Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day
by Judith Viorst
Alexander could tell it was going to be a terrible horrible no good very bad day. Everything went wrong right down to lima beans for supper and kissing on TV. What do you do on a day like that? Well you may think about going to Australia. You may also be glad to find that some days are like that for other people too.
Reading Tips for Story Explorers
Find a comfortable space to read together
Slow down and enjoy the illustrations
Ask and answer questions together
Make reading part of your routine - bedtime is a great time for reading
Use these prompts to encourage deeper thinking with your children:
"Tell me more, why do you think that?"
"How do you know that?"
"Interesting, did you notice anything else?"
Phonemic Awareness
When introducing the book, share the title and notice these phonemic elements:
The first letter of the word “Alexander” is Aa. This letter says the sound /a/, /a/, /a/, like in ant, alligator, and apple. Let’s say that sound together: /a/, /a/, /a/. Point to the Aa in the title. Read the title together, emphasizing the sound /a/.
Ask the children to say the word after you. Show them the cover of the book and have them read the word out loud with you as you point under each word.
Vocabulary
Tripped: To stumble
Scunched: Crunched together
Invisible: Not able to be seen
Dessert: A sweet food served at the end of a meal
Cavity: A hollow place in a tooth
Elevator: A small room used to raise and lower people or goods from one floor to another in a building
Drain: To remove liquid from a container or area to make it empty or dry
Questions to Discuss
Have you ever had a really bad day? How do you feel when you have a bad day? How does Alexander feel throughout the story? How can you tell?
Why do you think Alexander wants to move to Australia? Where would you like to go if you were having a terrible day?
What do you think Alexander's picture of an invisible castle looks like?
How does Alexander treat his brothers and friends throughout the story?
What do you think will happen to Alexander the next day? Will his day be much better or much worse? Why?
What do you do to feel better when you're having a bad day?
Let's Play
This activity will help your child make connections to the text, which helps children improve comprehension.
Tell a story with your child about your own terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Take turns sharing the bad things that would happen to you, starting from the moment you wake up until the moment you go to bed.
Now do the opposite, by telling your child a story about a wonderful day. What are all your favorite things you would do? Prompt your child to tell you a story in return.
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Last updated: August 10, 2025 at 6:44 PM CT
ID: alexander-and-the-terrible-horrible-no-good-very-bad-day
