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. 

grandpa green written & illustrated by lane smith

Smith, Lane. Grandpa Green. New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2011. ISBN: 9781596436077

Plot Summary:
     Grandpa Green is the story of a man's life told by his 'great-grandkid.' The life of Grandpa Green is told and depicted through the images of his garden. Each image encompasses a significant period in Grandpa's life that is recreated and shared through the mind of his 'great-grandkid.'

Critical Analysis:
          Grandpa Green is a picture storybook attributed by its ability to capture and engage all readers outside of the suggested reading level ranging from kindergarten to fourth grade. The concept of this story was developed around the life of the great grandfather, Grandpa Green. Grandpa Green's story began from his birth, to his dreams and aspirations, to being deployed to fight in a world war, to finding love, to having children, to having grandchildren, and to having a great-grandchild who was able to share his story. Smith implements the vocabulary and sentence structure that would be utilized by someone's great grandchild, at the age of six, offering children with the feel of understanding and relation within the context. Not only does Smith find a way to develop a story that children can enjoy and relate to, but he provides a beautiful usage of illustrations to capture each moment depicted by written entry.
      Lane Smith, the author and illustrator, conceptualizes the story of the life of the great grandfather by his usage of line drawings and sponge-like illustrations. The color element used by Smith is primarily comprised of greens which convey a sense of warmness and correlate with the nature theme of the story. The color red is minimally incorporated and found in some illustrations that contrast against the warm theme, thus bringing attention towards the red berries, red bow, and red leaves. Not only does the author capture a story with his illustrations, but he uses symbolism and unique visualizations through the shapes of topiary trees and bushes.

Awards Won:
Caldecott Medal (2012), Publisher's Weekly Best Children's Picture Books (2011), Capitol Choices Noteworthy Titles for Children and Teens (2011), Vermont Red Clover Children's Choice Award Master List (2012), American Library Association Notable Children's Books (2012), GA Picture Storybook Award ML (2013), Nautilus Book Award - Silver (2012)

Review Excepts:

"In this affecting picture book, a boy recounts the life of his beloved great-grandfather…The author’s illustrations, a blend of line drawings and sponge painting, have a classic feel, and make clever use of the topiary theme, rewarding close examination and repeated reading" - The New Yorker

 "Great-grandpa’s memory may be going, but the past remains vibrantly alive in the playful topiaries that decorate his brilliantly green yard. Lush and magical.” - People

 “It's a rare glimpse into Smith's softer side--as skillful as his more sly offerings, but crafted with honesty and heart.” - School Library Journal Starred Review

 “Opening this book is like opening a gate to a secret garden, filled with the treasures of a life well lived. In his portrait of a boy who adores and honors his forgetful great-grandfather, Smith shows us that the things that are meaningful to the ones we love become part of our garden, too.” - Shelf Awareness

 “Sketched with a finely lined fairy-tale wispiness and dominated by verdant green, the illustrations are not just creative but poignant.” - Booklist

Connections:
Customers who bought this book also purchased Oliver Jeffers' Stuck, John Rocco's Blackout, and Patrick McDonnell's Me...Jane.

Interactivity:

• Have children discuss a hobby that they enjoy with their grandparents or great-grandparents.
• Have children draw and cut shapes of animals, figures of people, and hearts from green paper and tape them around the wall to symbolize a classroom topiary garden. 
• Define the biggest word in the book (horticulture), and plant lima beans in a cup for each child to take home to grow a tiny plant.