Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad day.

From the very moment he wakes up, poor Alexander faces one of those days that makes him wish he could have stayed in bed.
Judith Viorst brings to us a wonderful story about five year old Alexander who finds some days are just not that much fun. Each moment of the day, from when he wakes up to find gum in his hair, to the end, when his brother steals Alexander's pillow, is documented in funny, short clips.
Some of the things Alexander is forced to endure that terrible day include, cavities, plain white sneakers, cereal and mud. The injustice of it all makes him want to move Australia. 
The author of this book is Judith Viorst. Judith Viorst has written for both children and adults. She did a series of books on Alexander. Alexander and his two brothers Nick and Anthony were all named after Viorst's sons. The series is based on the troubles that her children had growing up. As we read about their misadventures, we can laugh, but our children will relate to Alexander completely.
Besides the Alexander series, Judith Viorst wrote the book, "The Tenth Good Thing about Barney". In that story, Judith shows how a grieving pet owner copes with the loss of their pet cat.
Judith Viorst understanding of a child's mind is academic as well as sympathetic. She holds a degree in psychology which has helped her capture not just how a child feels, but how he thinks.
The illustrator of the Alexander series is Raymond Cruz. One of the things that brings the story alive to the child is how Cruz illustrated the book. In the series, Alexander alone is in color, while everything else is in black and white. A very telling clue into how a child thinks.
The story of Alexander is a universally enjoyed story. Everyone can relate to Alexander. After all, who hasn't had a day when they wish they could move to Australia?