- Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Infobox Book
name = Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
title_orig =
translator =
author =Judith Viorst
artist =Ray Cruz
country =United States
language = English
series =
subject =
genre =Children's
publisher =
release_date = June 1972
media_type =
pages = 32
isbn = ISBN 0-689-30072-7
preceded_by =
followed_by ="Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day", published in 1972, is an ALA Notable Children's Book written by
Judith Viorst and illustrated by Ray Cruz.Cite web|url=http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/family/alexander/|title=Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=December 22|publisher=The Kennedy Center |year=2007|author=The Kennedy Center ] Cite web|url=http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/shared-blogs/ajc/outdoors/entries/2007/12/20/i_resolve_to_forget_fishing_in.html|title=I resolve to forget fishing in 2007|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=December 22|publisher=Atlanta Journal Constitution |year=2007|author=Scott Bernarde] It has also won a George G. Stone Center Recognition of Merit, a Georgia Children's Book Award, and is aReading Rainbow book. Viorst followed this book up with a sequel, "Alexander and the Wonderful, Marvelous, Excellent, Terrific Ninety Days".Cite web|url=http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=688766|title=Grandmother learns lesson in flexibility|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=December 22|publisher=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |year=2007|author=Mary-Liz Shaw]Plot
From the moment he wakes up with gum in his hair, things just do not go Alexander's way. At breakfast, Alexander's brothers Nick and Anthony reach into their cereal boxes and pull out amazing prizes, while all Alexander ends up with is . . . cereal. His teacher doesn't like his drawing of an invisible castle, he loses his yo-yo, there is no dessert in his lunch, the dentist tells him he has a cavity, there is kissing on TV, and he has to wear his railroad train pajamas (he hates his railroad train pajamas). No wonder Alexander wants to move to
Australia ! The book ends with his mother's assurance that everyone has bad days, even people who live in Australia.Cite web|url=http://www.mountaintimes.com/mtweekly/2003/0731/barter.php3|title=The Barter Players Present Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day |accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=December 22|publisher=The Mountain Times|year=2003|author=The Mountain Times]Theater
In 1998, Viorst and the
Kennedy Center joined together to turn the book into a musical production.Cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0DE0D61631F937A15753C1A9659C8B63|title=Just One Of Those Days |accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=December 22|publisher=The New York Times |year=2003|author=Laurel Graeber] Viorst wrote the music and lyrics, and the musical score was composed by Shelly Markham. The productions have been performed around the country.Cite web|url=http://www.hispanianews.com/archive/2006/11/24/03.htm|title=Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=December 22|publisher=Hispania News|year=2006|author=Hispania News]Other characters in the play are Audrey, Becky and many others.
Characters
Alexander and his two older brothers, Anthony and Nick, are based on Viorst's own three sons of the same names.
References
External links
* [http://www.fromtheheartpostcards.com/ICQ/alexander.html Full text of the book]
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