Alexander, Who's Not (Do You Hear Me? I Mean It!) Going to Move
By Susan Fitzgerald,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Alexander has big feelings in funny story about moving.
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What's the Story?
Never. Not ever. No way. Uh uh. N.O. Could it be any clearer than that? Parents and children have to appreciate the spunky star of ALEXANDER, WHO'S NOT (DO YOU HEAR ME? I MEAN IT!) GOING TO MOVE refuses to move 1,000 miles away from everything with his family. Author Judith Viorst doesn't sugarcoat this unlikely hero or his brother one bit; their energetic relationship may be very familiar and funny to children with older siblings.
Is It Any Good?
Kids love this book and adults will too. Brothers don't always get along -- but they do come through in the end -- as Nick does when he tells Alexander he can sleep in his room if he's scared at the new house. In Alexander, Who's Not (Do You Hear Me? I Mean It!) Going to Move, author Judith Viorst cleverly shows how Alexander comes around to reality. Still, it's important that he does so on his own terms and not before considering the alternatives.
Sadness, anger, and denial come before acceptance. And it's good for readers to know that these feelings are normal and OK. It's even better that they're expressed with understanding and humor. Robin Preiss Glasser's black-and-white illustrations are great at capturing Alexander's emotions.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Alexander copes with his upcoming move in Alexander, Who's Not (Do You Hear Me? I Mean It!) Going to Move. Have you ever felt like he does? How did your feelings change?
Alexander has to move because his dad took a new job. What other reasons might a family have to move?
What good things might come with moving to a new home or a new town?
Book Details
- Author: Judith Viorst
- Illustrator: Robin Preiss Glasser
- Genre: Family Life
- Topics: Brothers and Sisters
- Character Strengths: Perseverance
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster
- Publication date: January 1, 1995
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 4 - 7
- Number of pages: 32
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
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