book data
5,415 ratings,
4.33
average rating, 383 reviews
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published
July 15th 1987
(first published 1972)
by Aladdin
binding
Paperback, 32 pages
characters
literary awards
Named one of Reading Rainbow's 101 Best Children's Books
isbn
0689711735
(isbn13: 9780689711732)
description
"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 ...more
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1 star (23)
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avg 4.33
editions: all | this edition
editions: all | this edition
Read in January, 1988
"Some days are like that... Even in Australia."
This is one of those books that has so many levels (like a parfait, or an onion). It begs for multiple readings. On one level it is the story of Alexander, an ordinary kid whose day doesn't go as he wants it to. Yet it is also a treatise on the human condition - our selfishness and self-centeredness, the travails and hardships that assail each person's life, and the resolute courage needed to stand our ground and live our ...more
This is one of those books that has so many levels (like a parfait, or an onion). It begs for multiple readings. On one level it is the story of Alexander, an ordinary kid whose day doesn't go as he wants it to. Yet it is also a treatise on the human condition - our selfishness and self-centeredness, the travails and hardships that assail each person's life, and the resolute courage needed to stand our ground and live our ...more
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Read in January, 1988
recommended to Alison by:
Mom - I remember the day she brought it home...I was a little kirecommends it for: All
Again, a book everyone needs in their collection to stumble upon on a rainy day and breathe a heavy sigh with the main character.
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Read in January, 1988
recommended to Eva by:
My beloved Momrecommends it for: everyone
A great book for little boys! Have had to buy this book several times over because it was read till it fell apart. A real testament to how much my boys loved reading this book. Toddlers and up! Even my dh loved this book!
Everyone has had a day like this! I remember when my brother was little he used to get mad and say, "I'm going to get on an airplane and go to Peru!" because I was adopted from Peru, LOL. Australia will do just as well I suppose. Thanks for the memories li...more
Everyone has had a day like this! I remember when my brother was little he used to get mad and say, "I'm going to get on an airplane and go to Peru!" because I was adopted from Peru, LOL. Australia will do just as well I suppose. Thanks for the memories li...more
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Has a copy to sell/swap
Illustrator: Ray Cruz
Publisher: Aladdin
Date of Publishing: 1987
Genre: Fictional Humor
Reading Level: age 4-9
Theme: child behavior, frustration, character development, hope
Curricula Use: teach children about behavior
teach as a read aloud
Social Issues: Emotions
Text & Pictures: the pictures depict the story and opens up more for the audience
Summary: Alexander wakes up and has one of the worst da...more
Publisher: Aladdin
Date of Publishing: 1987
Genre: Fictional Humor
Reading Level: age 4-9
Theme: child behavior, frustration, character development, hope
Curricula Use: teach children about behavior
teach as a read aloud
Social Issues: Emotions
Text & Pictures: the pictures depict the story and opens up more for the audience
Summary: Alexander wakes up and has one of the worst da...more
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I like this book, because we all have days like that and it is good to know that they don't last forever.
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The title of this book always makes me smile, and I often use it for my OWN bad days.
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Read in May, 1985
I've always liked the idea of living in Australia!
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recommends it for:
Elementary students and teachers
No matter what kind of day you are having it is minor compared to the kind of day Alexander is experiencing. Whether you are having a good day or a not so good day Alexander's day is to the extreme. This book can make you feel better about your not so good day when you compare it to Alexander's day. If you are having a good day it can maybe make you more sensitive to others who maybe are not having a good day. I love all details provided within the writing in this book. A wonderful book to discu...more
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This book is great for kids because it teaches them to write about their own experiences. Not every story or book has a happy ending and this teaches that whatever they want to write about is ok. Alexander wanted to get the point across that he had a bad day so this just proves to kids they can write about whatever as long as they are writing. This book also has lots of description that helps children learn how to make their writing more colorful.
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recommends it for:
Alexander.
Alex, brah, brah, this is your book, mang. I'm buying it for you.
All it needs is the "Burrito" lyric sheet included as a bonus.
I don't wanna go and party
I don't wanna shoot the pier
I don't wanna take the doggie out for a walk
I don't wanna look at naked chicks and drink beer
I don't wanna do a bong load and go and wrench on the car
I don't wanna go and hose the dogshit down
Cause i aint even gonna get out of bed
Keep on ska...more
All it needs is the "Burrito" lyric sheet included as a bonus.
I don't wanna go and party
I don't wanna shoot the pier
I don't wanna take the doggie out for a walk
I don't wanna look at naked chicks and drink beer
I don't wanna do a bong load and go and wrench on the car
I don't wanna go and hose the dogshit down
Cause i aint even gonna get out of bed
Keep on ska...more
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My mother read this to me when I was in first grade, and I remember I laughed so hard on every page that I couldn't breathe. It really taps into what annoys little kids most in the world, and people find that ammusing. But when you're a kid like Alexander, these things DO matter to you, and it's annoying that no one else will take you seriously and just tell you to grow up.
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I absolutely love this book! It is one of my childhood favorites! In the classroom, it can really help children explore emotions of what it feels like to have a bad day and what they can do about it. There are a lot of emotions in the book, which would be a great lesson to incorporate into the classroom. Love the characters and the story line! I would definitely recommend this book!
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Read in January, 1997
recommends it for:
anyone who loves picture books with a message
Doesn't everyone wake up some mornings and wonder, "What in the world is going on here? Nothing is going right today! I don't deserve this!" ? I can't count how many "Alexander" days I've had, but I do know that I survived them all. That's life...this, too, shall pass...my motto on days like Alexander's Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.
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I took a very small seat in the children's section the other day and re-read Alexander. Somewhere, way back, I remember loving this guy. Now, sadly, I realize I am an adult, because I only understand and love this book in that way back place. Nostalgic for it - not a kid anymore. The illustration, not the text, is the part that has really lasted.
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Read in March, 1988
I want to add a children's book to my list. I've read A Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day a million times (not recently, unfortunately). It's about a boy who's having a bad day and he continues to say "Maybe I'll just move to Australia," or something to that effect. I can't remember if it all works out in the end or what, but it's so much fun to read out loud with a kid because what's more fun to day that "A Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day." And look, we even ...more
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Read in March, 2009
This is a fun picture book for kids. I'm sure I read it a number of times as a kid, but don't remember it being a favorite back then. I love that Alexander is so intent on going to Australia. A good way for teaching kids that the grass is not always greener on the other side of the...well, in this case, world.
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Read in September, 2007
It's amazing how this book can bring people together. One day at my old job, I'd been having a particularly AWFUL day when one of the legal aides asked me how I was. I told her that I was having a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.
She asked me to give her a call when I got to Austrailia.
She asked me to give her a call when I got to Austrailia.
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Read in May, 2009
People of all ages can relate to the kind of day Alexander had in this book. I used to enjoy reading this one to my elementary school classes, and they always enjoyed saying "terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day" together, whenever it came up in the story. :) This was a fun book to revisit.
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Read in January, 1993
This is one of my very favorite books. When I was in college, my RA came into my room and read it to me when I had a particularly bad day and tucked me in. :) It still makes me smile to this day when I think of that memory. I went out and bought the book shortly thereafter.
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Great story of a boy who starts out getting no toy in his breakfast cereal, the store is out of the new sneakers he wants, he loses his marble down the bathtub drain, there are lima beans for dinner, and the cat wants to sleep with his brother not with him.
LOVE THIS BOOK.
LOVE THIS BOOK.
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