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

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is a 1972 ALA Notable Children's Book written by Judith Viorst and illustrated by Ray Cruz. It has also won a George G. Stone Center Recognition of Merit, a Georgia Children's Book Award, and is a Reading Rainbow book. Viorst followed this book up with three sequels, Alexander, Who Used to be Rich Last Sunday (1977), Alexander, Who's Not (Do You Hear Me? I Mean It!) Going to Move (1995), and Alexander, Who's Trying His Best to Be the Best Boy Ever (2014).

## Plot

Alexander is a young boy who endures a string of misfortunes throughout his day, starting when he wakes up to find gum in his hair. His brothers, Anthony and Nick, find prizes in their cereal boxes, while Alexander finds none. On the carpool ride to school, Alexander is denied a window seat. At school, Alexander encounters criticism from his teacher, his best friend replaces him with two other friends, and his lunch bag lacks a dessert.
That afternoon, a dentist appointment reveals a cavity in Alexander's tooth. At the shoe store, Alexander is made to buy plain white sneakers. When the family goes to pick up Alexander's father from his office, the father is displeased with Alexander's behavior and asks them not to pick him up again. Back at home, Alexander is served lima beans for dinner, sees kissing on television, encounters problems when taking a bath, and has to sleep in pajamas he dislikes.
Throughout the book, there is a running gag wherein Alexander expresses his desire to relocate to Australia (Timbuktu in the Australian version of the book). His mother reassures him that even in Australia, people can and do have bad days like him.

## Other media
### TV adaptation

On September 15, 1990, the book was adapted into a thirty-minute animated musical television special that was produced by Klasky Csupo and aired on HBO in the United States. Along with some alterations to the designs of the supporting characters, along with the cat's name being Timothy, and additions to the plot, most notably Alexander searching for his lost yo-yo throughout, the special also included three original songs:
* "So much to do, so little time in the morning"
* "If I could be the only child"
* "I've had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day"

### Cast

* Daniel Tamberelli as Alexander (speaking voice)
** Todd Defreitas as Alexander (singing voice)
* Joey Rigol as Nick
* Devon Michaels as Anthony
* Linda Wallem as Mom
* Steve Barton as Dad
* Stephanie Maddin as Mrs. Dickens
* William Bogert as Dr. Fields
* Skip Hinnant as the Shoe Salesman
* Ashley Carin as Girl #1
* Erin Torpey as Girl #2
* Buddy Smith as Paul
* Daniel Riefsnyder as Phillip Parker
* Z. Wright as Albert Moyo

### Musical

In 1998, Viorst and the Kennedy Center joined together to turn the book into a musical production. Charles Strouse wrote the music, Viorst wrote the script and lyrics, and the musical score was composed by Shelly Markham. The productions have been performed around the United States. Other characters in the musical were Audrey, Becky, and many others.

### Film adaptation

A Disney live-action film loosely-based on the book was released in 2014. In 2020, it was reported that another film version titled Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip was being developed for Disney+.

## Characters

Alexander and his two older brothers, Anthony and Nick, are based on Viorst's own three sons of the same names. However, for unknown reasons, the film changed Nick to Emily, replacing the older brother with an older sister, and adds Trevor as the younger brother as well.