Judith Viorst facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Judith Viorst
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Viorst in 2014
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| Born | Judith Stahl February 2, 1931 Newark, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Rutgers University |
| Notable works | Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day The Tenth Good Thing About Barney |
| Notable awards | 2011 Foremother Award |
| Spouse | Milton Viorst |
| Children | 3 |
Judith Viorst (born February 2, 1931) is an American writer. She is known for her funny poems and her popular children's books. Her most famous children's book is Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. This book has sold over two million copies!
Viorst also wrote The Tenth Good Thing About Barney, which is a story about losing a pet. She has written many books for both kids and adults. She also worked as a newspaper journalist.
In 1952, Judith Viorst graduated from Rutgers University in Newark, New Jersey. Later, she studied psychology for several years. In 1981, she became a research graduate at the Washington Psychoanalytic Institute.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Judith Viorst grew up in Maplewood, New Jersey. She went to Columbia High School. She graduated in 1948. Later, she was even added to her school's hall of fame!
Her Writing Career
Judith Viorst has written many different types of books. She writes for both children and adults.
Writing for Children
Viorst is most famous for her "Alexander" series of books. These stories are about a young boy named Alexander. He lives with his parents and two brothers, Anthony and Nick. Judith Viorst named these characters after her own three sons.
The most well-known book in this series is Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. It tells about a day where everything goes wrong for Alexander. Many kids can relate to having a day like that!
Another book for children is Sad Underwear, published in 1995. This book is a collection of poems. It explores many different feelings and experiences that kids have. The poems are accompanied by black and white drawings.
Writing for Adults
Judith Viorst has also written many books for grown-ups. Some of these are about psychology. Examples include Grown-up Marriage and Necessary Losses. These books help adults understand their feelings and relationships.
She has also written nine poetry books for adults. These include Unexpectedly Eighty and When Did I Stop Being Twenty. Her poems often share funny observations about life and getting older.
Viorst has also written for newspapers like The New York Times and The Washington Post. She was also an editor for Redbook magazine. She even wrote a musical called Love & Shrimp.
Personal Life
Judith Viorst lives in Washington, D.C. Her husband, Milton Viorst, was a political writer. He passed away in 2022. They had three sons: Anthony, Nicholas, and Alexander. They also have seven grandchildren.
In 2011, Viorst received the Foremother Award. This award honored her lifetime achievements from the National Research Center for Women & Families.
Selected Works
Judith Viorst has written many books. Here are some of her well-known works:
Books for Children
- I'll Fix Anthony (1969)
- My Mama Says there Aren't any Zombies, Ghosts, Vampires, Creatures, Demons, Monsters, Fiends, Goblins, or Things (1973)
- The Tenth Good Thing About Barney (1987)
- Super-Completely and Totally the Messiest (2001)
- Just in Case (2006)
- And Two Boys Booed (2014)
Poems for Children and Their Parents
- If I Were in Charge of the World and Other Worries: Poems for Children and their Parents (1981)
- Sad Underwear and Other Complications: More Poems for Children and Their Parents (1995)
The Alexander Series
- Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (1972)
- Alexander, Who Used to be Rich Last Sunday (1977)
- Alexander, Who Is Not (Do You Hear Me? I Mean It!) Going to Move (1995)
- Alexander, Who's Trying His Best to Be the Best Boy Ever (2014)
The Lulu Series
- Lulu and the Brontosaurus (2010)
- Lulu Walks the Dogs (2012)
- Lulu's Mysterious Mission (2014)
- Lulu Is Getting a Sister (2018)
Books for Adults
- People and Other Aggravations (1971)
- Necessary Losses: The Loves, Illusions, Dependencies, and Impossible Expectations That All of Us Have to Give Up in Order to Grow (1987)
- Imperfect Control: Our Lifelong Struggles With Power and Surrender (1998)
- Grown-Up Marriage: What We Know, Wish We Had Known, and Still Need to Know About Being Married (2003)
Age-Related Poetry Series
- It's Hard to Be Hip Over 30 & Other Tragedies of Married Life (1968)
- How Did I Get to Be 40 & Other Atrocities (1976)
- Forever 50 & Other Negotiations (1989)
- Suddenly 60 & Other Shocks of Later Life (2000)
- I'm Too Young to Be 70 & Other Delusions (2005)
- Unexpectedly 80 & Other Adaptations (2010)
- Nearing 90 And Other Comedies of Late Life (2019)
Dramatic Adaptations
Some of Judith Viorst's books have been made into plays and movies.
- Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day was made into a stage play in 2004.
- A live-action film based on Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day was released by Walt Disney Pictures in 2014.
See also
In Spanish: Judith Viorst para niños
