A Series of Unfortunate Events Read Along With Netflix
As an adult, I always try and read a book before heading to see a movie as from experience I like seeing how different the directors, writers, and actors see the book than I do. But, with my kids, I know that they never really becoming interested in them to the point that they start getting talked about. So when a series of books that I remember well from my own childhood is being serialized it’s a perfect way to go about it.
And so it starts:
If you are interested in stories with happy endings, you would be better off reading some other book. In this book, not only is there no happy ending, there is no happy beginning and very few happy things in the middle.
Lemony Snicket ~ A series of unfortunate events: The Bad Beginning
Over the last week, we have been reading the first book The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket together at bedtime. I like this time together just the two of us as T is 18 months younger she has lights out slightly earlier so although I am sure she listens in it’s really a time for J and me to snuggle up in his room and share something together.
Today Friday 13th January J and I will be sitting down with Netflix and enjoying reading along with the series. We would love for you to join in with us – and it’s simple just let us know with a tweet – to @rainydaymum and using the #ASOUEBooks
[clickToTweet tweet=”Reading along with @netflixUK & @egmontUK A Series of Unfortunate Events #asouebooks @rainydaymum” quote=”I’m reading along with A Series of Unfortunate Events on Netflix too” theme=”style3″]
I’ve brought some popcorn and our plan is to watch the first episode with the popcorn of course, then to read the next part of the book then watch the next episode. I really want to get the kids to understand that how they read and imagine the characters, settings, emotions and events isn’t the same as others do and even myself and them reading together we will see the story in our mind differently.
This first season is 8 episodes long and spans the first 4 books – The Bad Beginning, The Reptile Room, The Wide Window and The Miserable Mill all of the books can be found on the publisher Egmont’s Site as well as your local bookstore.
A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
Having read these books as a child and seen the movie I was wondering whether they would be suitable for J who is 7 and a half. He has a high reading age but it was more the context especially about the children being orphans and the “unfortunate events” that happen to them. However, my worries have been unfounded, instead of causing him concern they have opened up conversations such as what would happen if you and Daddy die? (luckily we have thought of that and have things in place).
He also liked it because (and maybe J is strange but) where a word or phrase was a little more complex Lemony Snicket in the writing interrupts and explains e.g.
… their parents gave them permission to take a rickety trolley – the word “rickety” you probably know, here means “unsteady” or “likely to collapase” – ….
I’ve refreshed myself on the first couple of books and never read the whole series, however, I think that we will be finishing off the series and adding them to our family bookshelf.
J because of his little obsessions with everything animal and specifically reptiles and amphibians is really looking forward to Book 2 The Reptile Room but I’ve hidden it until we finish off the first 2 episodes of the series and the first book.
Joining in Reading Along
We would love you to encourage your child to watch and join in reading along with us. It’s simple to do and hopefully, they will enjoy the books and series and it will encourage them to read more and also realise the joy of reading a book before the see the film or TV series.
If you are Instagram why not take a picture of your child reading the books or watching the series and use the hashtags #ASOUEBooks and #ASOUE so that if your account isn’t private we can see.
On Twitter then just tweet us, Egmont and Netflix a picture of you and your children enjoying the books and series. Or just click on the tweet link below.
[clickToTweet tweet=”Reading along with A Series of Unfortunate Events on Netflix #ASOUEBooks #ASOUE” quote=”Reading along with A Series of Unfortunate Events on Netflix with Rainy Day Mum” theme=”style6″]
This is a sponsored post on behalf of Egmonth Publishing UK and Netflix
We are loving the books and series too. Like you I was a bit concerned about the children becoming orphans part, but it’s not been a problem at all.