“If you are interested in stories with happy endings, you would be better off reading some other book. If you have ever lost someone very important to you, then you already know how it feels, and if you haven’t, you cannot possibly imagine it.” -The Bad Beginning By speaking to the reader, students gain a clearer view, explanations, and another perspective, all within the same book.įor example: “It is useless for me to describe to you how terrible Violet, Klaus, and even Sunny felt in the time that followed. His books are the perfect examples of teaching point of view, particularly the rare second-person point of view.Īlthough A Series of Unfortunate Eventscan be seen as a third-person omniscient point of view as all the characters’ feelings and thoughts are explained, it is also second-person as Lemony Snicket talks to the reader directly. Lemony Snicket is a wonderful author to utilize for mentor text in the classroom. A mentor text is writing that is studied for author’s craft, word choice, and other skills to help students learn how to effectively write.

Mentor Text is a book or literary work that serves as an example of writing for students to emulate. His unique way of writing, coupled with his dynamic and eccentric stories, make for a powerful combination in children’s literature. No wonder students and teachers alike enjoy his books.

This is what Lemony Snicket is known for.

Snicket explains complex vocabulary, foreshadows events, tells the reader about himself, and directly interacts with the audience based on the story. Lemony Snicket is seen as an additional character and narrator created by Daniel Handler. In A Series of Unfortunate Events, Lemony Snicket regularly breaks the fourth wall and talks to the reader, using a rare second-person point of view.

Goldfish Ghost by Lemony Snicket