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The Field Guide: The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 1 (by Holly Black, Tony DiTerlizzi)

common sense media says

Ideal summer read for the middle elementary crowd.

parents & educators say
See all 14 reviews | Review it

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that there is little of concern here, though the mom is mostly irritable and sometimes unfair, and the children's father recently left them. As the series progresses, the themes are a little darker. Parents may want to preview the books going forward for younger readers.

Violence: Mild. A boggart creeps around in the walls of the house and plays nasty pranks.
Sex: Not applicable.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on The Field Guide: The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 1

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about how the siblings handle their feelings about their father's absence. How does each child (Jared, Simon and Mallory) channel his or her pain into another activity? How does the children's discovery of strange goings-on at Spiderwick Estate help them refocus their energies and work together toward a common goal?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Twins Jared and Simon Grace, and their older sister Mallory, move with their mother to a decaying Victorian house in the first of The Spiderwick Chronicles. There they discover a secret room, and clues which eventually lead them to an old, handwritten and illustrated book, Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You.

The book is filled with details about faeries, boggarts, brownies, and the like, but these are not your Disney fairies -- for the most part they are neither cute nor friendly. At first only Jared is interested, but strange and destructive things are happening around the house, and though their mother blames Jared, his siblings aren't so sure.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
In addition to the quick and fascinating story, these books are pleasurable physical objects as well: Small and lightweight, with irregularly cut pages, and illustrations on nearly every spread, including a map of the area and a couple of color plates, they have a delightfully old-fashioned feel that fairly cries out to be read. Add to that the short length (107 pages) and fluid readability that will appeal even to reluctant readers without seeming babyish, and you may have the perfect summer read for the middle elementary crowd. And maybe even a few adults, too.

Book themes & details

Book Details
Author: Holly Black, Tony DiTerlizzi
Illustrator: Holly Black, Tony DiTerlizzi
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication date: July 13, 2003
Number of pages: 107
Hardcover price: $9.95
This review was written by Matt Berman
 
 

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What parents & educators say

9

Most useful reviews by all members

rfu
teen, 17 years old
 
the spiderwicks
just want to know what it is about?
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helped me decide (6) | had useful details (7) | read my mind (7)
TheBookWorm101
kid, 13 years old
4
 
Great book!
Great book. The story is great. I love everything in it!
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helped me decide (5) | had useful details (6) | read my mind (4)
Ezri_B
parent of 11 and 11 year old
 
LOVE this collection
I enjoyed reading this collection. It has amazing imagry, the pictures are sensational. And the story is amazing. 2 of my boys adore it, and my youngest is anxious to read it himself.
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helped me decide (5) | had useful details (5) | read my mind (5)
spiderwick
teen, 15 years old
8
 
Great book
it was good it has some words some parents might not like , for example crap and there is some drama of there parents being devorced so it is a little unpositive other then that the book was amazing the pictures were nice the storyline was good and id reccomend it for children 8-13
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helped me decide (4) | had useful details (6) | read my mind (4)
rjinhd
kid, 8 years old
16
 
The nice book
nice
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helped me decide (4) | had useful details (4) | read my mind (5)
bo beard
kid, 11 years old
11
 
very good book
loved it
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helped me decide (4) | had useful details (5) | read my mind (4)
kit-kit
teen, 15 years old
7
 
good for teenagers,and 10 year old for good imagination!!
,love it and all other series to the link of the first book!!!!!!!! love them all age 13
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helped me decide (4) | had useful details (6) | read my mind (4)
SAR
adult
 
Perfect for a rainy day
The Spiderwick Chronicles are good for all ages. It's the perfect book for a quiet, rainy afternoon.
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library_queen
adult
 
A very riviting book. I just wish the author would have kept out the word c**p. It adds nothing to the story and is completely unnessesary.
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helped me decide (4) | had useful details (4) | read my mind (4)
jonnypants23
teen, 18 years old
 
Read this book.
This book is a very interresting fanasty book mystical creatures , very interesting storie line. I truly liked it. These authors are very imaginaritive.
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helped me decide (4) | had useful details (5) | read my mind (4)
zacpns@aol.com
teen, 15 years old
 
SPiderwick takes its chances.
Spiderwick book 1 was pretty good, pretty short, and pretty... well thats already two pretties too much. The book was great.. blah.. blah.. blah... how much more is there to say?
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helped me decide (4) | had useful details (4) | read my mind (4)
Prairie Teacher
educator
8
 
Richly illustrated fantasy with topics to talk about.
Fine storytelling with wonderful illustrations. There is plenty to discuss about families, school violence and bad behaviour, and the main character's feelings of isolation. My third graders were surprised to hear "crappy" and "shut up" from a book I would read to them. I think it's fine for kids to read, provided there is discussion about the book's themes and appropriateness of what goes on in its pages.
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Poppsy
adult
9
 
It's perfect for all age groups
I just love this movie as well as the books !!!!!!!1
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helped me decide (1) | had useful details (3) | read my mind (1)
qwas
kid, 12 years old
7
 
hi
nice book
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helped me decide (1) | had useful details (1) | read my mind (1)

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