The Field Guide

The Field Guide: The Spiderwick Chronicles Book One
by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black

Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2003







Genre:  Modern Fantasy

Honors:  New York Times Bestselling Series, Beehive Award Master List, Buckeye Children's Book Award Nominee, Colorado Children's Book Award Master List, Flicker Tale Children's Book Award, Gate City Book Award Master List, IRA/CBC Children's Choices, KC3 Award Master List, Nene Award Master List, Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award Nominee, Soaring Eagle Book Award Master List

Review:  Twin bothers Simon and Jared Grace, and their older sister Mallory, discover a hidden room and an old book chronicling a fantastical world, in their new but extremely odd home they've been forced to live in after their father left their mother. Scratching in the walls of the Spiderwick Estate lead the three kids to an entire world of previously unknown creatures, in this sporadically illustrated first installment of the Grace family adventures in the Spiderwick Chronicles.

Opinion:  This wonderfully quick read that is perfect for reluctant readers, was over too soon and kept me wanting more. The illustrations and humor in the narration added great elements to the mysterious and fun plot.

Ideas:  Sometimes teachers have to address family difficulties, such as divorce, and librarians are asked for books that may have main characters who are experiencing these types of issues. The Grace children had a parent who left them, and therefore may help those teachers or librarians.