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Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day: A Musical Review Summary

To say Alexander is having a bad day is a sad understatement. He wakes up with gum in his hair, his brothers get the good prizes out of the cereal box, he gets no desert at lunch, loses his yo-yo, well, you get it. So now, he wants to move to Australia. Judith Voirst and illustrator Ray Cruz capture a bad day in the life of a child and put it to good use by making readers smile with Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Hailed as an excellent object lesson for young children, this popular book has also been used for teaching older students, "I've also read it to middle school - high school students as a conversation starter about family issues and running away from problems." As Alexander's mother consoles him and assures him we all have bad days, on of the lessons learned is,"We can choose to laugh at our misfortunes through this story!" . One reviewer had some mild objections, "While the book is a fun one overall, there is some strong language for small children", but overall, this childrens book is a runaway hit.
65% of people rated Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day: A Musical as 5 stars
65% of people rated Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day: A Musical as 5 stars%
65%
27% of people rated Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day: A Musical as 4 stars
27% of people rated Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day: A Musical as 4 stars%
27%
8% of people rated Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day: A Musical as 3 stars
8% of people rated Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day: A Musical as 3 stars%
8%
No one rated Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day: A Musical as 2 stars
No one rated Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day: A Musical as 2 stars%
0%
No one rated Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day: A Musical as 1 star
No one rated Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day: A Musical as 1 star%
0%
100% Everyone recommends Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day: A Musical Everyone recommends Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day: A Musical 0%
 



Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good,... Ratings and Reviews

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6
helpful
votes
A Catchy Repetitive Book for A Toddler
a library-goer

FEB
15
2007

Summary
This is a great book for a 3 year old. It is lyrical, repetitive and fun for a young child to say.

Plot
Alexander tells his story about having a bad day and wanting to move to Australia. He gets gum in his hair, can't buy the shoes he wants, some of his friends don't like him as much, his teacher gives him a hard time, he gets smashed in the car, pushed in a puddle, and messes up his Dad's office among other things.

Downside
While the book is a fun one overall, there is some strong language for small children. For example, I pass on reading a few pages just because I think they are too harsh....

 review »
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4 star rating
Community Manager
Jolie
Chicago, IL



2
helpful
votes
A childhood favorite.
Teacher, fiction reader, chronic reader, married, picture-book connoisseur, avid reader

NOV
30
2007
This was one of my favorite books as a child, and now, as an adult, it still is!  Even though we don't have kids yet, you'll find this book in my book case.  I wrote a paper in college based on this book, and I use it in my classroom, even though I'm a high school teacher!  It's a book we can all relate to, no matter what age we are.  We all have those days when nothing goes right!  Alexander realizes that we all experience terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad days at times.  Even in Australia.
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5 star rating
dianareynolds
Lemoore, CA



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D
I love Alexander!
a library-goer, picture-book connoisseur, avid reader, Experienced Parent

NOV
13
2007
This is a great book!  I've used it in so many different situations.  I read it to my kids when they were small. We talked about how sometimes having brothers and sisters  is hard work.  I've also read it to middle school - high school students as a conversation starter about family issues and running away from problems.  My sister gave it to my daughter as she went to college and reminded her that moving away doesn't mean there won't be challenges.  Alexander is truly a loveable character.  Sometimes, I'd like to book a ticket to Australia and join him!
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5 star rating
reviewer
jblakeney3
Fountain Inn, SC



D
A classic for children and adults
history buff, fiction reader, a dreamer, personal bookworm trainer, married, a busy person, a library-goer, avid reader

NOV
16
2007
I love reading this book with my kids.  I never heard of Alexander until I entered college and took an oral interpretation class.  One of the students used "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" for one of his assignments.  I was hooked.  I have read this to all of my children, 11 of them, and have the book on video.  The phrase, "No good, very bad, day" comes up frequently in our daily conversation and I must say this book has made a very strong impact on both my and my children's lives.
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5 star rating
reviewer
mdgomm
Howard City, MI



D
This book is a keeper!
avid reader

JUL
18
2008

My children and I have have shared Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day so many times I have lost count!  The story is postively wonderful and we read it when we have bad days, as well as when we have good days (for a good laugh).  Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day shows children that everyone has bad days.  We can choose to laugh at our misfortunes through this story!

The other Alexander books are great additions to this one as well. 


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5 star rating
reviewer
alj0328
Lakeside, MT



D
Still one of my favorites!
Experienced Parent, married, a busy person, a woman, Every day computer user, mom of a gorgeous boy

NOV
30
2007
This is such a great book, your children will enjoy this book for years to come.  Even now as an adult; I love this book.  It's catchy but also has a good message that even small children can pick up on.  I read this to my son and he is now starting to read on his own and he always wants to read this book.  The repeative phrases are good because children begin to recgonize them.  It also has lots of rhyming words for children in Kindergarten.
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5 star rating
reviewer
Rysmom4402
Kansas City, MO



D
A fabulous book for everyone.
history buff, personal bookworm trainer, married, Teacher, a library-goer, avid reader, chronic book buyer, read for fun

NOV
17
2007
This is my absolute favorite book of all time.  It is so fun to read aloud.  I use this in my classroom every year when my students start to get grumpy.  I have also given this book to several friends when they are having a rough time of things, because you can't help but feel better after reading this book.  It's a very easy read, and while it is written for younger children, it's great for anyone.  Enjoy!
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5 star rating
reviewer
KristysRedBarn
Ellinwood, KS



D
Dont we all wish we could move to Australia on a bad day?
a kindergarten teacher, a library-goer, fiction reader, picture-book connoisseur, a fan of clever plots, read for fun, chronic book buyer

NOV
13
2007
Alexander shows children that we all have bad days.  We may not be able to move to Australia but we can move on to the next day and be fine.  As a teacher you can get endless lessons from this book.  Children love the story and are intrigued by the black and white pictures,  People would assume they do not like them but they actually do.  They find them different and want to study them closer.
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5 star rating
reviewer
shopgirl1980
Athens, AL



D
A must to have for the bad days
a woman, picture-book connoisseur, character-lover, a library-goer, chronic book buyer, fiction reader, avid reader, Experienced Parent

DEC
1
2007
A great book for any parent to have in the house. When your kids have had a bad day it is great to read it together and discuss it as soon the discussion turn on what went wrong in school or at the ply ground but things can be placed back into perspective by using the book. I have used it many times with my sons and always with success to generate discussion on why those tears or frowns when no words would come out.
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5 star rating
reviewer
LaurenceAriella
Minneapolis, MN



D
A woderful classic that will be loved.
avid reader

JUN
6
2008
This book is amazing.  Funny, smart and very interesting.  Simple story line, easy for children to follow.  Very relatable, everyone has these days.  We read this whenever we are having a rough day and it calms by daughter down and makes us all laugh.

I highly recommend this book to everyone especially parents with pre-school through elementary school aged children.
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5 star rating
reviewer
HeatherRenee
Vancouver, WA



D
Great childrens book!
a library-goer, fiction reader, chronic book buyer, read for fun, married

NOV
27
2007
I love this book!  When my son was young, we read this book over and over!  He loved it.  We can all relate because everyone has a bad day every once in awhile!  Kids love books that have such extreme exaggerations too.  The book also shows how no matter how bad things seem, they always get better.  Share this book with your favorite child!
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4 star rating
reviewer
ctgalyan
Brooklyn, IN



D
Fun book to read with a toddler.
Experienced Parent, avid reader, chronic book buyer, fiction reader, a fan of clever plots

NOV
20
2007
Fun book to read with a toddler. Alex is a small child with a large personality, having a really bad day. This book, in a lyrical fashion, goes into detail about it. Alex feels everything during the day goes wrong from the minute he gets out of bed! There are more books with this character. With the repitition, this book could be used to help teach your child to read.
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4 star rating
reviewer
rozzwebb
Windham, ME



D
Such a cute book
a library-goer, a fan of clever plots, avid reader, chronic book buyer, read for fun

NOV
14
2007
this books too cute. its a book i loved growing up. it reminds me of that song; "had a bad day". sometimes when you have a bad day or are in a bad mood you just need something almost sad or something empathetic to help you. its still fun to have this around, even if i dont read it i still have it and will read this to my kids in the future.
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4 star rating
ScorpJen
Taunton, MA



D
One of my favorite books!
read for fun, fiction reader, a woman, character-lover, Every day computer user

NOV
20
2007
This was one of my favorite books growing up! I can remember reading it in first or second grade and we all loved it. I've now passed it down to my sister, and she feels the same way about it. It's become one of her favorites as well. I plan on becoming a teacher, and will definately have this book in my classroom! It's a classic!
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4 star rating
reviewer
lisa5354
Pittsburg, KS



D
Fun, entertaining read for all the kids!
a library-goer, chronic book buyer, fiction reader, Experienced Parent, chronic reader, a woman

NOV
23
2007
I absolutely love this book. My mother read it to all the kids in my family and now I read it to my son. We got it when he was about four. He loved it then and he loves it even more now that he is 9! It is a funny and endearing story of Alexander, a boy who is having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day!
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5 star rating
reviewer
maynani
462599789



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