Lemony Snicket’s picture book, The Lump of Coal (HarperCollins, 2008), has been released for Christmas.  Christmas is a time of miracles, and as Lemony Snicket says, “Miracles are like pimples, because once you start looking for them you find more than you ever dreamed you’d see.”  (The book is worth buying for that sentence alone.) 

Although not quite as dire as Lemony Snicket’s best-selling Series of Unfortunate Events (it is Christmas after all), The Lump of Coal bears Lemony’s trademark style.  Illustrations are by Brett Helquist who also illustrated A Series of Unfortunate Events.  If you’ve never seen a lump of coal sporting a suit and bowtie, you’ll be amazed at how spiffy one can look.  And this lump of coal “who for the sake of argument could think, talk, and move itself around” ventures out in search of his dream—life as an artist.   

I think picture books make great gifts for grownups.  The Lump of Coal is a fun choice.  It’s witty and ironic and full of everyday and not so everyday miracles.

Hmmm . . . come to think of it, I might buy it for my brother . . . he just started his own business . . . he could use a few miracles.