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.

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

age 11+

Based on 5 parent reviews

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.
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.

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.

Book Details

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