alexander and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day written by judith viorst & illustrated by ray cruz

Viorst, Judith. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, Illustrated by Ray Cruz. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 1972. ISBN: 0689711735

Plot Summary:
     Alexander is an elementary school boy who wakes up to a day full of disappointments and mishaps that result in a 'terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.' Throughout the day, Alexander is faced with circumstances that begin from waking up with gum stuck in his hair to the ending of his day with his cat not sleeping with him. Alexander's solution to each negative circumstance is exclaiming that he's going to just move to Australia; however, at the conclusion of the story, his mother informs him of some disheartening news regarding his solution.

Critical Analysis:
     Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is a picture book that shares the characteristics of a picture storybook and a predictable book. The incorporation of the refrain, "...terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day," allows children to engage and participate in the reading of the book despite their inability or less fluency as a reader.
     Ray Cruz, the illustrator of this book, captivates the audience of the story with his usage of one dimensional, flat, cross-hatch, and black and white illustrations. Cruz's usage of black and white figures and backgrounds brings attention to the one colored figure of the page, Alexander. Alexander is the only character illustrated with color; red hair, peachy skin, green sweater, brown belt, blue jeans, and red sneakers. Not only does this style of illustration provide readers with the opportunity of visualization, but it illuminates the main character and focus of this story.
     Alexander is a grade-school boy who displays the characteristics and personality of a 5-7 year old. He is portrayed as a temperamental boy who outwardly displays his reactions based on the negative circumstances he encounters throughout his day. The author, Judith Viorst, details Alexander's day from beginning to end; from waking up in his bedroom, to breakfast at the kitchen table, to the carpool ride to school, to a day at school, to the dentist visit, to dinner time, to bath time, and ending with bedtime. Each described entry entails a description of the incidents that contribute to Alexander's 'terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.'

Awards Won:
George C. Stone Center for Children's Books Recognition of Merit Award (1988), Indies Choice Book Award for Picture Book Hall of Fame (2010)

Review Excerpts:

"Objecting loudly to his family's plans to relocate, the hero of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day makes a gratifying return." - Publisher's Weekly

"Great illustrations, fun story, a classic!" - LibraryThing 

Connections:
Customers who bought this book also purchased Judith Viorst's Alexander, Who's Trying His Best to Be the Best Boy Ever; Alexander, Who's Not (Do You Hear Me? I Mean It!) Going to Move; and Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday.

*Upcoming movie production by Walt Disney opening in theaters October 10, 2014.

Interactivity:

• Have children join in after every excerpt and say, "terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day."
• Ask children to describe a day where everything went wrong. 
• Ask children where they would want to move to avoid their 'terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days.'
• Play Daniel Powter's song, Bad Day for children to listen to.