When a child reads a book, it’s important that they like it — but it’s more important that they’d like to read another one. Far too many children enjoy the worlds of Mother Goose, Dr. Seuss, Wonderland, and Oz, graduate to Shakespeare in middle school, and never voluntarily pick up a book for the rest of their lives. Perhaps the greatest deficit in society today is a cultural love of reading.
A simple cure for this issue would be books that encourage children to read other books — not merely in the sense of getting kids hooked on a franchise, but in the sense of getting kids hooked on reading and learning as a whole. Finding the right title can be particularly important for reluctant readers. Theoretically, many different books can do this. Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events is particularly adept in this regard.
At first glance, A Series of Unfortunate Events does not seem particularly distinct from other children’s book series. The saga revolves around a trio of tragic orphans — Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire — who bounce from relative to relative as they begin to uncover a grand family secret. Snicket, a pen name/fictitious identity for author Daniel Handler, entertains audiences with his pseudo-Gothic stylings and cheeky, verbose writing. But what makes his work especially impactful for children is the endless parade of allusions throughout the books.
It’s difficult to go a few pages without finding a clever callback to a canonical author. For example, one of the recurring characters in the book is Mr. Poe, a banker with an interminable cough — a clear reference to Edgar Allan Poe. Another character is called Esmé Squalor, a nod to J. D. Salinger’s short story “For Esmé — with Love and Squalor.” A submarine from the 11th book is called the “Queequeg,” the same name as the Polynesian sailor from Moby-Dick. The series alludes to everything from the Book of Genesis and Greek mythology to the experimental fiction of Virginia Woolf and Thomas Pynchon’s The Crying of Lot 49.
To an adult, these gestures to the great authors of the past are little treats, but to youngsters, they can be illuminating — a road map through the literary canon. Of course, any teacher can try to give kids a taste of the Great Books. The trick is to try and make it all fun. As educators know, finding engaging ways to teach reading and literacy skills can make an enormous difference for students. The humor, adventure, and inimitable prose of A Series of Unfortunate Events makes all the learning entertaining.
In addition, A Series of Unfortunate Events is presented as an endless chain of interlocking mysteries. The saga is filled with puzzles, ciphers, and secret societies. The books actively encourage kids to solve riddles within the text to fully understand the stories. This perfectly complements the high number of literary allusions in Snicket’s novels. As kids carefully look through the books for codes, they will also find references to many of the finest books ever written. While the series is meant for the younger set, it will perfectly prepare them to become literary adults.
A Series of Unfortunate Events might be the most darkly delightful way to inspire a lifelong love of reading.
Readers who want to experience all thirteen unfortunate installments can buy A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Complete Wreck on Amazon. Librarians and educators interested in finding more titles for young readers can also explore Video Librarian’s book resources.
Looking for more articles? Subscribe to Video Librarian for expert recommendations, reviews, and more to help you build your collection year-round