"Alexander and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day" Voigt, Judith

Alexander's day may be awful for him, but it is pure enjoyment for five- to nine-year-olds. This book scores high on the reality meter; just about any school-age child has had at least one terrible, horrible day. As a bedtime read for any kid who has just had one of those days, this one's a winner--it's almost guaranteed to chase away the blues.

The plot, though simple, presents an interesting take on everyday childhood problems. The text is written in a conversational style from the viewpoint of a young boy, so it's by far more entertainment than English lesson. When it was read to a group of five- and six-year-olds, it was hard to tell who was having more fun, the adult reader or the audience of giggling kids.