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    The Lump of Coal
    The Lump of Coal
    The Lump of Coal
    Audiobook11 minutes

    The Lump of Coal

    Written by Lemony Snicket

    Narrated by Neil Patrick Harris

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    This is a story about a lump of coal who can think, talk, and move itself around.

    Is there a more charming holiday tale to behold? Probably, but Lemony Snicket has not written one.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateSep 30, 2008
    ISBN9780061668982
    The Lump of Coal
    Author

    Lemony Snicket

    Lemony Snicket had an unusual education, which may or may not explain his ability to evade capture. He is the author of the 13 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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    Reviews for The Lump of Coal

    4/5

    45 ratings18 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Very good Lemony Snicket story. It reminds me to keep my eyes open for any opportunity
    • 2/5
      no pictures in this book. kind of ruins it. meow
    • 5/5
      "It is a miracle if you can find true friends, and it is a miracle if you have enough food to eat, and it is a miracle if you get to spend your days and evenings doing whatever it is you like to do."
    • 4/5
      This was read as part of our Christmas church service and I simply loved it. Anything that's used during inter-generational services that doesn't make me want to pass out is a good thing, and this actually made me pay attention rather than just practice patience and tolerance.
    • 5/5
      I love this little lump of coal! He's so cute and grumpy looking. I want to cuddle him.Oh, and the story, about being grateful for small miracles, is cute.
    • 4/5
      Though I thought that the idea behind this book was original and loved the fact that it had a happy ending that including art, I just thought the story could have been more developed. It felt a bit lacking. Still, fans of Lemony Snicket will enjoy it and it is a quick read. Share it with your child - if anything, it will teach them several uses for a lump of coal!
    • 4/5
      Lemony Snicket and Brett Helquist team up once again to tell and illustrate another splendid tale. This time, however it's not about orphans.It is about a lump of coal who attempts to find a true miracle.The lump of coal only wants to be accepted as an artist (he enjoys making black marks on surfaces) and a chef (he is very skilled at cooking things), but everywhere he goes, he is only treated as a lowly lump of coal. It is only after meeting Santa Claus (or at least, someone dressed up like Santa Claus) that he discovers a true miracle.This book is recommended for all fans of Snicket's work (and I suppose Handler's work too). It's definitely a Christmas classic to go alongside things like The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming.
    • 2/5
      Written in the style of A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Lump of Coal chronicles the existence of a piece of charcoal with artistic aspirations who ends up being a Christmas miracle. Humorous and intelligent, this is a new holiday favorite of mine. Adorned with the art of Brett Helquist, the book is visually appealing, especially the frumpy looking piece of coal. I don't know how much children will like it, but I certainly did.
    • 4/5
      A small lump of coal, abandoned in a BBQ charcoal bag once the summer is over, dreams of becoming an artist one day. Luckily, winter is a time when miracles have been known to happen...Lump of Coal is a short holiday-themed picture book, published after the success of Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events books. It's written in a style similar to the series (i.e., dark humor, the occasional defining of words in context) and features illustrations by the same artist who worked on all of the A Series of Unfortunate Events books, although he here uses full color instead of just black and white. Lump of Coal is a funny enough little book and is a fine addition to any holiday collection, but it isn't the best work from this duo. Still, who doesn't love a happy ending?
    • 5/5
      A humanized version of a lump of coal enabled to talk, walk and know what is and is not a miracle sets out upon a journey to utilize his artistic skills. Cute and a bit thought provoking. It's a winner.
    • 4/5
      SUMMARYA lump of coal is trying to find a job during the holiday season. The art gallery will not recognize him as an artist and the Korean barbecue restaurant will not use him. Finally, a fake Santa gives him to his stepson for Christmas. Together they make art and Korean barbecue together.REVIEWThis story is very enjoyable. I think the humor and situations that the coal is put it will be very fun for students to read. I also liked that the idea of Christmas and Santa Claus was more subtle and was not the main point of the story. The story only includes Santa and Christmas once the lump of coal has been turned away from the art gallery and Korean barbecue restaurant. The pictures accompany the story very well. I love that the lump of coal wears a cute little suit and that the illustrator makes black smudges for the footprints to accurately portray the smudges left by charcoal.
    • 5/5
      Just a bit of fluff with Lemony Snickett flare. A lump of coal has high aspirations but finds nothing but nay sayers. He ends up in a Christmas stalking of a "brat." Hand in hand the brat and the lump of coal make both their dreams come true.
    • 5/5
      A cute and witty outlet for the Snicket style, which I had sorely missed since the ending of Series of Unfortunate Events; practically every other line is quotable. The only issue I had with it, was the word used to describe the coal's movement was rolling, when he seemed to be walking in all the illustrations.
    • 5/5
      A fantastic departure from holiday books from 'Lemony Snicket'. Dry, sarcastic, sophisticated humor for children 8 and up. This is the story of a lump of coal who is bored and without a use after summer. He dreams of being used for moody art, Korean bbq, but Santa finds use for him as a gift. Adorable drawings fantastic humor. Great in the classroom as a departure from typical holiday books, may be an inspiration to get the charcoal out. Also has a moral to the story, to appreciate simple things.
    • 4/5
      It doesn't get much more tongue-in-cheek than Lemony Snicket - whose thirteen-volume A Series of Unfortunate Events explored a hilariously dolorous world - and The Lump of Coal is a case in point! The story of a hero who is "small, flammable, and dressed all in black," who, "for the sake of argument," can think, talk and move, it is a tale suitable for those who hear, at this time of year, "the story of a candelabra staying lit for more than a week, or a baby born in a barn without proper medical supervision," and answers the crush of more sentimental holiday fare in its own (or Snicket's own) inimitable style.Now, I tend to get a little sentimental at this time of year, and have no argument to make against the "sweeter" holiday selections, but there is always room for the humorous as well, in my reading schedule, regardless of the season! Between the dryly humorous story, and Brett Helquist's expressive illustrations, which somehow make the anthropomorphic coal look simultaneously cute and repulsive, A Lump of Coal really had me chuckling! Recommended to anyone who likes a little spice in their holiday reading brew, and to fans of this author/illustrator team!
    • 5/5
      Now that the holidays are officially here, the craziness has begun and we are all rush, rush, rushing everywhere. This little book is a fun break from the fray.With his characteristic humor, Mr. Snicket has created a little leftover lump of barbeque charcoal who has been forgotten in someones backyard. Summer is over and the lump is bored, so he goes rolling out into the world. His journey is a reminder to see and appreciate the small miracles that take place every day. An appropriate message at this time of year that is delivered with the author's classic mixture of sharp wit and sweet story.The story is accompanied by Brett Helquist's charming illustrations. He has created the cutest little grumpy-looking coal lump you have ever seen.
    • 4/5
      Such a cute little christmas story.
    • 5/5
      The Lump of Coal is a cute and simple book. It tells the story about a lump of coal who comes out of a forgotten bag of charcoal in the winter and sets out to find his purpose. This book is perfect for the Christmas holiday with the theme of miracles. There is a cameo of Santa Claus who employs the Lump of Coal as a gift for a nephew. I enjoyed this book. Like most of Lemony Snicket’s books, he tells the story from a third person point of view. Snicket narrates the story but also cuts into side conversations with the readers. An example of this style of writing can be seen when the coal has found one of his dreams of becoming a part of a barbecue at a Korean restaurant. Snicket starts the paragraph“It’s a miracle!” cried the lump of coal, and certainly there was every reason to believe this was so.Snicket then breaking the “fourth wall” he addresses the reader“A Korean restaurant is an excellent opportunity to enjoy an indoor barbecue—in fact, many such establishments have small barbecue pits….”The author addresses the moral of the story stating that everything is a miracle. Something as simple as true friends to having food to eat is a miracle. The author goes on to say that the holiday season is a great time to share what miracles you have had in the past year. I think that’s a great message to express to children because life is about being thankful what you have.