Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Everyone can be grumpy (even some reviewers of this book).

This book takes you through the day of a crabby boy. There is no moral of the story, nothing redeeming or enlightening happens at the end to save the day.

That's where the parent/care taker has to step in. This book has less value as a "read it and tuck you in" story than as a "read it and talk about it" story. How do you deal with being crabby? Are you going to be crabby all day? What can you do throughout the day so you don't wake up crabby and go to bed grumpy like Alexander? Don't expect every book/toy to do all of the work for you. Sometimes the best stories are those that open up an ongoing dialog beyond the pages.

I don't understand how there are so many positive reviews of this book! It's awful. Simply awful. There is nothing positive about this book at all.

I'm trying to teach my son how to be content with what he has and things that come his way. (Heck, I'm still trying to learn that myself.) Then a book like this comes along and on EVERY page you have a little boy with a whiny, complaining spirit. He is the most discontent character I have ever seen.

Kids have enough trouble these days - why would you go out of your way to teach them to murmur and complain? Or encourage them to do so? It's really quite ridiculous.

I got this book from the library (after browsing Amazon for books with high reviews) but this is definitely one we're taking back without me reading it to my son.

This is a solid pick in my boys' bedtime reading collection.

I've found the trick to reading this book at bedtime is to tackle it as one long sentence with breathless pacing, punctuated by exasperated gasps and groans. My kids giggle with delight as Alexander grumps through his day, complaining about every perceived slight or wound as though their sum could prove to be fatal.

The added bonus is that this book gives a name to my sons' occasional lapses. When they are feeling miserable I only need ask, "Are you having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day?"

And that usually brings a smile.

I've seen some of the other reviews and how this book is too negative. I liked it! Things don't always so as planned, but this book offers a refreshing and funny way to introduce that concept to your child. The pictures are great and the message is clear that despite everything being topsy-turvy, it'll be allright and we'll make it through. I recommend this book. Another book I like and read to my son is "Ladybug Baby Bug", by Janice and Mark Perkins, which is all good. For those that thought this book was too negative, try it for it's positive family message and colorful illustrations.

I thought, after reading the description and some of the reviews, that at least there would be something positive to counteract Alexander's bad experiences throughout the day. The only trace of anything positive is at the very end of the book when it mentions that even in Australia some days are bad too.

This child has everything going wrong for him, from the time he got up in the morning...gum in hair, tripped on his skateboard, didn't get a toy in his breakfast cereal when his brothers did. He thinks he'll move to Australia.

On the way to school he doesn't get a window seat. At school the teacher liked someone else's picture of a sailboat over Alexander's invisible castle (he didn't draw anything). He left out the number 16 at counting time. He "could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day."

And on it goes. So far, his complaints are fairly innoculous. This kind of stuff can happen to any kid, but his behavior begins escalating into bad behavior. "I hope you sit on a tack, I said to Paul. I hope the next time you get a double-decker strawberry ice-cream cone the ice cream part falls off the cone part and lands in Australia."

More everyday "bad" stuff happens to him--he didn't get dessert in his lunch, a trip to the dentist reveals a cavity. Then at the car his brother made him fall and his other brother calls him a crybaby--so he punches him.

He makes a mess at his father's office. He hates lima beans (served at dinner). He hates kissing (saw it on TV). Bath was too hot. Soap in his eyes. Hates his pajamas. Goes to bed thinking of his terrible day, and his mom assures him some days are like that, even in Australia.

The whole thing is so negative. He's a grouch. Why should I read this to my child? (too late, I already did, but never again)