This is a Christmas story about a living lump of coal that falls off of a barbecue and wishes for a miracle to happen to him. He is very artistic and wants to become an artist. He then goes on a search and first finds an art gallery and thinks the art has been done by other lumps of coal, but instead it has been done by humans using coal. He then keeps wander and runs into a man dressed as Santa Claus and tells him is problems. The man then comes up with the idea to put the lump of coal in his bratty son’s stocking. When the sin get the lump of coal, he is very excited and starts making art with the coal and they become rich. This book fits into the genre and format of a picture book. It would be good for lower level elementary students. This book could be used in the classroom during Christmas time. It would be a fun book for all ages and young children would have a fun time reading it and guessing along the way what was going to happen to the lump of coal. A teaching idea that could relate to this book could be to write about another holiday tradition and be creative on how the tradition came about. Any gender, race or socioeconomic status would enjoy this book. Snicket, L., & Helquist, B. (2008). The lump of coal. New York, NY: HarperCollins. Lemony Snicket's picture book, The Lump of Coal (HarperCollins, 2008), has been released for Christmas. Christmas is a time of miracles, and as Lemony Snicket says, “Miracles are like pimples, because once you start looking for them you find more than you ever dreamed you’d see.” (The book is worth buying for that sentence alone.) Although not quite as dire as Lemony Snicket’s best-selling Series of Unfortunate Events (it is Christmas after all), The Lump of Coal bears Lemony’s trademark style. Illustrations are by Brett Helquist who also illustrated A Series of Unfortunate Events. If you’ve never seen a lump of coal sporting a suit and bowtie, you’ll be amazed at how spiffy one can look. And this lump of coal “who for the sake of argument could think, talk, and move itself around” ventures out in search of his dream—life as an artist. I think picture books make great gifts for grownups. The Lump of Coal is a fun choice. It’s witty and ironic and full of everyday and not so everyday miracles.
What do You think about The Lump Of Coal (2008)?
I think we listened to this about 8 times in one day. The kids enjoyed it that much.
—nickyangie
This book was also charming. In entirely different ways, but charming nonetheless.
—Shneida
"Miracles are like pimples" XD With a start like that, how can you go wrong?
—najju
Oh my goodness. This guy gets paid for this?
—Vonn
