The Wonderful, Delightful, No Bad, Very Good 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.”

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day has gone on to sell over 2 million copies since its initial publication in 1972. Now, even younger audiences can enjoy this Judith Viorst classic. Released as a board book for the 6 to 9-year old set, the new version contains the same text but focuses on images of Alexander. By focusing the illustrations on Alexander, the impact of the book and Alexander’s horrible day have an even stronger impact on the reader or listener. Every generation of children identify with the strong visual and literary images in this fun, read-aloud book. The combined written skills of Judith Viorst and the talents of illustrator Ray Cruz make this a book that appeals to the senses on many levels.

At the turn of each page, children (and parents) are captivated by the continuing saga of Alexander’s day. From the desertion of his best friend to a lack of dessert at lunch, there is seemingly nothing going right in his life. Topping that off with lima beans at dinner and the disgusting kissing on television and Alexander adds even more adjectives to describe his awful day. Alexander experiences the dreaded middle seat of the car, a dentist chair cavity and the horrors of sleeping in railroad-train pajamas. Even a threatened move to Australia fails to qualm Alexander’s day of terror.

While parents may smile while reading this book, as it paints a too-accurate picture of their own kids, every child can find themselves thankful that their day isn’t quite as awful as Alexander’s. Reading this book aloud at bedtime has become a tradition that has also translated onto the stage and to musical productions across the country. And yet, it still is the perfect read aloud option at bedtime or story time. Sleepy little ones that have had a terrible day feel a little better and parents offering up Alexander’s bad day as an example quickly see little eyes closing.

Judith Viorst began her writing career creating science books and poetry books for adults. Her first children’s book became an award-winning success that has endured with children, teachers and parents alike. The Alexander book series began with his terrible, horrible, no-good day and continued with additional books about the immensely identifiable main character. Illustrator Ray Cruz brought Viorst’s words to life on the printed page for children of all ages that just happen to have a bad day. A timeless classic that has stood the test of time over four decades, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day offers the perfect combination of sweetness and resolution.

This classic children’s book belongs on every children’s retailer’s shelf and the shelf of every child. Learn more at: http://books.simonandschuster.com/Alexander-and-the-Terrible-Horrible-No…