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Book Cover for: The Bad Beginning, Lemony Snicket

The Bad Beginning

Lemony Snicket

Winner:Nene Award -Children's Fiction (2003)
Winner:Colorado Children's Book Award -Junior Novel (2003)

**A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES**

In the tradition of great storytellers, from Dickens to Dahl, comes an exquisitely dark comedy that is both literary and irreverent, hilarious and deftly crafted. Miserably scrawled by Lemony Snicket and respectfully illustrated by Brett Helquist, never before has a series of three likeable and unfortunate children been quite so enchanting, or quite so uproariously unhappy.

Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are intelligent children. They are charming, and resourceful, and have pleasant facial features. Unfortunately, they are exceptionally unlucky.

In what is agreed upon by all to be a very bad beginning to the rest of their lives, these three youngsters not only learn that their parents have died and that they've become orphans overnight, but also that a one Count Olaf will be their caretaker. Repulsive, demanding, and downright sinister, Count Olaf proves to be as greedy as his eyes are beady (and, readers, they are beady).

With their family fortune on the line, the siblings must endure a few terrible things before--we can only hope--making it out alive: itchy clothing, boiled potatoes, shamefully incompetent adults, and a wedding that no one wants to attend, including the bride.

Read now...or forever hold your peace.

Book Details

  • Publisher: HarperCollins
  • Publish Date: Aug 25th, 1999
  • Pages: 176
  • Language: English
  • Edition: undefined - undefined
  • Dimensions: 7.25in - 5.17in - 0.82in - 0.53lb
  • EAN: 9780064407663
  • Recommended age: 08-12
  • Categories: Family - Orphans & Foster HomesHumorous StoriesFamily - Siblings

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About the Author

Helquist, Brett: -

Brett Helquist's celebrated art has graced books from the charming Bedtime for Bear, which he also wrote, to the New York Times-bestselling A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket to the glorious picture book adaptation of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol. He lives with his family in Brooklyn, New York.

Snicket, Lemony: -

Lemony Snicket had an unusual education, which may or may not explain his ability to evade capture. He is the author of the thirteen volumes in A Series of Unfortunate Events, several picture books, including The Dark, and the books collectively titled All the Wrong Questions.

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Praise for this book

Praise for A Series of Unfortunate Events: "Hilarious. Luckily for fans, the woes of the Baudelaires are far from over." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Those who enjoy a little poison in their porridge will find it wicked good fun." -- Kirkus Reviews

"Irrepressible, brave and charming." -- New York Times Book Review

"With a cast of unforgettable characters, a distinctly literary air, and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, this is a great match for dark comedy fans." -- Brightly