Title: The Field Guide
Author: Holly Black & Tony DiTerlizzi
Series: The Spiderwick Chronicles #1
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s
Release Date: 5/1/2003
Length: 128 pages
Format: Hardcover
Genres: Fiction, Childrens, Fantasy
Challenges: 2012 Support Your Local Library Challenge
Source: Library
Purchase: Hardcover
Rating: ★★★☆☆

When the three Grace children — Mallory, Jared, and Simon — and their mom move into Aunt Lucinda’s old house, readers know there’s magic afoot. The kids uncover a nest of assembled junk, and on a visit to the secret library via the dumbwaiter, Jared finds a note describing “my secret to all mankind.” After a few mysterious pranks that get blamed on Jared, the boy finally digs up the real prize: Arthur Spiderwick’s Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You. Fortunately enough, the kids meet one of the critters listed in the guide — a brownie named Thimbletack — who makes it all “real” and helps provide the book’s suspenseful conclusion: “‘Throw the book away, toss it in a fire. If you do not heed, you will draw their ire.'”

While this book was cute, it didn’t blow me away or anything. I think it will take a little more investment for me to get to loving this series. That said, I did enjoy this first small taste. And I do mean small. This book is so tiny!

Though I’ve gotten past the early stages of reading both YA and picture books, I really haven’t dabbled much with children’s fiction. My experience is pretty much just Liesl & Po (which I read because I love Lauren Oliver). This is the first time I’ve gone into a children’s book without knowing for sure that I’d love it. I do love Holly Black’s curse worker series though, so I was excited. I knew it would be very different, and I have to say I really appreciate the change. She definitely knows how to write for her target age group. I guess I shouldn’t undermine Toni DiTerlizzi’s part in this book. I don’t really know what that part is, but I appreciate it. I’ll also add that I read this at the insistance of my nephew who has become obsessed and proceeded to tell me most of the plot of the second book. Luckily, he talks fast, so I don’t really remember what he said.

The Grace children are your normal quirky children. One like to collect random pets, one likes to fence, and the other is a trouble maker. That’s what I’ve learned about them so far. Though, I have my suspicion that Jared isn’t that much of a trouble maker. This first volume introduces the children as they’re moving into an old, rickety house after their father left them. It gives the book a pretty melancholy feel. One of the twins soon discovers a secret room, and in that secret room he finds The Field Guide, a book about different kinds of fairy creatures. The children have their first encounter with one of these creatures. Madness ensues. It’s all the perfect formula for a childrens fantasy book.

I thought the prose and humor were appropriate for the intended reader. All in all, a pretty good book. It just wasn’t quite enough for me to give it a higher rating yet. Good thing there are more!