Today Was a Terrible Day — Patricia Reilly Giff

Follow the humorous mishaps of a second grader who is learning to read.

Nothing's going right for Ronald -- he drops his pencils, inadvertently squirts water on Joy's dress, mistakenly eats Jimmy's sandwich, misses the ball during recess, loses his ice cream money, and drops Miss Tyler's plant. But his teacher helps him get over his bad day with a confidence boosting note.

"Giff cleverly circumvents what could be a humdrum conclusion in a witty, satisfying way. Ronald's growing frustrations are wonderfully captured in the woebegone expressions and childlike stances that Natti effectively balances with happy scenes of success.” -- Booklist