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Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day    by Judith Viorst & Ray Cruz Amazon.com order for
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
by Judith Viorst
Order:  USA  Can
Simon & Schuster, 2014 (1987)
Hardcover, Softcover
* * *   Reviewed by Bob Walch

Here's another edition of one the most famous children's stories written in the past fifty years. Everyone can relate to having a really bad day; hence, this story has appealed to both young and old readers.

In 1972 Judith Viost wrote about this unbelievable 'horrible, no good, very bad day' that the picture book’s young narrator experienced. '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.'

And so it was! Breakfast wasn't any better. The ride to school was a bummer. School was not much fun. Then, after school, there was a visit to the dentist. Ugh!! A bit of a mishap in the elevator leaving the office caused further problems as did a bit of a shoving match with a sibling.

Poor Alexander. He ends the afternoon with not being able to find the new sneakers he wants at the shoe store (naturally they're out of his size). Mom serves lima beans for dinner, there is pretty much nothing but kissing on TV, and guess whose bath water is way too hot? Yup, you guessed it! 'It has been a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. My mom says some days are like that.'

Yes, Alexander, some days are definitely like that!

Whether young or old, any reader can appreciate Alexander's dilemma. Having a nice, sturdy Classic Board Book edition of this book means that (a) you won't wear it out and (b) you can share it with friends and family as the situation demands.

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