The Spiderwick Chronicles (Boxed Set): The Field Guide; The Seeing Stone; Lucinda's Secret; The Ironwood Tree; The Wrath of Mulgrath

Book Description

It all started with a mysterious letter left at a tiny bookstore for authors Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black. Its closing lines: "We just want people to know about this. The stuff that has happened to us could happen to anyone." Little could they imagine the remarkable adventure that awaited them as they followed Jared, Simon, and Mallory Grace and a strange old book into a world filled with elves, goblins, dwarves, trolls, and a fantastical menagerie of other creatures. The oddest part is in entering that world, they didn't leave this one!

Five captivating books!
One thrilling adventure!
The Spiderwick Chronicles

Customer Reviews:

reading fantasy is fun.......2007-09-10

Reading a book that will be a movie in Feburary is fun for all ages. This book is full of imagination, magic and fantasy.

A Family Favorite.......2007-09-06

My kids can't get enough of these books! I have a 7 year old & a 5 year old, and we have read the books aloud to them. The 7 year old keeps trying to sneak the books away and read them himself, but we make him wait. They are an easy read--each book is about 100 pages, so it doesn't take long to read. The storyline is exciting for the kids. I'm glad we bought the boxed set, as you wouldn't want to buy just one! The five books make me think it's like one book broken into 5 parts.

Protesting the Price.......2007-09-05

These books are nice little fantasy stories, but I read the first one and couldn't bring myself to buy the others simply because you get so little book for your buck. At least the Series of Unfortunate Events, similarly packaged, were completely developed--and I thought they ran a bit short at the time! These Spiderwick books are more like 1/3 of a book each, or maybe even 1/4--and yet they're as much as 10 bucks a pop.

Anyway, the characters are pleasant and the central premise of a field guide to goblins and other fantastic creatures is a rich one. But I would want to see far more incredible story telling, and at a reasonable length, to invest in this series wholeheartedly.

Spiderwick Chronicles-- Not just for kids.......2007-08-25

I enjoyed many things about this book-- the artwork is enchanting and the storyline is inventive and as an adult reading this book - I was taken back to being a kid and loving every moment of being lost in the story and my own imagination. Great Read!

I'm 22 and I loved this set.......2007-08-24

My husband and I are into Fantasy and sci-fi books. We knew of Holly Black, and we love her other books. My husband loved the set and so did I. The pictures help give you a mental image of the people in the book, so as you read your mind has something to go off of. We plan on keeping this boxed set for when we have kids, I'm sure that they will love then just as much as we did.

Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You (Spiderwick Chronicles)

Average customer rating:

WOW!!! This is a classic treasure that will live on for generations!
A Rare Find
Awesome pictures
My kids LOVE IT!
A book to spark the imagination

Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You (Spiderwick Chronicles)
Holly Black
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0689859414

Amazon.com

Spiderwick fans will adore this gorgeous guidebook to the fantastical creatures featured in Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi's spectacular series. The superdeluxe, lavishly illustrated "field guide" features 142 information-packed pages, 41 full-color plates, 6 spectacular gatefolds, 6 watercolor landscapes, scores of black-and-white and color sketches, and enough information to satisfy even the most demanding faerie enthusiast. Not only will readers learn all about the 14 fantastical creatures featured in the series, but they'll be delighted and astonished by an additional 15 creatures featured in this elaborate volume--including mermaids, gargoyles, and more. And if that weren't enough, we've included dozens of snippets from Arthur Spiderwick's personal journal--information that links the Guide specifically to the Spiderwick Chronicles--as well as cameos from a few of the series' favorite characters.

Book Description

It all began with a strange, mysterious correspondence left for authors Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black at a small New England bookstore. Written by three siblings, the letter told of their great-great-uncle Arthur Spiderwick and an unfinished tome filled with eyewitness accounts of creatures otherwise thought to be the stuff of legend. In the #1 New York Times bestselling serial the Spiderwick Chronicles, readers were enthralled by the account of the those siblings, Jared, Simon, and Mallory Grace, as they battled dwarves, goblins, elves, and a diabolical ogre in their efforts to hold on to their uncle Spiderwick,s life work. Now, through the combined efforts of the Grace children and authors Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black, Simon & Schuster is thrilled to present that work to you!

Beginning with a thoughtful and informative introduction, progressing through six exhaustive sections featuring thirty-one faerie species, and culminating with an addendum that includes observations supplied by Jared Grace, this long-awaited compendium to the worldwide Spiderwick phenomenon delivers enough information to satisfy even the most demanding faerie enthusiast. Not only will readers learn the habits and habitats of the fourteen fantastical creatures featured in the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling chapter books, but they will be delighted and astonished by an additional seventeen creatures. Also included are dozens of snippets from Arthur Spiderwick,s personal journal as well as cameos from a few series favorites.

With so much to offer, this book is destined to be pored over for generations to come!

www.spiderwick.com

Customer Reviews:

WOW!!! This is a classic treasure that will live on for generations!.......2007-09-22

I can now say that I am a lucky man. I got to meet one of my heroes in San Diego a few weeks back. His name is Tony DiTerlizzi, and as far as I'm concerned, he's one of the most talented illustrators alive. Not since Brian Froud's classic FAERIES book has such a magnificent collection of fairytale art been bound together. Tony's style has a very classic/retro feel, that is also somehow modern at the same time. The palette is perfect, and the takes on these classic faeries are fresh. It is simply a gorgeous book worthy of being enjoyed time and time again.

I had a blast looking through each page, pausing to drink in each pencil sketch, and all the wonderfully painted renderings alike. There is no throwaway art in this book -- none at all!

The imagination of everyday items like needles, thimbles, and scissors becoming proud objects of the fairies that stole them is masterfully done. I am proud to say that Tony has signed my copy -- and maybe one day I'll be lucky enough to own an original piece of art from the book.

Kudos, and masterfully done! This is a treasure!

A Rare Find.......2007-09-03

Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You is a truly unique find. I stumbled across the novels at a friends house and thought the ink drawings were fun and playful, but the field guide itself is quite striking. The illustraions alone would have sold me, i love the little quick sketches and diagrams, plus the old-time travel log look is really appealing. All of the "little-known-facts", author's musings/notes, and narratives make this a rare find for any fantasy lover.

Awesome pictures.......2007-06-05

I love this book! I can look through it over and over again and never get tired of the beautiful illustrations. This illustrated book ties into the Spiderwick Chronicles books. It is the actual field guide that they talk about in this series that all of the fantasy creatures are trying to get ahold of. It is not supposed to be in human hands. No telling what the humans would do if they knew their secrets!

My kids LOVE IT!.......2007-03-11

We read the Spiderwick Chronicles series and wanted more. So, when we found there was a Field Guide available we jumped at it. My kids have studied the characters in the book and have gone on faerie hunts in the yard and elsewhere. Fun! I'd recommend it for all 7-10 year-olds who are seriously interested in all things faerie.

A book to spark the imagination.......2007-03-08

My 5th grade son came home from school and insisted we buy this book. The reading teacher at his school had brought the book in to his classroom and they all went wild for it. It is very imaginative with wonderful illustrations of mythical creatures and is categorized in six different areas of fantastical creatures ("Around the house and yard" i.e. brownies, boggarts, changelings, pixies, etc. "In Fields and Forests" - cockatrices, elves leprechauns, manticores, sprites, treefolk, etc. "In Lakes and Streams" - kelpies, merfolk, nixies, sea serpents, trolls etc. "In The Hills and Mountains" - dwarves, giants, goblins, knockers, ogres, etc. "In The Sky" - dragons, griffins and phoenixes and "Outside At Night" - banshees, gargoyles, phookas, and will-o-the wisps among many many others. It is beautifully illustrated and has lots of information on the fictional (or is he?) Arthur Spiderwick's adventurous travels. My 2nd grade daughter really enjoys looking at the pictures although the text is too hard for her. This is a great book for older children, especially children like my son that are reluctant readers. Its the kind of book they pick up over and over. Because my children enjoyed this so much, we recently bought Spiderwick's The Care and Feeding of Sprites which is great but doesn't compare with the Fantastical World Around You (which covers many different species of mythical creatures with detailed descriptions and information on each). Happy reading and imagining!

Notebook for Fantastical Observations (Spiderwick Chronicles)

Average customer rating:

Now I can keep track
Fantastical Observations
A book which comes in handy.
Perfect for boys and girls!
repeat read

Notebook for Fantastical Observations (Spiderwick Chronicles)
Holly Black
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1416903453

Book Description

Can't get enough of the faerie world? Well, Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black, the brave souls that helped Mallory, Simon, and Jared Grace bring their amazing adventures to a worldwide audience, are here to help you find yours!

Presenting The Spiderwick Chronicles Notebook for Fantastical Observations. This handy interactive storybook features seventeen mini-adventures collected from faerie watchers around the globe as well as plenty of pages for readers to add their own stories, maps, charts, notes, lists, diagrams, and drawings. So get ready to embark on your own faerie adventure -- all you need is an observant eye and an open mind. Just keep your wits about you. After all... their world is closer than you think....

Customer Reviews:

Now I can keep track.......2006-08-25

Now I can keep track of all those funny things that happen during the day and never new what it was. I knew there was always someone (or something) behind all the shadows, objects moving around, hiding things on me, thinking I was nuts...... A perfect journal for everyone to keep track of happenings and thoughts.

Fantastical Observations.......2006-07-14

Fantastical Observations is for the littlest Spiderwick fans and maybe for those who like to keep a journal. The Notebook is 200 pages about 50 pages of which are short anecdotes/stories about fairies and about 150 of which are lined pages for adding notes. Don't get this if you haven't already read and loved the Spiderwick books.

A book which comes in handy........2006-04-27

This book is an outstandibly good book.This book has lots of secrets that you wouldn't have found out in all of the five spiderwick books.This book had lots of tips about "how to recognise a faery".I think the best things about this book was it included maps that you need to find places,diagrams which you need to help you discover and so on.I rated this book five because it was very useable.I could even use it for jabbing in a nail!LOL like i would i'll stuff my precious book.I want to give a credit to the author that you have surely come a long way from those good spiderwick books.You have made this book..BRILLIANT.B-R-I-L-L-I-A-N-T.I recomend this book for children who would like to know most of the better secrets before reading all the five spiderwick books.

Perfect for boys and girls!.......2006-01-10

A lot of "diary" type books you see on the market are for girls only--don't boys need encouragement to write as well? This is the best I've seen for any gender. With good vocabulary, excellent writing prompts, and varied activities, this is a sure-fire winner for any child. My 11 y/o doesn't really like to draw, but there are many other creative activities for him in this book, such as mapping his neighborhood and naming his own fantastic beasts--complete with space for his own adjectives to describe them. Highly recommended!

repeat read.......2005-07-08

My son (8) LOVES this book. He has read all the books in this series, however, he keeps coming back to this book.

The Ironwood Tree (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 4)

Average customer rating:

The Ironwood Tree (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 4)
Series improves as it goes on.
ironwood tree
spider wick the iron wood tree book 4
AMAZING BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!

The Ironwood Tree (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 4)
Holly Black
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0689859392

Amazon.com

After a brief breather in book three (Lucinda's Secret), the Spiderwick Chronicles heat up with doppelgangers, then dwarves, then a dastardly double-cross, as this five-part series approaches its dramatic end.

The Grace kids (9-year-old twins Simon and Jared, and 13-year-old Mallory) might think that things have finally quieted down for them, but the nefarious faerie world has many more surprises in store. In the second chapter, titled, "IN WHICH the Grace twins are triplets," a mysterious and menacing shape-shifter shows up at Mallory's fencing match--and before Simon and Jared can suss out what's up, their sister disappears, presumably kidnapped. Eager to recover Mallory, the two descend into a strange subterranean world beneath a nearby quarry, only to find themselves prisoners and then privy to a wicked (and almost unbelievable) plan. The twins do end up tracking down Mallory, but only in very peculiar circumstances--not the least of which that she's wearing a dress.

Author Holly Black once again skillfully manages to weave in plenty of creepy details (including a bloody final chapter) without whitewashing or leaving young readers feeling too creeped out--and she gets able assistance from Tony DeTerlizzi's ever-evocative pen-and-ink drawings (especially in the looming menace of the Mulgarath). Fans of the series will have a hard time waiting for the final installment, titled fittingly, ominously, The Wrath of Mulgarath. (Ages 6 to 10) --Paul Hughes

Book Description

First a pack of vile, smelly goblins snatch Simon. Then a band of elves try to entrap Jared. Why is the entire faerie world so eager to get their hands on Spiderwick's Guide? And will the Grace kids be left alone, now that the Guide has mysteriously disappeared? Don't count on it.

At school, someone is running around pretending to be Jared, and it's not Simon. To make matters even worse, now Mallory has disappeared and something foul in the water is killing off all the plants and animals for miles around. Clues point to the old abandoned quarry, just outside of town. Dwarves have taken over an abandoned mine there. And the faerie world's abuzz with the news that a creature with plans to rule the world has offered them a gift to join with him -- he's given them a queen...

Customer Reviews:

The Ironwood Tree (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 4).......2007-01-16

We love this book. The series is so much fun. I have enjoyed it as much as my seven year old.

Series improves as it goes on........2006-12-14

Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi, The Ironwood Tree (Scholastic, 2004)

The fourth installment in the Spiderwick series continues bringing the storyline together. Once again, character-building is dispensed with; the plot's the thing here, but by the fourth book in a series, you should know everything you need to know about the characters. And to be fair, you do know everything you need to know about what the main characters can do; you just haven't gotten to know them very well over the course of the series. But that's not the fault of The Ironwood Tree.

Things hit kind of a lull in the series' third book, but heat up again in The Ironwood Tree, where the Grace siblings encounter their nemesis, Mulgarath, the driving force behind all of the (unfortunate) events that have driven the series so far. Mulgarath's minions, the dwarves, have kidnapped Mallory to install as their queen, and Jared and Simon have to find a way to get her back.

As with all the Spiderwick books, the action is fast and furious, with Black's writing well-complemented by DiTerlizzi's drawings. The series is getting better as it goes on; if you'd previously given up on it, give it another try. The books are short (easily readable in one sitting), and everything points to a satisfying conclusion. *** ½

ironwood tree.......2006-12-07

I DIDN'T LIKE THIS BOOK CALLED IRONWOOD TREE IT'S AABOUT A GIRL THAT IS MISSING FROM SWORD TOURNAMENT.BECAUSE IT WAS HARD TO GET INTRESTID IN THE BOOK AND IT WAS SLOW TO READ.

spider wick the iron wood tree book 4.......2006-11-17

This is about 2 brothers going through a fantasy world to save there sister. This is a wonderful story of adventure and I think you will really enjoy it. Jared is the older brother and he is very mischievous. Chris is the younger sibling and he is just an innocent little thing. Mallory is the oldest and she is a very experienced fencer. She is kidnapped and taken to another world. That`s when Jared and Chris have to rescue her from the evil elves. Also Jared and Chris are taken as prisoners. Then they escape and rescue Mallory.

ONE of my favorite parts is "come on! I can't be late," Mallory said, smoothing her hair back unnecessarily." It's my first match "!

And my response was these few sentences really lead me to keep reading because I want to know what's going to happen next.

Just jump to the rocks, I'll give you the flash light.

I felt he said that just like it was nothing, so if he feels that way he should do it.

Mallory said shut up your so loud.

I think that's so mean and harsh to say to your own siblings.

AMAZING BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!.......2006-10-02

The spider wick chronicles have five adventures books!!!The books are about three children always getting in some trouble.There names are Jared,Mallory and Simon!!!In book four they loose there sister and have to go find her but there are dwarves procting here case!!!

The Wrath of Mulgarath (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 5)

Average customer rating:

The Spiderwick Chonicles The Wrath of Mulgrath
Excellent book
The Wrath of Mulgareth(Spiderwick Chronicles #5
SpideWick Book Review
not about spiders

The Wrath of Mulgarath (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 5)
Holly Black
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0689859406
Release Date: 2004-09-07

Amazon.com

Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi pull off an impressive five for five with Wrath of Mulgarath, the satisfyingly dramatic conclusion to their series, The Spiderwick Chronicles. After the gory conclusion of the The Ironwood Tree, we don't get even a moment's reprieve before the action picks up again, in a starting chapter entitled, fittingly, "IN WHICH the World Is Turned Upside Down." Thirteen-year-old Mallory and nine-year-old twins Jared and Simon return to the Spiderwick Estate only to find their home in shambles, with trash and broken furniture scattered across the lawn and Simon's griffin chasing a "goblin" across the roof. The faerie world that the Grace kids have so slowly probed in this series has finally come home to roost. Black and DiTerlizzi pack a lot into the finale of this beautifully produced series, with dragons and goblins and elves--and even a magical cameo by Arthur Spiderwick (the long-lost author of the disappearing-reappearing Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You). We get a dramatic rescue, a clever end to a fearsome foe (with some thanks to Hogsqueal from book two), and a long denouement that leads to a final cryptic note from the author and illustrator: "Are there more ogres / and dragons to slay? / Is there more mayhem, / perhaps, on the way? / Ask Tony and Holly. / They'll swear that it's true. / But you still won't believe / what's coming for you!" (Ages 6 to 10) --Paul Hughes

Book Description

Three ordinary kids, Jared, Simon, and Wallory Grace, have entered another world -- without leaving this one! Two remarkable talents, New York Times best-sellers Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black, have risked everything to bring this remarkable account to light. Five books -- one thrilling adventure -- the Spiderwick Chronicles!

Their world is closer than you think.

Customer Reviews:

The Spiderwick Chonicles The Wrath of Mulgrath.......2007-10-24

If you like reading about fantasies, poisonous dragons, and armies of goblins, The Spiderwick Chronicles and the Wrath of Mulgrath is the book for you. This fantasy book is the last book of the Spiderwick Chronicles series. It is by Tony DeTeriza and Holly Back. This book starts from the Grace children¡¦s past journey. The Grace children have to make it by all these events in order to get their spell book, (Field Guide) back from the evil ogre, Mulgrath. The authors do well in describing the setting and people in the book. I liked it how the Grace Children never get a break and makes you keep reading. The main event I thought was when the Grace children defeated or may not have defeated Mulgrath. You have to read to find out!º Of course if you are reading this series, love fantasies, or just want a quick read, action packed nerve wracking book, then picking up this book is the right choice!

Excellent book.......2007-09-29

My son loves the series of this book and was so glad to hear it came out with a new one. I bought it for his birthday and he actually loved getting this book as a gift.

The Wrath of Mulgareth(Spiderwick Chronicles #5.......2007-08-10

I think the ending to this book was very good. I love the entire series and I'm looking forward to seeing the movie when it comes out next year.

SpideWick Book Review.......2007-04-17

Spiderwick Book
By: Tony DiTerlizzi

This book is called Spiderwick. It is about a single mom raising twin boys and a daughter. They have just moved into their new house on the edge of the forest. They start to encounter weird and strange things in the house, such as fairies, goblins, and horrible creatures.
They find a secret attic that has strange items, and they find a fairy. He helps them on there journeys and explains what they are encountering.
Eventually the twins get kidnapped so there sister goes out and tries to find them. But will she succeed? It is a great book for kids in about fourth to fifth grade. If you like surprise, adventure and suspense than read Spiderwick and find out if the brothers get saved or experience their worst nightmare.
I like this book because every time you think that everything is ok something bad happens and it keeps you thinking. I also like it because of the reaction of the characters when something strange happens. I know I like this book and you will too.

[...]

not about spiders.......2007-03-13

3 Kids save the Day
This is a book review on the book of Spiderwick The Wrath of Mulgarath, by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi. The story mostly takes place in the town of Spiderwick Estates.
Mom Dad We Are Home!
"Mom dad we are home" is what the main characters said in my book when they got home from school. But there was no answer. Then they ran upstairs, and saw that the place was trashed. And all they found was a little rhyming guy on the table, his name was Hogsqueal. And Hogsqeal told them their parents had been taken by the goblin army of Mulgarath. Then they go to the junk yard where Mulgarath's lair is. And fight for their mom and dad to be free. On the way they fight tons of goblins.
Favorite Book
I loved this book! It was really action packed. I think it is a great book for boys, maybe girls too. I loved this book because you can learn lots of lessons. For example, always go for what you want. And the kids don't care if something seems impossible, they will just do the best they can. They are not scared if it looks like they don't stand a chance against goblins, the will either figure out how to beat them or get out of it. Another thing I like was that when the authors put the pictures on the side, I felt like I was in the book with them.
Lost Someone
I can really relate to the characters in my book because they only lost their parents and found them but I lost my great uncle Lloyd for ever. So if you feel like you have ever lost someone go to the nearest bookshelf and read it.
Read It
If you like to travel to different imaginary places, would be a great book for you

Lucinda's Secret (Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 3)

Average customer rating:

Great series!
Continues apace.
Getting Better, Getting Better
Lucinda's Secret
A historical secret

Lucinda's Secret (Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 3)
Holly Black
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0689859384

Amazon.com

The Grace kids--13-year-old Mallory and 9-year-old twins Jared and Simon--get to catch their breath in the third installment of the Spiderwick Chronicles, as they visit their "crazy old" Aunt Lucinda for some help in deciding the fate of the troublesome Field Guide

Fresh from near-fatal goblin and troll attacks in the previous book (The Seeing Stone, the children are torn over whether to hang onto their long-lost great-great-uncle's book or to turn it over to the menacing faeries. Thimbletack--the house brownie who's transmogrified into an angry "boggart"--has lost his patience with the kids, and he starts subjecting Jared to increasingly nasty pranks. Hoping that Lucinda might know something about Uncle Arthur's fate (or at least have some advice on how to fend off the faeries), the three children talk their mom into a trip to the asylum for a visit--but there they learn their situation might be even more dangerous than they imagined. (And, as readers of the series know, the kids already thought they were in hot water.)

Holly Black doesn't dish up the action quite as fast as she did in the first two books, but Spiderwick fans won't be disappointed: We learn more Spiderwick family history, we get an ominous glimpse of events to come, and Tony DiTerlizzi introduces a few new faeries to the menagerie in his ever-evocative pen and ink--including a special treat, the Cheshire-esque phooka. ("You've lost your uncle! How careless.") Ages 6 to 10) --Paul Hughes

Book Description

Let the story of my niece and nephews be a warning. The more you know, the more danger you're in. And trust me, you don't want to meddle with the Little People. -- S.S.

One thrilling adventure -- The Spiderwick Chronicles!

Their world is closer than you think.

Customer Reviews:

Great series!.......2007-08-08

The entire series is great. First time my son read a book cover to cover and wanted more!

Continues apace........2006-09-21

Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi, Lucinda's Secret (Simon and Schuster, 2003)

The third Spiderwick book is here, and things keep going along in their own inimitable fashion. Once again, the book starts off in the same rather weak fashion as did The Seeing Stone, but wraps up the oddly out-of-place stuff much more quickly than that one did, and we're off to the races. I've reached the point in the series where it's impossible to give any sort of plot description without spoiling earlier volumes, so I'll refrain.

As with the last book, once things get rolling, this is fun stuff, easily read. It doesn't have the depth of something like His Dark Materials, but then it's not meant to; these are simple, easy-to-read tales that are perfect for the child who's just beginning to read on his or her own and is still enchanted with the fairy-tale world. Some parents might want to take a quick run through to make sure everything's copacetic with their worldview (for example, the house brownie has a habit of expressing his displeasure by, shall we say, taking a leak), but I'd say this is workable for the six-and-up set. The kids' home situation might bring up some questions that would be interesting to explain to a six-year-old but then six-year-olds are a lot more accepting of some things than adults are. ***

Getting Better, Getting Better.......2006-05-21

The Spiderwick Chronicles has always been an enjoyable series to me, ever since I read the first book. Let's recap a bit.

Book 1 was intriguing, hinting at events to come
Book 2, the action begins

Now, here we are in book three, "Lucinda's Secret." To provide for some backstory, the Grace children visit their believed-to-be-crazy old Aunt Lucy, who gives some insight about the past of Arthur Spiderwick and the dangerous of Faeries. The Grace children, obviously, do not take heed and find themselves in encounters with elves and a phooka.

This book is a bit better then the previous two, because there is no more waiting--the action has begun, and it seems that it won't stop until the end of the five book series. The villain Mulgarath is spoken of for the first time, and the book in itself is VERY enjoyable. While it's short and can be read in a little less then an hour, it's definitely worth reading.

Just to add this in: this series is not a rip-off of A Series of Unfortunate Events. Yes, the formats are very noticeably similar and it's about three children, but the story is so utterly different that once you read it, you laugh at the comparisons. Happy reading!

7/10

Lucinda's Secret.......2006-05-13

A historical secret .......2006-04-27

Lucinda's secret was a very good book this one included lots of things you needed to know about the Spiderwick estate and lots of things about Arthur Spiderwick.The funniest bit was when she woke up in the middle of the night and found that her had been strangled to the banners of her bed.The Phooka was very creative because how it stays on a tree all day long.Its kind of like a monkey.I wish i knew what "bonny bonny bonny", meant.I think the unicorn could have had more features for example(no hair no tail)and so on.The faeries were very uniqe with their features.I recomend this book for people who like imaginitive stories.

Care and Feeding of Sprites (Spiderwick Chronicles)

Average customer rating:

Care and Feeding of Sprites
"We'll Keep Its Secrets..."
Pricy for the page count, but excellent stuff
Spritely (ho ho)

Care and Feeding of Sprites (Spiderwick Chronicles)
Holly Black
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 1416927573

Book Description

Got Sprites?

Many would have you believe that sprites (or "fairies" as they're often called) are sweet and pretty and ultimately peaceful creatures. But don't let the carefree nature of these dazzling beguilers fool you. Because while they do make for awesome pets (or, if you prefer, companions), these are not creatures to be handled lightly. So forget everything you know -- or think you know -- about sprites, and listen to the experts from the International Sprite League as they, with the assistance of

the creative team that brought you the bestselling Spiderwick Chronicles, provide a resource that will prove to be as essential for the novice sprite keeper as a strong cage and eyes in the back of his or her head.

Customer Reviews:

Care and Feeding of Sprites.......2007-04-03

Very cute book. If you like the Spiderwick Chronicles, this is a must have. Wonderfully whimsical illustrations.

"We'll Keep Its Secrets...".......2007-01-12

Since the publication of the five-part "Spiderwick Chronicles" there have been three "spin-off" publications: "Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You" (a copy of the book that featured so heavily in the Chronicles themselves), "A Notebook for Fantastical Observations", designed for readers themselves to fill out, and this, "The Care and Feeding of Sprites". If you can only choose one of them, then the pick of the litter is undoubtedly the Field Guide, a stunning collection of illustrations and information that (in my opinion) is even better than the five books on which it is based.

But as a second choice "Care and Feeding of Sprites" is a wonderful addition to any growing Spiderwick library - though perhaps a bit pricey at this stage for such a relatively slim volume. Set out as a proper "how to" guide to raise and care for the diminutive little creatures known as sprites, (and endorsed by the International Sprite League, of course, visitable online) Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black - through the instruction of the Grace children, naturally - have put together another beautifully created and bound book.

Divided into fifteen segments, such as "Anatomy of a Sprite", "The Many Moods of Your Sprite" and "What's Not a Sprite", Black provides the informative, detailed and often hilarious commentary on how one should look after your own sprite. But as always, the true appeal of any Spiderwick book lies with DiTerlizzi's stunning illustrations. Each scientific portrait of the sprites comes complete with a key on its behaviour, Latin name, details on the wings and legs, and is rendered in beautiful colour. Each one on its glossy page could be framed and hung on the wall - they're simply that beautiful.

But the real reason I thank these collaborators is due to their success in bringing the old lore of the faerie-folk back into the public eye, following in the worthy footsteps of Alan Lee, Jim Henson, Brian Froud and Terri Windling, among others. Far from the sweetie-cuteness of the portrayal of "fairies" that began in the Victorian era and got worse as the century wore on, Black and DiTerlizzi bring back the dark side of the faerie world - and don't shy from sharing it with children. More please!

Pricy for the page count, but excellent stuff.......2007-01-09

It's tough to follow up a book like Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide with, well, anything. So it's inevitable that this book comes up a bit short compared to that lush book, stuffed full of amazing art in multiple media and wildly imaginative text.

That said, the Care and Feeding of Sprites has a more modest goal -- to be a fantasy version of a real world pet care guide -- and succeeds at it wonderfully. Writer Holly Black shouldered a lot of the burden with the Spiderwick Chronicles previously, but in Sprites, the book really has to succeed or fail based on Tony DiTerlizzi's art. (Black's contributions are strong, but maintaining the mock-serious tone really makes her work a quiet pleasure.)

DiTerlizzi's sprites run the gamut of shapes and sizes, and all feel as though they could spring from a fantasy world ecology. Plants, insects and even frogs all serve as sources of inspiration and the end results all feel very right.

Part of the book's high price tag is the heavy glow-in-the-dark poster, which also serves as the book's cover. Honestly, I would have rather this been a separate product -- I'm not sure how well the posters will hold up to serving as a cover on the way to a child's wall -- but it's gorgeous.

I would recommend this to someone who already owns the Spiderwick Chronicles or Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide, which are better books. But this is a fun companion piece for those looking for more insights into the fantastical world around them.

Spritely (ho ho).......2006-12-20

I have fond memories of growing up reading various Flower Fairy books by Cicely Mary Barker as a child. Remember the Flower Fairies? The books were small child-sized creations containing intricate and elaborate illustrations of fairy children wearing wings and a variety of pedals, berries, and leaves. A bit short on text, those books kept me enchanted for hours (time that was intended to be used for napping). Now I am old, still unable to nap, and just as enchanted by realistic looking magical critters with wings as I ever was. Like most sane members of humanity, I was charmed by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black's remarkable, "Spiderwick Chronicles" and, like every child who has fallen in love with them, I am sad that there have only been five proper books. Oh sure, there was, "Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide To the Fantastical World Around You", but that was more clever ephemera than any kind of narrative continuity. So using my admittedly limited definition, "Care and Feeding of Sprites" is not a real book either. It does include a little information about what some of the Grace clan members are up to today, but by and large it comes off more as an incredibly life-like and believable How-To guide on sprite maintenance. By the time you're halfway through the first page, however, you simply do not care.

Divided into fifteen sections, "Care and Feeding of Sprites" put together a variety of information so as to inform and aid those lovers of these unique little pets. Meticulously illustrated to even the minutest detail, Black and DiTerlizzi give readers an up close and personal look at sprite life. Everything from "Obtaining Your Sprite" to "Housing Your Sprite" to the eye-opening, "What Is Not a Sprite" offers newbie sprite owners just the kinds of tips and tricks they'll need to keep these elusive little creatures in check. As it concludes with the Mission Statement of The Spiderwick International Sprite League, those who read the book cover to cover will gain a full appreciation for the rewards that come with being the right kind of sprite owner.

And the pictures? Oh the pictures. Ooooooh the pictures. First of all, I'd like to credit the team of DiTerlizzi and Black for realizing something that only a few truly clever marketing whizzes are apparently aware of; the more realistic a fantasy book feels, the more kids will adore it. Why do you think Ernest Drake's "Dragonology" sells so well in the stores, eh? It is, to my mind, part of the reason for Tolkein's popularity. Create your own language and watch your fans multiply accordingly. The authors of this particular guide nail down right from the start just how realistic they want this book to be and then play along accordingly. As such, the first two pages are more key and definition of symbols than anything else. Latin names, details of a "distinguishing physical feature" or two, and even body height in millimeters are accounted for. Then you've symbols for the sprites' preferred habitat, primary locomotion, general disposition, and additional traits (explaining whether or not they are prone to steal infants, sing, or merely think they can sing). Got all that? Good, because that's when Mr. DiTerlizzi really gets to work. We get front views, side views, and elaborate explanations of anatomy. As the book progresses, inserts display how one can determine sprite gender (answer: "Your best means is asking. Politely."). And in the illustrator's watercolors come magical creatures of ever color, shape, size, and mannerism. The man is at his best here.

A person might be fooled into believing that a guide book of this sort would be wholly reliant on DiTerlizzi's pretty pretty pictures. A person would be askew in their assumptions. Not to say that Mr. DiTerlizzi (a.k.a. the hardest working man in kidlit) doesn't bend over backwards to meld together human, insect, and vegetation in a wholly convincing manner. It's just that alongside his pics are Holly Black's funny and, dare I say, well-researched instructions. I can only assume that the woman in question went out, found numerous pet caring guides (perhaps regarding rare or exotic species) and studied them to the hilt before writing this book. Always accepting the natural professional tone adapted for this book, Black manages to balance "interesting" with "oddly informative" alongside a healthy smattering of "funny". There are words of caution that inform readers about the dangers of buying your sprite through online dealers, why a dollhouse is not ideal housing for sprites, and how to give your sprite the optimum in entertainment. The warnings are funny. The tips are funny. And "The Many Moods of Your Sprite" is so good that you're really going to have to see it for yourself to appreciate it.

Of course, Black and DiTerlizzi's book isn't the first of its kind. It's just the best at what it does. I well remember Terry Gilliam's, Lady Cottington's Pressed Fairy Book, in all its raucous grotesque one-joke glee. "Care and Feeding of Sprites" is reminiscent of that, but far better in the end. Gee whiz, how to best convince you that your kids might actually learn something from this book? Ah... how about this: they'll willingly learn terms like thorax, tympana, and sepals without so much as a sigh. It's just a sweet ride through and through. An oddly informative amusing text with more intelligence wrapped in it than it has any right to contain. Even if you've never read a single "Spiderwick" book in your life but you still harbor a sweet spot for well-thought out fantasy lit, you cannot go wrong with this book.

The Seeing Stone (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 2)

Average customer rating:

Good but too short
Warning to cat lovers
"They Didn't Say Why. They Just Wanted It..."
The Seeing Stone Book 2
Great book

The Seeing Stone (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 2)
Holly Black
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0689859376

Amazon.com

In the Spiderwick Chronicles' second book, things get even more exciting--and kind of scary--for the Grace kids, as the strange faerie world hinted at in The Field Guide blooms to full life around them.

After making tentative peace with Thimbletack (a coveralled house brownie who's "the size of a pencil"), Jared chooses to ignore the creature's pleas that he destroy his great-great-uncle's mysterious tome, Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You. Thimbletack warns, "You kept the book despite my advice./Sooner or later there'll be a price." Sure enough, the brownie soon sniffs out a "fell smell in the air," and the disappearance of Simon's new cat starts to make sense. And if the chapter titled "IN WHICH Mallory Finally Gets to Put Her Rapier to Good Use" doesn't get your heart racing as fast as the kids', just wait till you get a load of the troll. ("Cooome baaack. I haaave something for youuu.")

The series' already-fast pace picks up quickly in the second installment, and we can begin to imagine what other sorts of trouble these three will turn up as they learn the rules to this odd (and dangerous) new world--while, of course, trying to explain away the strange goings-on to their mother. Next up, book three, Lucinda's Secret. (What's her secret? I want to know. Now! (Ages 6 to 10) --Paul Hughes

Book Description

we said no
still you looked
now instead

someone gets cooked

Customer Reviews:

Good but too short.......2007-10-19

The second installment of the 'Spiderwick Chronicles' is again very good.
It has an engaging story, good characters and interesting ideas, as well as excellent illustrations. Probably deserving of four stars, but it's just too short. I really don't see the need to separate the story into five small books. I can see if they were catering to very young readers, but with a storyline involving family pets being roasted and eaten by goblins the target audience has to be 9-12 year olds not 5-8 year olds.
Anyways well worth reading, but the series probably needs to be read all at once- at least for adult readers

Warning to cat lovers.......2007-08-08

The Seeing Stone, like its predecessor, is a very short book. It took me roughly 20 minutes to start and finish this book. For younger readers, this is pretty ideal since many children are intimidated by longer books. Unfortunately, I thought the drawings of a cat roasting over a fire, along with mention of eating cats, kittens, and various other small creatures, to be more than a little disturbing. My family loves cats, and even though there's nothing very graphic in this book, both of my children (10 and 12) felt upset about the drawings and descriptions.

Otherwise, my kids enjoy these quick-read books.

"They Didn't Say Why. They Just Wanted It...".......2007-07-20

This is the second of five books in "The Spiderwick Chronicles," and although it has since been released in a boxed set: The Spiderwick Chronicles (Boxed Set): The Field Guide; The Seeing Stone; Lucinda's Secret; The Ironwood Tree; The Wrath of Mulgrath, you can apparently still buy the books singularly. If you get one, you really need the whole set, so if you're interested, I'd jump straight from this review to the link provided. However, I thought I'd still do a review for those who buy them separately for whatever reason.

Created by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi, "The Spiderwick Chronicles" make up a great little set of stories that deals with the experiences of the Grace children - Mallory, and the twins Simon and Jared, who move with their recently-divorced mother into the Spiderwick Estate. As they soon discover, the house and grounds are infested with faeries, and with the help of Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You (Spiderwick Chronicles) (found in a secret library), the three siblings must deal with the often-dangerous inhabitants that they share their house with. Treated as an adaptation of real-life occurrences (each book begins with a copy of a letter signed by the "real" Grace children, and includes other bits of evidence citing the story's authenticity throughout), Black draws on a range of fairytales and folklore in order to give the activities that the children and the assortment of faeries get up to a sense of resonance.

This being the second book, Black can skip the introductions and backstory, and jump straight into the action. Jared is fascinated by the Field Guide and the information it has to offer him, although his twin and older sister are less keen on the idea of keeping it - because the faeries are unhappy at a mortal having access to their secrets, they consider it too dangerous to keep around. But for Jared, the book is giving him a much-needed sense of purpose, and he's loath to part from it.

However, then things take a turn for the worst when Simon is snatched by goblins after the Field Guide (a Grace family member is kidnapped by the faeries in practically every book, and Simon is the first to go). Guided by clues in the Guide, Jared acquires a seeing stone from the house-brownie Thimbletack, a stone with a naturally-bored hole in the middle that has been designed to strap around his head. Through it, he can see the faeries (Black never adequately explains how he and his siblings can see Thimbletack without it) and he and Mallory take to the woods to save their brother - and on the way they outwit a troll, meet Hogsqueal the hobgoblin (one of the series' best characters) and learn more about Arthur Spiderwick, the author of the Guide and original inhabitant of the house.

A warning for parents: these series deal with the dark side of the faerie world, harking back to a time when fairytales were for grownups and could often deal with some pretty grisly stuff. Therefore, be prepared for a pet cat getting roasted over an open fire and a rather scary-looking troll - of course, all this is what I appreciate most about the series, but you might want to censor these books if your little darlings are sensitive to this sort of thing.

"The Seeing Stone" is followed by Lucinda's Secret (Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 3), the typical middle-installment that deals with answering questions and mysteries before heading into the action-packed final installments: The Ironwood Tree (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 4) and The Wrath of Mulgarath (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 5).

The Seeing Stone Book 2.......2007-02-28

The Seeing Stone takes place in the Aunt's house of 3 people named Jared, Mallory, and Simon. This exciting story had goblins, creatures, monsters, and trolls. Simon and Mallory went to look for Jared, who was missing, and the adventures begin. Jared finds a magical stone wrapped in newspaper in an old box, and he gives it to Simon. The goblins want this stone, and they think Jared still has it . Jared gets kidnapped and put in a cage. This magical stone lets you see things that no one else can see. Simon and Mallory end up rescuing Jared, and they return home. They all get grounded at the end of the story by their mother because she was worried about them being out so late. I recommend this book to everybody.

Great book.......2006-12-19

The book I am reviewing is the Seeing Stone. By Tony Diterlizzi and Holly Black. It is one of the Spiderwick chronicles. Three kids Mallory, Simon, Jared go on an adventure that is far away from the Spider Wick Estate. When the three kids go outside and Simon falls behind, he gets captured by trolls. When Mallory and Jared find out that Simon gets kidnapped they gear up in gadgets that they find in Arthur Spiderwick's barn. When Jared looks in one of the draws in the barn he finds a weird stone. That lets him see things other people can't see. I'd recommend this book to everybody in the world because it's a fun book.

The Field Guide (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 1)

Average customer rating:

Good, Wrong Age Group
Not much to say
Bookmom's Review - The Field Guide (Spiderwick Chronicles Series #1)
"*They* Wouldn't Want You to Have It..."
Great book with wonderful illustrations

The Field Guide (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 1)
Holly Black
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0689859368

Amazon.com

The first book in a beautifully produced series of five, The Field Guide sets up the story of the Grace children--13-year-old Mallory and 9-year-old twins Jared and Simon--who with their mother move into the dilapidated Spiderwick Estate only to quickly find themselves sucked into a dark and fascinating world of faeries.

Superficially, the Spiderwick Chronicles smack of Lemony Snicket, with its "true story" setup and breathless warnings ("Go away/close the book/put it down/do not look"). But Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black owe no one for the intensely absorbing world they've created. Black certainly showed fey promise in her slightly freaky debut and DiTerlizzi has weird cred to spare, from his zany Jimmy Zangwow to countless credits for the Magic: The Gathering card game.

By combining their ample skill with thoughtful art direction and demanding production values, the duo has succeeded in creating a series with irresistible appeal. Each book promises a quick read, snappy plot progression, and dozens of DiTerlizzi's imaginative pen-and-ink drawings. So if you're drawn to The Field Guide at all, you might as well save yourself the trouble and make sure you have the second book (The Seeing Stone handy. (Ages 6 to 10) --Paul Hughes

Book Description

Go away
close the book
put it down

do not look

Customer Reviews:

Good, Wrong Age Group.......2007-10-25

I read this for one reason, because the movie is coming out. I was expecting a book. I did not get a book. I got a chapter of a book. I could see this for 7-9 year olds. But 9-12? I don't think so. The language is right for that age group, but the "book" is extremely short and the only reason I could see the book being so short is to make money. There wasn't even a real "book" feel to it. There was no real conflict, no rising and falling action no climax. It was like the introductory chapter of a book. It was good. But why should I have to buy three books to get a story that would fit in one?

Not much to say.......2007-10-08

The Grace children, Mallory, Jared and Simon have moved into their great aunts old house. Strange things happen, and Jared finds a hidden study and an old book - "The Field Guide'

Not much to say since it is a very short book- really just the beginning of the story that is continued in the next books. It seems promising and the ilustrations are good. I would definitely give it 4 stars- if there was more here. Instead of breaking the book into five short books- I think it would have ben better combining them into two or three longer books. As it 'The Field Guide' isn't really a complete story- just an introduction to one.

Bookmom's Review - The Field Guide (Spiderwick Chronicles Series #1) .......2007-10-01

This is a fun book and a quick read, the first in the Spiderwick Chronicles. As a new family moves into a creepy old house, the children discover that hidden rooms and strange creatures abound. I liked how this book portrayed one character, Jared, as he is trying to deal with the recent divorce of his parents. In a rather simple book and storyline, this dimension adds some depth. Though his siblings aren't as disturbed by the new family changes as he is, Jared has begun to act out at school, forcing the family's move to the country. I am excited to see his growth through the rest of the books. On the other hand, I wish that the reader could see more of the mother, who only seems to appear to yell at the children when they are getting into mischief. The authors resisted painting her as an overbearing adult, though, which can be refreshing in children's books. This was a fun read, though, short as it is, it might be nice to have the whole series published in one book!

Positive Themes:
* Children learning to deal with family changes
* Encourages imagination

Objectionable Content:
* Divorce
* Some mildly creepy parts
* Magical creatures

My Recommendations:
Readers would enjoy the rest of the Spiderwick Chronicles, and its new sequel series, Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles. Also try Gregor The Overlander by Suzanne Collins.

Audience:
* Middle Readers (Grades 4-7)

Bookmom - Get involved in your child's reading!

"*They* Wouldn't Want You to Have It...".......2007-07-20

This is the first part of the five-part series "The Spiderwick Chronicles" by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi, a great little set of stories that deals with the experiences of the Grace children - Mallory, and the twins Simon and Jared, who move with their recently-divorced mother into the Spiderwick Estate. Treated as an adaptation of real-life occurrences (each book begins with a copy of a letter signed by the "real" Grace children, and includes other bits of evidence citing the story's authenticity throughout), Black draws on a range of fairytales and folklore in order to give the activities that the children and the assortment of faeries get up to a sense of resonance.

The children themselves are well-developed for such a slim volume: Mallory is a rapier-wielding tomboy who seems to have no sense of how attractive she is, Simon is a quiet animal-lover with an ever-growing menageries of pets, and Jared is his frustrated, somewhat talent-less twin who is suffering the worst under the strains of the divorce. Black doesn't shy away from Jared's deep-seated anger and abandonment issues, though it would be nice if she had painted Mrs Grace in a slightly more sympathetic light (as it is, the children's mother doesn't seem to be particularly interested in her children's welfare).

Once belonging to their great-aunt, the Spiderwick Estate is now derelict and ramshackle, and there are strange things going on inside. Jared finds a strange cubbyhole in the walls, filled with a strange assortment of knickknacks, and a dumbwaiter that leads to a secret library where he finds Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You (Spiderwick Chronicles) Soon he's fascinated by the information that the book has to offer, and he begins to suspect that some of the odd occurrences going on in the house (such as Mallory's hair being tied to her bedposts and the disappearance of Simon's mice) may be the work of a house-brownie!

To be honest "The Field Guide" is a little slow to start the series, with plenty of exposition and building-up, only to result in the appearance (at the end of the book) of a singular faerie. Of course, this changes considerably in the later books, in which there are plenty of faerie-creatures, so if you feel a tad disappointed by this opening, hang in there till you get to book two, The Seeing Stone (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 2). However, if you're delighted by this opening then I'd suggest investing in The Spiderwick Chronicles (Boxed Set): The Field Guide; The Seeing Stone; Lucinda's Secret; The Ironwood Tree; The Wrath of Mulgrath, which contains all five books in a boxed set. Although there is no real reason that the story should be divided into five (except...of course! More money can be made this way!) no one can deny the attractiveness of the series' presentation and the appeal of the story itself. Obviously, I'm not the only one who thinks so, as the Spiderwick Chronicles continues in a new series, beginning with The Nixie's Song (Spiderwick Chronicles)

Great book with wonderful illustrations.......2007-07-05

I enjoyed reading this book to my kids. They enjoyed listening and we all enjoyed the beautiful illustrations. It was a very simple read and didn't take us long at all to finish. It doesn't stand on it's own, so you'll have to get 2-5 as well (which are just as great).
It's about 3 children - Jared, Simon & Mallory who move into a house, with their mom, that is falling apart. The house belongs to their Aunt Lucinda who is in a mental institution. They explore the old house and find a room that doesn't seem to have a door. The only way they can enter it is through the dumb waiter. In that room Jared finds a Field Guide. Inside the field guide is illustrations and facts on creatures we believe to be fantasy. They find out that they are actually real and live in our own world. We just don't have the secrets on how to see them properly. The creatures in the fantasy world do not want human hands on this book. They don't want us to know their secrets in fear of what we might do. All of them are out to get Jared and his family and retrieve the book. Can the kids make it through this mess? Read on to find out!

Average customer rating:

Disappointing audio rendition of okay books

The Spiderwick Chronicles: Books 1-5
Tony DiTerlizzi , and Holly Black
Manufacturer: Listening Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

The Spiderwick Chronicles (Boxed Set): The Field Guide; The Seeing Stone; Lucinda's Secret; The Ironwood Tree; The Wrath of Mulgrath

ASIN: 0307246353

Product Description

5 hours 46 minutes on 5 compact disks. Books in order: The Field Guide, The Seeing Stone, Lucinda's Secret, The Ironwood Tree, The wrath of Mulgrath. Read by Mark Hamill.

Customer Reviews:

Disappointing audio rendition of okay books.......2006-07-05

My baby brother reads Spiderwick and from his giggles I know he likes it. The Spiderwick Chronicles is one story spread over five books. The books are very short, about 120 pages each with many illustrations, and it took me a little over an hour to read each book.

After finishing the series, I would much rather recommend The Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches by Robert Stanek. The Spiderwick books borrow heavily from Stanek's approach and writing style, especially the way he builds drama and spreads the story across the series - and his original approach comes off much better and is much more interesting.

In this audiobook set, books 1 - 5 of the story are combined into one. The audio is 5 hours and 40 minutes. The narrator of the first two books the biggest let down. He reads everything in one grating, irritating voice - making me wish I never bothered with the audio book. Unfortunately, the narrator of the last three books is actually worse.

The Field Guide is the first book in The Spiderwick Chronicles. It introduces the Mallory, Jared and Simon, the three Grace children who move with their mom to their Aunt Lucinda's old Victorian house. While exploring the house, the three kids discover a secret library in the house and a mysterious note. Later they find Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You. The book explains secrets of the fantastic and three kids meet a brownie named Thimbletack who makes the fantastical real.

The Seeing Stone is the second book in The Spiderwick Chronicles. It is the continuing story of the Grace children - nine-year-old twins, Simon and Jared, and thirteen-year-old, Mallory. When Simon Grace's cat disappears, Jared thinks that the cat has wandered off to explore like usual, and refuses to help Simon find the missing cat. But when Jared discovers an old seeing glass - a monocle - that gives him the ability to see the fantastical world around him, he realizes that Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide was telling the truth. While using the seeing glass, he sees Simon being pulled into the forest by a group of goblins. Terrified, he gets his older sister Mallory to help go after Jared through the creepy forest. In the forest, they encounter goblins, an injured griffin, a terrifying troll, and a baby-toothed hobgoblin all the while they are trying to save their kidnapped brother, before it's too late.

Lucinda's Secret is the third book in The Spiderwick Chronicles. By this book, the Grace children - nine-year-old twins, Simon and Jared, and thirteen-year-old, Mallory - are starting to see how much Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide is putting them in danger and they decide to talk with their Aunt Lucinda about the book. The only problme is that Aunt Lucinda is locked away in an asylum. But Aunt Lucinda really isn't crazy. Simon, Jared and Mallory work to convince their mother to bring them to Aunt Lucinda for a visit. They hope to ask her about Arthur Spiderwick and The Field Guide but the angry house brownie named Thimbletack has other ideas.

The Ironwood Tree is the fourth book in The Spiderwick Chronicles. In this installment in the series, the children are taken underground to the Dwarf kingdom and the villian of the story ogre Mulgarath becomes more dangerous. It all starts at Mallory's fencing competion at school. When Mallory is up to fence, Jared notices someone with a hood going through her bag. He then goes after this person only to find it looks exactly like him and his twin brother...but has farie eyes. Later the twins find out that their sister has been taken by dwarfs and they go off to save her. Going into a underground city where everything, even the mice, are made of iron machinery. The twins find their sister in a glass coffin. She is in a strange sleep and then they also are caught. To find out the rest, you'll just have to read and find out yourself.

The Wrath of Mulgarath is the fifth book in The Spiderwick Chronicles. In this final installment in the series, the children are trying to save their mother who has been captured by the evil ogre Mulgarath. With the help of the Field Guide, as well as elves, and Hogsqueal, a sneaky hobgoblin, the children set out to defeat Mulgarath for the last time.

Although I didn't like the audio books, the printed books are all quick, good reads and recommended for little brothers.

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