Alexander, Who's Not (Do You Hear Me? I Mean It!) Going to Move

[Editor's Note: The following is a combined review with ALEXANDER AND THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY and ALEXANDER, WHO USED TO BE RICH LAST SUNDAY.] -- Everyone loves the cranky, downtrodden, belligerent, and lovable Alexander. We've read and re-read Viorst's three picture books about him over the years. But no reader has experienced Alexander quite like this! Johnny Heller's whiny, often-wise grammar school hero is sufficiently self-righteous to elicit sympathy from kids and knowing smiles from adults. He never gets a seat by the window, he complains. And he only punches his brothers when they deserve it, he explains. His mother never puts interesting desserts in his lunch, he moans. And his money never lasts because saving money is too hard, he groans. He won't move, he threatens. He won't pack, he wails. He won't have any friends if he goes, he sobs. Sniffling and fussing, Heller's Alexander holds up a mirror for us all--and we laugh at our own reflections. T.B. (c) AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine

October 2, 1995
Twenty-three years after Alexander's first appearance, in Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, the hapless character makes a gratifying return... with a new gripe. His family is moving 1000 miles away and he does not want to go: "Never. Not ever. No way. Uh uh. N.O." Roaming the neighborhood, he takes a look at his "special places" and bids good-bye to all his "special people," announcing that "I'm saying good-bye-but it won't be my last." By story's end-after he lets some reassuring promises from his parents sink in-Alexander softens his tone, conceding that he, too, is packing up his things, but for the final time. Because next time his family relocates, "I'm not-DO YOU HEAR ME? I MEAN IT!-going to move." Alexander's voice belongs at once to him alone and to every child. Glasser admirably fulfills her stated mission to illustrate this tale "in the style of" Ray Cruz, the artist for the previous Alexander books. Her black-and-white drawings comically capture real events as well as those that occur only in Alexander's animated imagination. Facial expressions and body language are right on target. Hope Alexander finds a new complaint. Soon. Ages 5-8.