caconti's Full Review: Judith Viorst - Alexander and the Terrible, Horrib...
This review is part of the extensive Children's Book Write-Off, a wonderful celebration of those childhood favorites which helped shape us, for better and for worse. I'm joined in this endeavor by the numerous and illustrious list as follows: forkids, Leah, gracef, KristinThomas, caconti, cornelia, conradd, stonehousellc, Grouch, auntnono, halfsweet, taurusmoon, DoubleCoog, caravan70, kcfoxy, mshawpyle, sleestakk, kchowell, emlin, CurtisEdmonds, fdknight, WorkingMomof2, expono, kimmiko, Bonies7, pogomom, Redlass, poseidon, jrk, sweetpaulie, ErgoPropterHoc, andy.
As the son of a kindergarten teacher, I spent my formative years happily buried under a mountain of children's books. I was a lover of books from day one, mercilessly forcing family members and babysitters to constantly read to me. My favorite book of all? Hands down it has to be Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. It was my passion, the security blanket that I carried with me wherever I went, forecasting my future choice of an English major.
Over the course of 5 years of reading it on an almost daily basis, according to my mother, I managed to wear through 10 copies of the book, and in fact I still I have the last tattered copy on my new apartment bookshelves. For my money it is the most charming and honest children's book out there, one that speaks plainly to a universal human experience and that teaches an important lesson about patience.
First published in 1972, Alexander has been a consistent hit with children since the moment author Judith Viorst first introduced him to the world. It is now available in a VHS form as well, though I recommend the humble old oversized paperback edition that captured my heart. For those concerned with critics and award, it should be noted that the book has been named as an ALA Notable Children's Book.
"I went to sleep with gum in my mouth and now there's gum in my hair and when I got out of bed this morning I tripped on the skateboard and by mistake I dropped my sweater in the sink while the water was running and I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day."
That quote pretty much sums up the plot of Alexander. The poor guy can't do anything right today, finding himself with a head full of gum and a day packed with bad karma. From kissing on tv to stripeless sneakers to the uncomfortable middle seat in the car, life seems to be punishing the poor boy. After all of his misadventures, Alexander wakes up the next morning to find that everything is going right for him, and that the "bad luck" has moved on...
The lesson of the book is a simple but important one, for both children and stressed-out manic adults. No day is the be all and end all, every day is a different adventure that needs to be taken lightly. It's something that we all need to learn, that no matter how bad today is that tomorrow is another day. I know that I'm rambling in cheesy cliches, but the truth of the matter is that the main theme of the book is an appreciation for the variety and ever-changing nature of life. Alexander learns that bad moods and bad karma are fleeting, and in our world packed with Prozac and Pepcid that's a lesson we could all stand to learn ...
Children's books, as a rule, are filled with fantastical and magical characters and even more spectacular imaginary locations. That just doesn't appeal to me, and didn't when I was younger either. I loved sympathetic characters, people like me and adventures I could relate to. Therein lies the magic of Alexander, that his bad day misadventures could have been mine when I was 6 or 7, or right now for that matter. Grounded in reality, the book brings quotidian life into the world of fiction, and teaches us a philosophy that is both powerful and practical for everyday life.
One last thing to note is that the tone of this book is very different from many of the fluffier bits of children's writing out there. Children hate to be condescended to, and this book treats both Alexander and the reader with a great deal of respect...like the miniature adults that they often want to be. This gives the book a much more adult feel, while still being easy enough for a young child to read(suggested age 6-9).
The Final Verdict
As if the point needed to be clarified any more, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is simply one of the best children's book out there today. One of the few classic leftovers of the 1970's, besides bellbottoms, it is a book that belongs on the shelf of anyone who has young children. At 32 pages for a shockingly reasonable $4.99, it is also one of the best values out there. So don't delay, get yours today!
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 d...More at HotBookSale
Viorst s classic tale of a little boy who must accept the reality that some days are like that, when everything he does goes awry, is one of her most ...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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