For those of you who are unfamiliar with Lemony Snicket (perhaps you were nowhere near the world of children’s literature around the turn of the century – the 2000s that is) he is the mastermind behind the hugely popular Series of Unfortunate Events books.
This is a very Lemony Snickety take on advice books. I’ve never really understood this type of book because reading them cover to cover often seems like an odd thing to do. I prefer this type of book for when you are a captive audience because if you’re forced to leave in the middle, you don’t particularly mind. In the case of this book, I think the quotes are a ton of fun and would be great for classroom discussion. If you teach in a school where Responsive Classroom is part of your day or if you have the freedom to discuss quotes, there are many in this book which are both entertaining and thought provoking.
Sex, Nudity, Dating – There’s a statement about how we might all prefer to stay in our mother’s wombs creating a lot of fat irritated women. He speculates that the jacks in a deck of cards are really the queens’ young boyfriends.
Profanity – “idiot”,
Death, Violence and Gore – There’s a joke about cowboys being pummeled by deer and antelope at play. Snicket points out that peer pressure will often lead to you being dead or uncomfortable. He also points out that people will often do what you say if you whip them. Babies who entertain themselves are in danger of falling down wells. Hyenas who entertain themselves may eat you. He speculates about what someone might say if they were having an arm chewed off by an alligator. Kings and queens are executed (not by Snicket, just historically). Snicket offers quite a few thoughts on grief or death of a loved one. He mentions that you may have been trampled by an ox. He also points out that everyone will die and someone will perhaps be hit by a bus. One page disputes Death’s portrayal as a cloaked figure and points out that he might approach noisily or sneak in. He points out that jumping off a bridge may lead to drowning.
Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking – A man who smokes cigarettes is mentioned.
Frightening or Intense Things – None.
Do I have to look at this one? Sigh. Probably do. The Series of Unfortunate Events was not my favorite, but my children adored it. I’ve gotten the new series, but this just looks… strange.
As I said in my description, it’s not really the kind of book you’d sit down and read. So I don’t know if kids would get into it. It really is just a series of random made up quotes. I also don’t like Series of Unfortunate Events, and I really liked this. I haven’t bought myself a copy yet (my gift cards are all B&N, which doesn’t have it – only Amazon) but it is something I do want to own, if only to share the quotes with kids to get them thinking. My public library had it – start by taking a look at it. It was very unexpected.