In the 1970's Judith Viorst wrote a set of three books about a boy called Alexander. A hard-headed little boy, he soon became a beloved character. All three books are laugh-out-loud funny, for primary school children as well as for their parents. Each one deals with its particular theme with kindness, a real awareness of childhood, with love, and with humor. Each one is well worth reading.

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'Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day' was the first one of these books, and as the title suggest, it deals with the fact that some days everything goes wrong. It is one long complaint about everything, that only young children can make so perfectly. Families with 7-10 year olds will certainly recognise Alexander. Child readers recognise themselves and they laugh joyfully at his familiar troubles. A wonderful outlet for children to laugh at their own frustration. One of the best books dealing with children's negative or painful emotions written from the child's perspective.

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Alexander has two older brothers. The way they treat him is very reminiscent of North American family banter culture. It is all good natured however and adds to the over all hilarity (yet truthfulness and seriousness) of the book.

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These books are real gems. Read them.

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