Lemony Snicket author to host National Book Awards

Author Daniel Handler a.k.a. Lemony Snicket. Ron Hogan / Wikipedia photo

NEW YORK — Welcome back to the National Book Awards, Daniel Handler, aka Lemony Snicket.

The National Book Foundation announced Wednesday that the best-selling author will host this fall’s awards ceremony. In 2008, Handler chaired the panel that gave out the award for best young people’s literature book.

Foundation executive director Harold Augenbraum praised Handler as “witty” and “charming. Handler said in a statement that when contacted by Augenbraum he thought he had won an award. “Um, guess again,” the executive director told him.

The ceremony, presented by the book foundation, is scheduled for Nov. 19.

Previous hosts have included Steve Martin, Walter Mosley and Andy Borowitz. Last year’s event was hosted by Mika Brzezinski of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”