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Alexander
Chris enumerates the naughty behavior of Alexander, his red horse with green stripes, to his father who explains they both "just" had a bad day. Back in print from Purple House Press!
40 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1964
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 28, 2019
Chris is a little shit.
May 19, 2021
I am in my 60s and I enjoyed the story about Alexander the red and green striped horse. My sons name is Alexander and I used to always read to him. I am going to buy him this book for his birthday. My Alexander is in his 30s and I know he will be surprised.
I named my son after Alexander The Great. Alexander The Great’s horses name was named Busefelus. I don’t think I spelled it correctly so I spelled it phonetically. There is a great movie 🍿 called The Black Stallion 1&2. That is where I learned Alexander’s horses 🐎 name. Thank you for the great read. Alexander’s mom
I named my son after Alexander The Great. Alexander The Great’s horses name was named Busefelus. I don’t think I spelled it correctly so I spelled it phonetically. There is a great movie 🍿 called The Black Stallion 1&2. That is where I learned Alexander’s horses 🐎 name. Thank you for the great read. Alexander’s mom
August 11, 2019
A cute story about a little boy who relates all the misdeeds his striped horse committed during the day. I loved this book as a kid, because I did not know Alexander was an imaginary horse upon whom the boy projects his own misbehavior to his father.
August 7, 2026
Alexander is the story of one little boy telling his naughty escapades of a day to his father via his imaginary horse Alexander.
The text is a bit heavy so for slightly older readers although simple to read and understand otherwise. The first two-thirds is the rerun of the day with the boy's father attentively listening and with his occasional feedback when asked. Illustration-wise in this section the fuller Illustration displays the red horse with green stripes in his mischief and the possible consequences of his actionsnwhile the boy lurks in the negative. Only when the father reveals the true meaning does the fuller picture shows the flip in portrayal.
The book has some heavily dark colors even for it being so colorful and although the rest of the pictures have realistic although wooden-like characters Alexander is rather a bit wild-lookung plus scraggly.
Otherwise this book is a cute reminder of how children are able to relate feelings they cannot name and the mercy of a parent who knows them well enough to understand both when something may not have been their fault and how to read what they are trying to say.
The text is a bit heavy so for slightly older readers although simple to read and understand otherwise. The first two-thirds is the rerun of the day with the boy's father attentively listening and with his occasional feedback when asked. Illustration-wise in this section the fuller Illustration displays the red horse with green stripes in his mischief and the possible consequences of his actionsnwhile the boy lurks in the negative. Only when the father reveals the true meaning does the fuller picture shows the flip in portrayal.
The book has some heavily dark colors even for it being so colorful and although the rest of the pictures have realistic although wooden-like characters Alexander is rather a bit wild-lookung plus scraggly.
Otherwise this book is a cute reminder of how children are able to relate feelings they cannot name and the mercy of a parent who knows them well enough to understand both when something may not have been their fault and how to read what they are trying to say.
January 29, 2020
This was my husband's childhood book but my kids & I just love it. Shows calm, patience, and forgiveness when you make a mistake.
February 22, 2022
A great imagination book.
February 6, 2025
Childhood favorite, I miss it : (
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June 25, 20202945
Big 68
Big 68
July 20, 2024
This was the first book that made me cry.
There is one painting of Alexander the candy-cane striped zebra alone and sad. He's not wounded. There's nothing in the painting about to hurt him. In fact, there's nothing but Alexander alone, head down, small in a large, flat landscape.
And I cried buckets. The book was put in my brother's room so I wouldn't cry so much and annoy my parents.
That was probably the first time I became aware of the power of art.
When I was very young, I assumed that Alexander was real. As I got older, the penny FINALLY dropped that Alexander was an imaginary friend.
Imagine my disappointment when I discovered horses didn't have red and green stripes. Although the text describes Alexander as a horse, he's drawn more like a zebra, so I can't help but think of him as a zebra ... or a mutant quagga.
Also imagine my disappointment when learning about Alexander the Great for the first time and discovering he was human. The disappointment didn't last long when Bucephalus entered the picture.
Although Alexander is about a boy having a bad day, you can see many different layers to it. Enjoy.
There is one painting of Alexander the candy-cane striped zebra alone and sad. He's not wounded. There's nothing in the painting about to hurt him. In fact, there's nothing but Alexander alone, head down, small in a large, flat landscape.
And I cried buckets. The book was put in my brother's room so I wouldn't cry so much and annoy my parents.
That was probably the first time I became aware of the power of art.
When I was very young, I assumed that Alexander was real. As I got older, the penny FINALLY dropped that Alexander was an imaginary friend.
Imagine my disappointment when I discovered horses didn't have red and green stripes. Although the text describes Alexander as a horse, he's drawn more like a zebra, so I can't help but think of him as a zebra ... or a mutant quagga.
Also imagine my disappointment when learning about Alexander the Great for the first time and discovering he was human. The disappointment didn't last long when Bucephalus entered the picture.
Although Alexander is about a boy having a bad day, you can see many different layers to it. Enjoy.
January 10, 2013
My mother sent me a box of books from my childhood, and I have to admit that I had forgotten about good old Alexander. Chris is telling his father about all of the very naughty things his horse, Alexander (the red horse, with green stripes ... just like Chris' pajamas) has done all day long. Daddy is pretty calm about all of these horrible things ... which turn out to have been done by Chris. How does Daddy know? "Alexander told me."
This is a cute book for kids that teaches them about taking responsibilities for their own actions. The illustrations are adorable, too.
This is a cute book for kids that teaches them about taking responsibilities for their own actions. The illustrations are adorable, too.
March 23, 2019
Interesting book that I went back and forth on. On the one hand, you could argue that it's helping children manage strong emotions by placing them in the context of a stuffed animal. On the other hand, you could argue that it's presenting a way to not deal with your own emotions by simply blaming them on someone else.
I always think picture books should come with a discussion, so as long as you discuss it, I suppose you can change which message your child gets (unless they come up with their own).
I always think picture books should come with a discussion, so as long as you discuss it, I suppose you can change which message your child gets (unless they come up with their own).
February 20, 2010
One of Andy's favorites from childhood. I'm not sure Curtis quite "gets it" yet, but it's a very cute book.
October 10, 2017
Love it! My kids delighted in "Alexander's" antics and laughed heartily at the end when they concluded that the striped Horse was really the little boy.
In just the same spirit as "Alexander and the No Good, Very Bad Day," this is lovely as a read aloud.
In just the same spirit as "Alexander and the No Good, Very Bad Day," this is lovely as a read aloud.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews