The Bad Beginning

**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.

Author: Lemony Snicket
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 08/25/1999
Pages: 176
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.53lbs
Size: 7.25h x 5.17w x 0.82d
ISBN: 9780064407663
Audience: Ages 9-12

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 6.4
Point Value: 4
Interest Level: Middle Grade
Quiz #/Name: 41281 / Bad Beginning


Award: Book Sense Book of the Year Award - Nominee
Award: Colorado Children's Book Award - Winner
Award: Nene Award - Winner
Award: Flicker Tale Children's Book Award - Nominee


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Review - Children 07/15/1999 pg. 1139
Ingram Advance 08/01/1999 pg. 40
Publishers Weekly 09/06/1999 pg. 104
Booklist 12/01/1999 pg. 707
Hornbook Guide to Children 07/01/1999 pg. 88 - Recommended, Satisfactory
USA Today 12/18/2002 pg. 1
Best of Book Sense/First 5 Yrs 04/01/2004 pg. 1
Hornbook Guide to Children 01/01/2000 pg. 88 - Recommended, Satisfactory
Library Journal 11/01/1999

About the Author
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.

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.