Author Profile
Judith Viorst
14 Books
Judith Viorst is an American author, poet, and journalist known for her humorous and highly relatable children's books as well as her adult poetry. She achieved widespread fame with her classic picture book, "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day," which perfectly captures the relatable frustrations of childhood. Her writing frequently explores everyday challenges, family dynamics, and human emotions with exceptional wit and insight.
Mom and Dad are getting dressed up to go out for the evening, but one little boy is absolutely determined to make them stay! He has a massive list of reasons why they should not leave him home with a babysitter.
First, he claims he is terribly sick. Then, he begs for endless glasses of water. He uses every trick in the book, from fake crying to promising to be perfectly behaved if they just stay on the couch. He is pulling out all the stops to delay their departure!
You will recognize every single clever excuse in this funny, charming story. It perfectly captures the relatable feeling of not wanting to be left behind, showing that saying goodbye for the evening is sometimes the hardest part of the day.
6-8 Years
36 Pages
N/A
/5
By:
Judith Viorst
Alexander was rich last Sunday. He had a whole dollar. But then he bought some bubble gum. And he made some bets with his brothers that he did not win. And he even rented a friend's snake for an hour. Now, Alexander only has a pocket full of bus tokens. Having a dollar is a very big deal, but making it last is much harder than it looks!
When you have money, you want to buy a walkie-talkie or maybe a half-made model car. But somehow, those pennies and nickels just seem to magically slip away.
This funny story shows exactly what happens when you get a little bit of money and a whole lot of silly ideas. You will laugh out loud as Alexander tries his best to save, only to watch his riches disappear coin by coin. It is a perfect tale for anyone who has ever wondered where their allowance went.
6-8 Years
32 Pages
N/A
/5
By:
Judith Viorst
Meet Lulu. She is a girl who always, always, always gets exactly what she wants. So when she decides she wants a pet brontosaurus for her birthday, she expects to get one. But for the very first time, her parents say no! Lulu is furious. She packs her tiny suitcase and stomps off into the dark, mysterious forest to find a dinosaur of her very own.
Lulu is not afraid of wild animals or creepy woods. She is a girl on a mission. But what happens when she actually finds a giant brontosaurus? It turns out that this massive creature thinks having a pet is a wonderful idea. The only problem is, the dinosaur wants Lulu to be his pet!
This hilarious adventure flips everything upside down. You will be on the edge of your seat watching this incredibly stubborn girl face off against a polite but determined dinosaur. It is a wildly funny journey packed with surprising twists, showing that sometimes getting exactly what you ask for is a terrible idea. Will Lulu finally learn her lesson, or will she be stuck playing fetch for a giant reptile forever?
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
128 Pages
N/A
/5
True friendship means knowing all of someone's worst habits and liking them anyway. Rosie and Michael are best friends, and they are not afraid to be honest about it. Michael knows that Rosie can be bossy and sometimes completely strange. Rosie knows that Michael is a little bit goofy and makes terrible jokes.
But even when they drive each other crazy, they always have each other's backs. Whether they are sharing secrets, trading lunches, or standing up to bullies, their bond is completely unbreakable.
This sweet and honest story celebrates the real meaning of having a best friend. It shows that you do not have to be absolutely perfect to be wonderful to someone else. You will love seeing how Rosie and Michael stick together through all the ups and downs of life.
6-8 Years
46 Pages
N/A
/5
How can your underwear be sad? It happens when your best friend is mad at you, and suddenly everything in the whole world feels gloomy! This amazing collection of poems captures all the wonderfully weird, hilarious, and confusing moments of growing up.
From dealing with pesky siblings and worrying about school, to wondering about the future and managing those giant emotions, these verses explore the everyday adventures of being a kid. You will meet kids who want to run away, kids who refuse to eat their vegetables, and kids who just cannot understand why parents make such strange rules.
These poems are packed with sharp humor and real heart, making you laugh out loud on one page and nod along in total understanding on the next. It is the perfect read for anyone who has ever felt a little out of place or completely misunderstood. Dive into these clever rhymes to find out why growing up is the most complicated, frustrating, and incredibly funny journey you will ever take.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
N/A
/5
By:
Judith Viorst
Lulu is furious. Her parents are going on a luxurious vacation without her, leaving her stuck at home. To make matters worse, they have hired a brand new babysitter named Ms. Sonia Sofia Solinsky. Lulu has a strict rule about babysitters: she gets rid of them as fast as possible.
Lulu unleashes her absolute worst behavior. She whines, she stomps, and she plans the ultimate tantrums to send this new babysitter packing. But Ms. Solinsky is not like any other sitter Lulu has ever faced. She does not flinch at the shouting, and she completely ignores the bad behavior. Even more shockingly, this strict babysitter seems to have a massive, unbelievable secret hidden right up her sleeve.
You will be laughing on every page as the ultimate prankster meets her match. It is a hilarious battle of wills packed with surprises. Discover what happens when a girl who always gets her way runs directly into a babysitter who knows exactly how to handle her. Will Lulu win, or is she finally in over her head?
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
192 Pages
N/A
/5
Poems for Children and Their Parents
By:
Judith Viorst
If you were in charge of the world, what would you change? You would probably get rid of oatmeal, cancel Monday mornings, and make sure every day included a double scoop of ice cream! This delightful collection of poems explores exactly what it feels like to be a kid navigating a complicated world.
Inside these pages, you will find funny, clever verses about all the things that make growing up so tricky. From worrying about friendships and surviving school, to dealing with annoying siblings and wishing you could make the rules for once, these poems capture it all.
You will nod your head and smile because these verses sound exactly like the secret thoughts inside your own brain. It is a wonderful mix of humor and heart that perfectly understands the weird, frustrating, and amazing parts of life. Dive into these relatable rhymes and discover that no matter what worries are bouncing around in your head, you are definitely not alone.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
N/A
/5
It is extremely early, the sun is barely peeking through the windows, and mom and dad are still fast asleep. What are two energetic brothers supposed to do while they wait? Make a gigantic mess, of course!
These two boys know they are supposed to stay quiet, but staying out of trouble is incredibly hard. From sneaking into the kitchen to exploring every corner of the house, their morning turns into a wild, noisy adventure. One tiny accident leads to another, and before long, the whole house is turned completely upside down.
You will giggle as you watch their hilarious antics and sneaky plans unfold. This funny, relatable story captures that exact feeling of trying to be good but somehow making a massive disaster instead. It is the perfect weekend read!
6-8 Years
40 Pages
N/A
/5
Having an older brother is not easy, especially when his name is Anthony. Anthony is bigger, he runs faster, and he always seems to win every single game. He never lets his little brother forget who is in charge. But just wait. Someday, things are going to change!
This little brother has a giant plan. When he finally turns six, he is going to be the boss. He imagines all the brilliant, hilarious ways he will finally get the upper hand and show Anthony who is truly the best. He will be stronger, smarter, and completely unstoppable.
You will laugh at his wild daydreams and secret plots for revenge. This totally relatable story captures the classic struggle of being the younger sibling. It is a fantastic tale for anyone who has ever wished they could shrink their older brother down to size!
6-8 Years
36 Pages
N/A
/5
Nick has a very serious problem. When the lights go out, his imagination goes completely wild. He is totally convinced that his room is filled with creeping vampires, spooky ghosts, and growling monsters.
Nick's mom promises him that all these scary creatures are totally fake. She insists there is absolutely nothing hiding in the dark. But Nick is not so sure. After all, his mom has made mistakes before! She forgot his lunch and even shrank his favorite sweater in the wash. If she can be wrong about those things, could she be wrong about the monsters, too?
You will smile at this funny, spooky, and totally relatable bedtime story. It is the perfect read for anyone who has ever stared into a dark closet and wondered if something was staring back.
6-8 Years
48 Pages
N/A
/5
Alexander has made a major decision: he is going to be the Best Boy Ever. Yesterday, somebody ate a whole box of jelly donuts and left the empty box behind. When his mom found out, there were terrible consequences. Alexander hates consequences.
Starting right now, for the rest of his entire life, he will be perfectly behaved. He will not fight with his brothers, he will not make a mess, and he definitely will not eat any forbidden treats. But being completely perfect is incredibly boring! It means skipping all the fun, messy, and loud things that make life exciting.
You will laugh out loud as you watch Alexander struggle to keep his big promise. This hilarious story shows just how difficult it is to stay perfectly out of trouble when you are a kid who just wants to have fun.
6-8 Years
42 Pages
N/A
/5
Losing a pet is one of the hardest things in the world. When a young boy's beloved cat, Barney, passes away, he feels incredibly sad. Nothing seems to make the heavy feeling in his heart go away.
His mother suggests a gentle way to feel better: try to think of ten wonderful things about Barney to share at his funeral. The boy easily thinks of nine great memories. Barney was brave, smart, funny, and always comforting. But finding that special tenth thing is much harder than he expects.
This beautifully honest and tender story helps explain the difficult feelings of saying goodbye. It shows how remembering the good times can slowly help heal a broken heart. It is a comforting companion for anyone who has ever loved and lost a cherished animal friend.
6-8 Years
36 Pages
N/A
/5
Alexander is completely, absolutely, totally refusing to pack his bags. His parents have decided the whole family is moving a thousand miles away, but Alexander has a different plan. He is staying right here.
How can he leave his absolute best friend in the whole world? Who will he talk to? What about his favorite babysitter and the friendly people at the local stores? Moving away means leaving everything he loves behind, and he is just not going to do it. He would rather live alone in a treehouse or hide in a damp cave!
You will feel Alexander's frustration as he stubbornly fights the big move with everything he has got. This funny and honest story perfectly captures how incredibly hard it is to say goodbye to the places and people you love.
6-8 Years
32 Pages
N/A
/5
Do you ever wake up and just know it's going to be one of *those* days? That's exactly how Alexander feels! His day starts with gum stuck in his hair, and from there, things just keep getting worse. He doesn't get the window seat in the car, his best friend doesn't want to play, and he even gets in trouble at school. It seems like absolutely nothing is going Alexander's way, all the way down to lima beans for dinner!
6-8 Years
32 Pages
N/A
/5
