Alexander's Bad Day Buddies

Wise authors are looking back at classic children's literature and realizing their value. Below I have for you 3 recently published books with plots and themes very similar to Judith Viorst's 1972 classic Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Don't know Alexander? Here's my PBT post about this classic! 

The healthy messages of these books are particularly important during this global pandemic! Acknowledging our feelings (confusion, anger, grief, sadness...) at home, school, and in religious settings will lead to better mental health for everyone. Here's a PBT post about that. It addresses the social-emotional needs of very young children via a theological statement that can be inserted into a secular book about feelings, BUT many books I feature there work for older children as well.

Also, I want you to know about 2 other books here if you only want to talk about sadness. Perhaps your congregation is grieving a loss or significant change. Click on titles to read posts about these very different PBT books: 

The Blue Day Book for Kids

When Sadness is at Your Door

Now back to Alexander's literary influence... 

Below find some information about how the 3 new books photographed above are different from Viorst's classic. In general, there is less text in all 3 books so they are quicker reads. From the covers, you'll see the diversity they offer. At the bottom, I give a few ideas about how these books tie to scripture and might be used in ministry.

Picture Book: Keep Your Head UP

Author: Aliya King Neil

Illustrator: Charly Palmer

Summary: This beautiful book is quite similar to Alexander, but it has the wisdom of some modern psychology. D. is a little older, a tween or young teen. D. reminds himself that "Any day can be good if you try." And he does try, but the frustrations of home and school pile on him. When D. has a "meltdown," he is sent to the principal's office, where he is greeted by Miss King, who has been helping him. Her role is unclear, likely a school counselor or school psychologist. D.'s family is also helpful. They set reasonable limits, talk openly about his feelings, and encourage him to "Keep his head up." When he doesn't want to, D. knows he can at least try.

Hanna’s Comments: In addition to the very real details and modern school setting, loving home, and non-white characters, what I like most about this book is the way D. is perceptive about his feelings and specific about their effects. He says he feels scrunchy and describes his face changes (scrunchy eyebrows). He even describes a meltdown! (see image above) There is some great information for discussion here! Do tell your audience that we can't always be expected to keep trying to feel better. Sometime we have to accept our feelings while maintaining control of our behavior. Offering ideas of "loving our neighbors" is important to add here.

Original Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2021

Age Appropriateness: 5 and up

Formats other than Book: Tablet

 

Picture Book: Benji, the Bad Day, and Me

Author: Sally J. Pla

Illustrator: Ken Min

Summary: Here the most significant and welcome difference from Viorst's classic is that the main character is an older brother to a child on the autism spectrum. This difference offers opportunities to talk about the importance of empathy, prioritizing people's needs, and concepts of fairness & justice. Although the older brother's  day has gone terribly, his mother is very focused on her younger child's significant needs. It is the younger brother who finally offers comfort to the main character. Then mom, who no doubt needs comfort too,  joins in, and the story ends beautifully.

Hanna’s Comments: It is the younger brother who is named Benji. This is confusing. Benji is a pivotal but mostly peripheral character. The older brother, who is telling the story, is Samuel. I suggest giving their names when showing the cover before reading. Whenever I find myself occupied with trying to figure out who is who, I am not able to focus on a story. 

Original Publisher: Lee & Low, 2018

Age Appropriateness: 5 and up

Formats other than Book: None at present 

Picture Book: Kevin the Unicorn: It’s Not All Rainbows

Author/Illustrator: Jessica von Innerebner

Summary: Alexander and Kevin's worlds are about as different as they can be! Kevin is expected to be perfect and everyday is expected to be sparkly - "filled with MAGICAL AWESOMENESS!" But Kevin, like Alexander, D. and Samuel, is having a bad day. Although he tries to be joyful, the constant barrage of positive messages in Kevin's world only confuse him. Eventually, he can no longer hide his feelings. His declaration invites others to be more honest about the bad day they are having. Kevin is not alone in his feelings. Such connections are crucial to humans and even unicorns, I suspect!

Hanna’s Comments: I must admit, this cover and title turned me off. But then I read the story! What wisdom there is between the lines of this silly and saccharine book! As an Enneagram 7, it is a story I needed. You have children who need to hear that it is acceptable and inevitable to be imperfect and upset, and to have a bad day. This book is full of funny word play. Read it with drama and silliness. But before reading, invite your audience to notice minor characters and consider how their days are going. Turn pages slowly so they can comprehend detail. 

Given the color palate, I hope you won't assume this is a book for girls only. The main character is named Keven, after all. At present, there is another book about Kevin the Unicorn: Why Can’t We Be Bestie-Corns?

Original Publisher: Dial Books, 2019

Age Appropriateness: 4 and up

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections for these 3 books: Any scripture that involves Lamentation or Complaint to God connects to these books.

OR Bible stories about characters that are suffering, such as Job, can be particularly powerful. Try not to get into why bad things happen. 

OR Get into the details of The Great Commandment. What does it means to love yourself AND love your neighbor when you are having a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day?

PBT Applications: Read any of these books to dive into what lament looks like. Legitimize it as an important kind of prayer. Talk about how there is a whole book in the Bible named Lamentations and how many of the Psalms include  complaints to God. More importantly, emphasize that God and those who love us most, want to know our real feelings. They can handle our negative feelings and can likely help us understand or move through them better. Sometimes just saying, "I am having a bad day!" is enough to help us feel better!

Psalms for All Ages #2

As in my previous post, today I feature 1 of 3 books from French author Marie-Helene Delval. These books have been beautifully published for English speakers. Today's book offers 40 Psalms, chosen because children will especially relate to the emotions expressed.  

Picture Book: Psalms for Young Children

Author: Marie-Helene Delval

Illustrator: Arno

Summary: The Psalms are listed in order. As in Images of God for Young Children, the text is on the left and the gorgeous illustrations are on the right. Here's Psalm 1: 

When I listen to you, God, 

when I do what you ask me to,

I am like a tree

planted by a river,

a tree full of fruit

with leaves that are always green.

Here's an illustration I love with text from Psalm 8: 

People are so small

next to you, God.

You put the stars and the moon

in the sky, and the birds in the air

above the cows and horses in the fields, 

and the fist that swim in the seas.

You created all the beauty

in the world!

Complex emotions are in these pages. For Psalm 13... 

Sometimes, when I'm very sad,

I worry that you will

forget about me, God.

But then I remember that

you love me always.

So I will sing and be happy!

Direct questions and lamentations are here: For Psalm 28... 

God, can you here me calling out?

Listen to me,

I'm crying for you!

I know that you are not deaf;

I know you can hear me.

Already, in my heart,

I'm saying thank you for listening.

Here's the familiar Psalm 42 that your children will enjoy: 

A thirsty deer looks for water,

for a river to drink from.

I need God that way.

I'm thirsty inside.

God, send me your light,

show me the way to your house,

high on your mountain!

Children often struggle with fear. This version of Psalm 46 will be particularly meaningful: 

If the ground starts to shake,

if the mountains break into pieces

and fall in the ses,

if the waves grow big as giants,

I'm not scared.

God is with me.

God provides a safe place for me to hide.

Here's Delval's version of "Create in me a clean heart" from Psalm 51: 

When I do something wrong,

forgive me, God.

I want to feel like

I've just been washed in clean water.

I want to be like brand-new snow.

I feel so happy when you forgive me!

God's biggness is celebrated in Psalm 95 with praise and joy: 

Let's shout out loud

with joy to God!

Because God is a really big God.

He can hold the world

in his hands,

 the deep caves, 

the mountaintops, 

the blue seas - 

and you and me too!

This powerful image offered for Psalm 125 is a favorite.

When I trust God,

I am strong, like a city

built on top of a big,

talk mountain!

I trust God, because 

he protects me

always.

For my favorite Psalm, # 139:

God, you know me so well,

You always know what I'm thinking

and feeling. You know what I am 

going to say before I say it!

Even in the night, you can see me - 

you know my secrets,

you know my fears.

I praise you for making me

who I am. 

Hanna’s Comments: There are many ways you can use this book a few pages at a time. You could build a whole lesson out of one psalm or a few. These pages should invoke some strong feelings and verbal responses from your children so plan activities for their ideas to be expressed in writing (group or individual) or conversation (whole group or pairs). Having this book handy, offers opportunities to pull it out and read to a child individually when that child is in crisis or for a simple and easy children's sermon. Be sure to talk about the illustrations. You might want to have children imagine or draw other illustrations. If it's age-appropriate, pair these with the more traditional versions of the verses. If you believe the masculine gender of God in these texts limits God, simply use some small sticky notes to change the words as you see fit. Do emphasize that this book is a version of the Bible so that it will be viewed with reverence and approached with an open heart.

Original Publisher & Date: Erdmans, 2008

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 4 and up, Pre and up

Formats other than Book: None at present

Scripture Connections: Each page notes the psalm that has been paraphrased.

Idea(s) for Application: Read 1-3 psalms from this book to children at home or in a faith family and explore ideas about why someone would write such a psalm to God. 

Favorite PBT Posts: The 1st Crayon Book!

Crayons are something special for adults! Like picture books, they tap into feelings of nostalgia or a simpler time. A big box of 64 is a metaphor for the breadth of creativity and possibility that I wish I hadn't left behind in childhood. 

The author/illustrator duo, whose books are featured below and on Monday, offer a new (and clever) way to think about crayons. This is one of my favorite PBT posts and very timely given the Times Up Movement! The book's sequel will be re-posted next time. Enjoy!

Picture Book: The Day the Crayons Quit

Author: Drew Daywalt

Illustrator: Oliver Jeffers 

Summary: When Duncan pulls out his crayons at school, he finds a stack of letters instead. 

Each crayon has written him a letter of complaint. Here are a few of the hilarious examples: 

The red crayon is working too hard, not even getting off for Christmas!

The white crayon is used mainly on white paper so it feels misused and empty. 

The black crayon is only used to draw the outline of things. It’s not fair! The pink crayon hasn’t been used once! You can guess why. 

After all the letters are read, Duncan turns in a new piece of art that is very different from his usual productions. The result is unique and praised by the teacher. Clearly the crayons have been heard and change is the result.

Hanna’s Comments: Immediately, I saw 2 ways this clever book can be connected to scripture. I'm sure there are others. My first reaction was to focus on the tone of these letters. The Psalms are full of complaints, called lamentations. A lesson on this kind of prayer can be very eye-opening for children and adults. The fun of the crayons balances the negative emotions you are exploring. Secondly, I thought about the biblical prophets and the phrase “speaking truth to power.” Sometimes the right words to the right people can bring forth positive change with regards to injustice, neglect, or inefficient systems. That’s what happens in this book and that's what drives positive change, like justice movements. Justice is one of the priorities of most religions in the world. Keep in mind that there is a lot of text in this book. I suggest reading a few crayons' letters per sitting if your children are easily distracted. You could do a whole series of lessons or a week of arts camp with the ideas in this book and its sequel. The new book is about a different group of crayons that Duncan abandoned. They want him to rescue them. Sounds pretty biblical too! It’s called The Day the Crayons Came Home. Comment added later: Since the great popularity of this series, there are several products that you can purchase. This one really peaked my interest. 

Original Publisher & Date: Philomel, 2013

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 4 and up, Pre and up
Available in Spanish: Yes

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections: I pour out my complaint before God, I tell my trouble before God (Psalm 142:2) – search on Google “psalms of complaint" for more options; What does the Lord require of you but to do justice… (Micah 6:8); other scriptures or biblical stories about speaking truth to power

Idea(s) for Application: Read this fun book and it's sequel to a group of children, teens, or adults in lessons on psalms of complaint or speaking truth to power when doing justice. 

Growl as Gift

Picture Book: The Story of Growl

Author & Illustrator: Judy Horacek

Summary: Horacek's clever tale features a small monster named Growl, for obvious reasons. 

Growl lives in a castle at the end of her street. 

There her neighbors don’t appreciate her hyperactivity 

 or her favorite past-time. 

Growl never stops growling! 

She even has a little song she loves to sing about her particular passion! 

One day she thinks the perfect place to let go a big one is across the fence at her unsuspecting neighbors, during afternoon tea!

The neighbors are not pleased. 

They call the police who respond with swift limits. 

Growl is so sad! Time slows, and she is hyper no longer,

"Running is hard when you're trying not to cry." 

Sleeping is hard too. While awake, she spies a prowler in the neighbors' yard trying to steal the afternoon tea set!" 

  

She can't help herself! 

The neighbors are grateful, especially that she has saved their afternoon tea set! 

Maybe her growling isn't so bad after all they reason! They trash the sign. The police agree, explaining that it "was much too quiet in your neighborhood." 

Growl is so very happy. She can growl again!

And sing her little song! 

But not at afternoon tea, where instead, Growl enjoys her neighbors, their tea, and their afternoon tea set. 

After tea?

 Everybody growls!

Hanna’s Comments: I love this character! I can’t tell you how many people in my church family have a little bit of Growl in them, including myself at times. I bet you can relate. One of my church’s priorities is to “encourage authenticity.” On our website, we suggest you leave your “church face” behind and come as you are. That might result in some complaints, but even the Bible has plenty of complainers. Remember all those lamentations! And what about the prophets? I don’t imagine Isaiah or Jeremiah spoke with soft, quiet voices. I suspect they growled a lot and weren't popular in their neighborhood. What else can you do when God is no longer worshiped or justice is forgotten? The heart of this little parable is a story of neighbors trying to get along. Despite early prejudices and fearful misunderstandings, (Sound relevant?), they discover that even a growl can be a gift and a fun pastime with a friend.

Original Publisher & Date: Kane/Miller, 2007

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 3 and up, Pre and up

Formats other than Book: None at present

Scripture Connections: I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. (Job 7:11); Scripture concepts of lamenting and the growling of prophets

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children to help them understand that all sorts of people are found in the scriptures (and in faith families), even those who lament or growl for justice. God’s image is in each one, and we are called to be their neighbors.