13 Words

I got this for my daughter when she was 18 months old and we instantly loved it (and she asked for it at least once a day for the next year). I find it to be a refreshingly funny, smart, different, and elegant little book for young children. We tend to prefer the lovely quirky little finds, and for us this one stands out as a gem among many on our kiddo's bookshelf. It's as fanciful as a fairy tale but without rehashing the same old plots and archetypes yet again, and features good friends on a mission, cake, and hats. I love the references to fine art sprinkled throughout, the sweetly posh and avant-garde lifestyle they all live, the level of detail in the pictures, and of course Lemony Snicket's wit and prose. I've read this book what feels like several million times now, and my now-three-year-old sings along with the mezzo-soprano's song (yes, we set it to music), and it still cracks me up to see the bird relaxing in an armchair reading, with her slippers off, a coffee and sandwich on a table nearby, and a do-rag on her head after being busy all day with her work as what appears to be a modern artist or possibly interior decorator. I like that it's for children but not babyish, independent but not rude, and sweet but not sugary. (Except for the steady supply of cake, that is.)

This book reads like the retelling of a random, vaguely unsettling dream. It is also the story of the modern wife. In it, the bird/wife is despondent. Her partner/dog comes in and eats her cake, then picks up some non-verbal clues that she’s not quite herself. So he takes off with a buddy in a fancy car, ostensibly to get a present to cheer her up, but really he ends up pleasing himself way more and gets her some fancy, useless thing as an aside. Meanwhile, bird was left alone at home to finish some thankless, mind-numbing task by herself. Partner/dog and sidekick/goat show up after the work is done, all ebullient from their shopping expedition. Bird gets a little taste of the outside world via a visit from a minor celebrity with a cake. Cake is nice. I mean who doesn’t like cake? Doesn’t really fix depression, but bird know that’s the closest she’s going to get to what she actually wants today, so she eats the cake.My 8YO daughter also loves this book, but likely for entirely different reasons.

The art, so fine. The story is fine too, almost as fine as the colors and textures of the art.

Lemony Snicket's 13 Words is a bedtime story favorite in my home. Its format follows Snicket's usual unique, clever, refreshing style, and the story is good for a number of happy giggles. The book is also excellent because it teaches children several words they very likely have never even heard before, like "haberdashery," while mixing in familiar words to keep them comfortable, such as "bird" and "cake." My youngest is 4 and my oldest, 12, and all my kids love this book. The ending is fun - an opera singer sings a little song - allowing the reader (if reading aloud) to get creative by making up a tune to go with the words, or simply read them. If you're tired of ho-hum children's stories, this book is definitely for you! Highly recommended!

If you are a Lemony Snicket fan, you will not be disappointed by this book. It is everything you would expect -- low key, interesting and quirky. I don't know how Lemon Snicket always finds artists that are exactly right for each book, but he does -- the pictures in "13 Words" help make the book as wonderful as it is.I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 only because it is not quite as wonderful as Mr. Snicket's "The Lump of Coal," which quickly became one of our family's favorite books ever.

Such a different and interesting story. Great for conversation and vocabulary building with your little ones. When I would read this story for my preschool class I would sing the last bit and the children would stand and dance unprompted. Lemony Snicket is the best.

This was the first Lemony Snicket book I was introduced to. It's hilarious. It is simply a story - an absurd little story - told in the form of the definitions of 13 words, many of them quite uncommon vocabulary for the young children likely to be hearing the story. But kids love to learn big words, so the story has the kind of magnetic pull of a piece of candy placed just slightly beyond a child's reach. They'll get to it by golly, and the stretch will do them good!

I bought this book based on the positive reviews it received. I was not disappointed! My 3-year-old and 6-year-old both love it and request it often! They requested it every night for a week when it first came in. Both boys now know what despondent, haberdashery, and panache mean. The book is a little sad, but in a silly way (why does the bird have to paint the ladders? A well-dressed goat driving a convertible?). It's a great read, the illustrations are interesting, and the book is a new favorite in our family.

My daughter (20 months) has asked me to read it at least once a day since we bought it. She loves the illustrations and maybe understands some of it, but I'm sure it will become more interesting for her as she gets older! As for adults, if you love lemony snicket in general it will help you get less bored when reading books over and over again with your toddler!

Quirky and fun read.

Somos grandes admiradores del trabajo de Lemony Snicket, desde la Serie de eventos desafortunados hasta El compositor ha muerto, pasando por el Trozo de carbón, Las preguntas incorrectas y demás. Pero este libro se malísimo, medio que parece extraño conforme se va desarrollando la historia, pero al final solo deja un sabor de boca de perplejidad y no una perplejidad disfrutable sino, decepcionante, no lo recomiendo para nada.

Amusing for a grownup to read, and my 3.5 yr old granddaughter loves it.

One of my favorites to read to my children. Slightly off the wall and colorful illustrations.