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

Judith Viorst was born and brought up in New Jersey, graduated from Rutgers University, moved to Greenwich Village, and has lived in Washington, D.C., since 1960, when she married Milton Viorst, a political writer. They have three sons—Anthony and Nick (who are lawyers) and Alexander (who does community-development lending for a bank) and seven grandchildren—Miranda, Brandeis, Olivia, Nathaniel, Benjamin, Isaac, and Toby.

When Alexander feels mad or dad he wants to move to Australia. But most of the time he likes it right where he is. So when his mom and dad say that they're moving a thousand miles away, Alexander decides that he's not going.

Never, Not ever. No way. Uh uh. N.O.

For how can he leave his best friend or his favorite sitter or Seymour the cleaners? he'd rather stay and live in a tree house or cave. And even though Nick calls him puke-face and Anthony says he's immature, he's not (Do you hear me? I mean it!) going to move.

Publishers Weekly

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. (Oct.)