Parents' Guide to

The Field Guide: The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 1

By Matt Berman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 7+

Siblings discover a fairy world in charming fantasy tale.

Book Holly Black , Tony DiTerlizzi Fantasy 2003
The Field Guide: The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 1 Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

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age 11+

Based on 5 parent reviews

AEW30
AEW30 Adult
September 20, 2013
age 10+

Not for six year olds!

If this was a single book, I might agree with the age 6 rating that common sense has given. Unfortunately it is the first in a series of 5 books that need to be read together to make sense and complete the story. I read the first one to my son (nearly 8) based on this review, but had to do some serious editing with the remaining four based on language and content. (Several 'Oh Craps,' the word Hell, spilling the beans on the tooth fairy, etc.) It was an excellent series, but should be for older kids.
2 people found this helpful.
mamathree
mamathree Adult
April 18, 2012
age 17+

Caution to cat lovers!

My older kids loved the story, read them all one summer a few years ago when my boys were 8 and 12. HOWEVER, my 8 year old cat-loving daughter was screaming upset to her very soul when, in book 2, the heroes came upon the goblin camp and found them roasting something on a spit "that looked like a cat"...and then the drawing on the next page shows just that! I pre-read and skimmed over alot of the rest of that chapter, because she loves it otherwise, but i think i'm going to cover the cat on a spit with a well-placed drop of ink (it's a picture of a forest, with cages up in trees, and way down below is the camp of goblins and their fire...small cat but identifiable). she never wants anything to happen to cats, ever, and although it wasn't the cat they knew, it was a cat nonetheless. "Language" refers to many, many instances of name-calling, between siblings, from creatures to humans and each other, etc. funny that you can't recommend it for " x age and OLDER"...only x age and younger. I would say 9 and up...don't know what i'm going to replace tonight's story with, when i "LOSE" the book for a year!

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much swearing
2 people found this helpful.
See all 5 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In THE FIELD GUIDE: SPIDERWICK CHRONCLES, BOOK 1, 9-year-old twins Jared and Simon and their 13-year-old sister Mallory move with their mother to a decaying Victorian house after their father leaves them. On their first night, they discover a secret library, and later discover a more house secrets and passages. Their adventures destroy the nest of a brownie (house fairy) named Thimbletack, who takes out his rage on the kids and destroys the kitchen. The kids follow clues that lead them to an old, handwritten and illustrated book, Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You, which Thimbletack warns them is full of danger and not suitable for mortals.

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?

Our review:
Parents say (5 ):
Kids say (12 ):

This is a fast, fascinating story and an engaging entry into the world of more mature fantasy storytelling. Also, the way this physical book is designed, with irregularly cut pages and tons of Gothic-style illustrations throughout, is a delight. The Field Guide: The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 1 is small and lightweight, with an old-fashioned feel and an inviting, detailed map. At 107 pages, the story is short enough to appeal to reluctant readers and fast-paced enough to captivate more mature readers while being without seeming babyish for either audience.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how the siblings get along in The Field Guide: Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 1. The strange goings-on at Spiderwick Estate seem to help them work together toward a common goal; have you ever had a similar experience working with a group?

  • The kids handle their feelings about their father's absence by channeling their pain into another activity. How have you tried to distract yourself from something you didn't want to think about?

  • Have you ever thought about what a world of fairies would be like? Why do you think fairy stories are so interesting to readers? What others have your read?

Book Details

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