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

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

• 
  Robin

  Growing up in a family that moved a lot, I felt like Alexander. Judith Viorst has a way of making the audience truly relate to the characters, regardless of age. It is a magical gift she has and the readers reap the benefits of her talent!
• 
  Kathryn

  I loved this! (I adored Alexander from his Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day and this is only a slightly better situation as he is being forced to MOVE--how hideous!) I think it portrays with sensitivity all the reasons kids DON'T want to move, while also giving a glimmer of hope that there will be good things at the new location. Yet, I liked that it's wasn't a rosy-colored glasses approach.
• 
  Christine

  Alexander and his family are moving because of his dad’s job. His brothers, Nick and Anthony, don’t mind moving. In fact, there are boys that are their age that will be living down the street. However, Alexander does not think he will find any friends in this new place. Alexander thinks of all the people and places he could stay back in his neighborhood. Then, his dad tells him to check out the special places that he will miss. Alexander visits many places while remembering all of the good times and memories he has made in those places. His brothers continue to make fun of him for not wanting to move. After saying goodbye to everyone, he is somewhat consoled by his parents. His parents tell him about the friends he will make and the places he will soon love. In the end, Alexander packs up his things and says it is the last time that he will be moving.
  
  Many people may be familiar with Alexander from Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. This would be a great book to read to children and discuss if they have ever had to move and the feelings that they may have had. Also, kids who have not moved may be able to relate to their friends having to move far away from them. Furthermore, the second graders at our school read Alexander, Who Used to be Rich Last Sunday. I would love to read this book to my third grade students since they most likely would have knowledge of Alexander.
• 
  Nancy Kotkin

  Alexander is back and this time he's not - "Never. Not ever. No way. Uh uh. N. O." - going to move, even though his whole family is packing. Though Alexander continues to refuse to move, he visits all his special places and people to say good-bye. In the end, he agrees to pack, but he's definitely never going to move again after this time.
  
  Detailed, textured black-and-white drawings by Robin Preiss Glasser (who later did the Fancy Nancy series) stay true to the original characters created by Ray Cruz.
  
  Children will relate to Alexander's stubborn reluctance to give up everything and everyone he knows and venture into the unknown, even with his family beside him. And young readers will also resign themselves to Alexander's eventual acceptance, with conditions.
  
• 
  Tracey Melcher

  Readers will remember Alexander and his terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. In this new installment, Alexander’s life seems to be getting even worse. When his family is forced to relocate a thousand miles away for his father’s new job, Alexander decides that he is not going to move. Never. Not ever. No way. Uh uh. N. O. Alexander comes up with a number of impractical ideas to keep him from leaving his best friend, soccer team, and favorite babysitter. He finally agrees to move, but it will never – Do you hear him? He means it! – happen again. Anyone who has ever experienced a move will love Viorst’s humorous tale. Young readers can easily relate to Alexander and his feelings about this overwhelming event. Glasser’s black-and-white drawings, in the style of former Alexander illustrator Ray Cruz, add a touch of humor to this serious subject. (Ages 6 and up)
• 
  Kelly H. (Maybedog)

  Although this doesn't have quite the same punch as the first book, it's still a entertaining and realistic-ish look at a boy who has to move and isn't happy about it. The illustrations are perfect, too.
• 
  Steve Tetreault

  This was a nice addition to the Alexander series. It opens up young readers to the idea that sometimes we don't want to do something, but when we do, we find out it's not nearly as bad as we thought; it might even be good!
• 
  Sarah

  Alexander's voice comes through with foot-stomping force. His defiance perfectly captures a child's stubborn resolve and ultimate surrender.
• 
  Lucia Benzor

  Good lesson about leaving a place you love and people you know. Can show you the upside and about the transition process. Still needs color in the illustrations but well-written.
• 
  Amber

  Nice book to read if you have a student who is moving or even a new student who moved from another state.
• 
  Theresa

  a story about a grumpy child who think everyones out to get him he does not want to move... he's sure about it
• 
  Julia Woodard

  Alexander, Who's Not (Do You Hear me? I Mean it!) Going to Move by Judith Viorst is a realistic fiction story that is intended for children between Kindergarten and Second Grade. The story is about a boy named Alexander who finds out that his family is moving to Australia for his Dad’s new job. Alexander doesn’t want to move because he likes where his family lives now. He likes his school and his friends; he doesn’t want to say goodbye.
  
  I really liked this book because the character of Alexander was well developed, the theme and plot of the story were present and clear throughout the whole book. In the beginning of the book he complains about not wanting to move and reminisces about his experiences at school, with friends, and living in his house. In the middle of the story he starts to say goodbye to his friends, babysitter, and other people he finds important to him. By the end of the story, he’s still reluctant about moving, but starts packing with the rest of the family. Despite the story being shown in black and white, I thought the illustrations were still effective because they supported the theme of Moving(changes).
  
  This book is good practice for fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. It’s helpful that there are repetitive words or phrases such as “I’m not going to move” never, and goodbye because it will help the students follow along with the story. The students can learn and look up new vocabulary words such as immature, brain transplant, poison ivy, barricade, lonesome, and packing. After the students are finished reading the story, they can either make a storyboard illustrating the events that happened in the story or make a sequence chart writing down the events as they occurred in order.
• 
  Nicola

  We love Alexander's 'Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day'. We liked 'used to be rich last Sunday' (probably me more so than Miss 4, but it was useful for talking about saving vs spending). 'I'm not moving' didn't appeal (probably more helpful if you have an upcoming move).
  
  Miss 4 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.
• 
  Madeline Volkman

  Children need to listen to their parents and what they say. Sometimes, the parents tell the kids to do something they don't want to do. Even though the children don't want to do it, they still have to. This book shows that even though Alexander didn't want to move, he still did. I thought the book was good, but I think that children might think it is okay to go against their parents since Alexander does, and that is not okay.
• 
  Serena Sawyer

  3rd-5th grade. Realistic non-fiction.
  I personally do not enjoy the Alexander books. I enjoy books with colorful illustrations. However, the book did make me think of how my family and I moved 2 times in the last year. It was horrible! We moved the first time in the nasty wintery spring mix and then moved again recently on the hottest day of the summer. I could feel Alexander’s pain if not wanting to move his things.
• 
  Sarah

  
  I adore Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. So when I saw this book in Goodwill, I figured I could add it along with my personal copy of AatTHNGVBD. I was pleased to see it held up against the original. In fact, the situation Alexander faces in the book left me feeling bittersweet and sympathetic towards him. I will be reading the other sequels.
• 
  Heather

  I teared up a little at this book! I felt bad for ol’ Alex. He doesn’t want to move, and who could blame him. He has to say goodbye to his favorite people and places. He doesn’t think anything good can come from this move. Poor kid, even his brothers give him a hard time. The pictures are great black-line drawings. We’ll see what my students think of it.
• 
  Theresa

  Oh I've long thought Alexander is my spirit animal. So much me.
  
  I know that this is supposed to be funny or maybe sappy, but I found it heartbreaking. Poor kids, just along for the ride in their parents lives.
  
  Maybe I'm too tenderhearted. Maybe I'm too anti authority.
  
  Anyway, I love Alexander. If he'd take it, I'd give him the biggest hug.
• 
  Megan Kopczynski

  I think this book would be great for lower grades. I would read this book to my third graders, and would encourage them to attempt to read with family members at home. The main character, Alexander, demonstrates many emotions that are easily expressed, but difficult to understand; so I feel it's appropriate for 3rd grade. The genre is realistic fiction.