Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
by Judith Viorst (Author), Ray Cruz (Illustrator)
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Viorst’s children’s books are a joy to read aloud. They have a rhythm that simply demands reading out loud, even if you’re reading them to yourself. This story is told in first person by a boy who is having a really bad day. The repetition of the phrase in the title, “Terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day” encourages children to chime in and to use the phrase when they’re having their own bad days. Read it with lots of agonized expression!
After reading, make your own bad day book. Using the same phrase, let your children substitute their own ideas for what makes a really bad day. Then make a good day book. What new words does your child want to substitute for the bad day words in the title? It’s a good time to talk about words that convey emotion.
Don’t forget to learn about Australia, which is where Alexander wants to move until he finds out they have bad days there, too.
