Alexander, Who's Trying His Best to Be the Best Boy Ever
Alexander Series
What’s inside...
Alexander tries his hand at behaving in this hilarious companion to the bestselling classic Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. After eating a whole box of jelly donuts and suffering the consequences, Alexander resolves to be the Best Boy Ever for the rest of his life. However, he quickly realizes that being the Best Boy Ever means giving up many fun and important things, leading him to question whether the consequences are worth avoiding.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
4-8
Length
40 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think Alexander learned by trying to be the best boy ever?
How did you feel when Alexander faced challenges?
Can you think of a time when you tried really hard at something? What happened?
What does being 'the best' mean to you?
Why is it important to keep trying, even if things don't go as planned?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their feelings about Alexander's journey, relating it to their own experiences.
Discuss the concept of effort and perseverance, highlighting how Alexander's attitude changes throughout the book.
Use examples from the book to talk about empathy and understanding, prompting your child to consider different perspectives.
Praise your child for thoughtful answers, fostering an environment where they feel comfortable expressing their ideas and feelings.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The importance of honesty
Explanation: Throughout the book, Alexander learns that telling the truth, even when it’s difficult, earns him trust and respect from others.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by being truthful in their interactions with friends and family, which helps in building strong, trusting relationships.
Example Lesson: Perseverance in the face of challenges
Explanation: Alexander faces several challenges but learns to keep trying and not give up, which ultimately leads him to success.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to continue working toward their goals despite obstacles, fostering resilience.
Example Lesson: The value of responsibility
Explanation: Alexander is tasked with several responsibilities, and he learns how fulfilling it can be to meet them.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of taking responsibility for their actions and duties at home or school, which is crucial for personal development.
Example Lesson: Respecting differences
Explanation: Alexander encounters peers from diverse backgrounds and learns to respect and appreciate their differences.
Real-World Application: This lesson helps children understand and embrace diversity, promoting empathy and social harmony.
Example Lesson: Learning from mistakes
Explanation: Alexander makes mistakes, but instead of giving up, he uses them as learning opportunities.
Real-World Application: Children can see mistakes as chances to learn and grow, rather than as failures, boosting their problem-solving skills and self-confidence.