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.
One of our favorite Christmas traditions each year is to buy a new Christmas book to read out loud on Christmas Eve. Last year we read The Lump of Coal. What a delightful book — full of charm and a touch of quirky fun.
If you go to lemony snickets site and go to the listings of his books, you will find The Lump of Coal” you can enter a contest to win a free copy. They will draw 20 names and announce the winners on Dec. !8.
This book sounds just like ole’ Snicket as we know him! I love his style though! His is one of my favorites. Once he finished The Series of Unfortunate Events I was wondering what he would be writing. The Lump of Coal sounds hysterical.