viorst’s classic picture book is sure to charm readers of all ages.” -Simon and Schuster

Connections

A unit for Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
A list of interdisciplinary activities for Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
A Good Day Lesson

Other Books by Judith Viorst:
Alexander, Who Used to be Rich Last Sunday
Alexander, Who is Not (Do You Hear Me? I Mean It!) Going to Move
I'll Fix Anthony
My Mama Says there Aren't any Zombies, Ghosts, Vampires, Creatures, Demons, Monsters, Fiends, Goblins or Things