The Bad Mood and the Stick

Once there was a bad mood and a stick.

The stick appeared when a tree dropped it.

Where did the bad mood come from?

Who picked up the stick?

And where is the bad mood off to now?

You never know what is going to happen.

Cause and effect get the Snicket treatment in this amusing tale. Because of the bad mood—visually represented as a frowning, multicolored cloud—Curly pokes her brother with the stick. Instead of following the familiar arc of her misbehavior, regret, and reconciliation, the story veers into unexpected territory: the poking completely cheers up Curly and the bad mood transfers to Curly's mother. (Parents will groan in utter recognition.) The bad mood and the stick then go on to affect other characters across the town, resulting in a wedding attended by "everyone in this book." All of this unfolds in the understated voice that Snicket does so well, particularly with the slyly funny repeated phrase "You never know what is going to happen."

48 pages. Hardcover. Measures 9" x 10"

Recommended age: 4+