HPL Kids

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Day is one of my favorite picture books . . . EVER!  Loved it as a kid, love it as an adult.  So, of course, I have to blog about the movie adaptation that hits theaters this weekend.  Some big-time stars are included in the cast -- Steve Carell and Jennifer Garner -- and the series of misadventures aren't limited just to Alexander.  The whole family has to deal with some disasters.  I'm looking forward to it.  I think it will put MY bad days into perspective.

Judith Viorst has written several books about Alexander.  Find them in the Kid Zone.

• Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Day
• Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday
• Alexander, Who Is Not (Do You Hear Me? I Mean It!) Going to Move
• Alexander, Who's Trying to Be the Best Boy Ever

Lois Lowry's Number the Stars was published in 1989 and won the Newbery Medal in 1990.  For the last twenty-five years, the story of Annemarie and her best friend Ellen have tugged the heartstrings of endless young people.  The story is set in Nazi-occupied Copenhagen in 1943.  Ten-year-old Annemarie becomes part of the Danish Jews rescue movement when her best friend moves in with her, pretending to be a member of her family.  And that is just the beginning.  The 25th anniversary edition of the book includes an introduction by the author, who traveled to Copenhagen to do research and conduct interviews before she wrote the story.  She also took the picture of the girl featured on the cover of the book.  If you'd like more information on the author, take a look at this webpage.  It also includes a discussion guide, writing prompts, a vocabulary guide, and an extension activity.