13 Words

Lemony Snicket (2010), 36 pages

Illustrated by Maira Kalman

Audience: Toddlers, and Pre-K

Format: picture book

Expand your vocabulary far beyond basic words; from scarlet to haberdashery, Snicket’s 13 Words will soon become some of your favorites! There once was a bird who was sad, so sad in fact she was despondent. Read along as her friends try their best to cheer up their glum friend (and in their endeavor all thirteen words are cleverly introduced). Snicket's strange and fantastical tale is unique and whimsical; the narrative is seamlessly echoed in Kalman’s colorful and surrealistic illustrations. Such an entertaining and educational read, not only does it provide a vocabulary lesson, it can be used to teach counting, colors, and much more!

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: Dear Deer by Henry Holt or Wonderful Words by Lee Bennett Hopkins

Other books by this author: The Lump of Coal