The Chronicles of Spiderwick: A Grand Tour of the Enchanted World, Navigated by Thimbletack [Hardcover]

The cover is "Spiderwick".. and that's about it. If you are looking for a compendium of original art (such as Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide or Care and Feeding of Sprites) this is NOT it. The cover has the right feel, the rest falls short.
It is supposed to be a "scrapbook" belonging to Thimbletack - it tries really hard! A few illustrations from the previous works are inserted; the rest is collected scraps from various magazines, books, etc. that relate to fairy lore. Nothing new about the books is presented.
A great companion, perhaps, for the kiddies (and educational regarding folktales), but it doesn't compare to an original work. Almost like the authors are contracting out their work to an artist they never met. Tony DiTerlizzi did indeed design the cover, but that feels like the extent of his contribution. The intricate popouts and pulltabs don't measure up to the magic and excitement so evident in the series and other books.
Younger readers may find this book intriguing for a day or so, but if you are looking for a PERFECT book that keeps them returning for the magic, buy "Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide"!

In this oversized, visually pleasing and thoroughly enjoyable tome, the brownie caretaker of the Spiderwick mansion, Thimbletack himself, shares his scrapbook. Each page offers up treasures, such as maps and photos. Many are in the form of separate sheets folded into envelopes, foldouts, pop-ups, riddles to solve, secret objects to find, hidden messages, booklets and similar pleasing gimmicks.

On one spread we learn all about brownies, from the mascot for the St. Louis Browns baseball team to information about our host, Thimbletack. We also read a note of apology to the boggart from Mallory, Jared and Simon Grace. And we get to check out a brownie's wardrobe. Thimbletack includes a self-portrait titled "Common House Brownie" with detailed, not terribly complimentary notes ("Thimbletack has beady black eyes and whiskers like a rodent...") And he makes a point to warn us: "Brownies are a blessing, true, But anger one and pity you."

A spread about Spiderwick House presents a cross-section of the mansion, along with notes about each room. The following pages display a family tree of the Spiderwick clan, along with family photos, letters and journal entries from, to and about everyone who has lived in the mansion.

Thimbletack has also scrapbooked letters, photos, awards, drawings, notes and much more about Jared, Simon, Mallory and Helen. These personal items make the Graces seem even more real than before. A spread warning readers about staying away from the ominous carriage house makes its case with cautionary scraps of journals, newspaper clippings, bits of stories, photos --- and a very cool booklet.

Luckily for us, Thimbletack has not forgotten "the curious fey." The spread explores unicorns, changelings, wyrms, dragons and many more fantastical creatures. We are also treated to detailed pages devoted to information snippets, tales and notes about trolls, goblins and elves. The awful Mulgarath gets his due in a spread devoted to the whims, practices and descriptions of ogres.

You have to love a book that describes its typeface by saying there are so many kinds that the publisher can't remember them all. That sets the tone for a light-hearted, good-humored romp through this scrapbook crammed full of myriad tidbits of information. (There is even a letter from Mallory, Jared and Simon to authors Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi!) For those who have not yet experienced the Spiderwick books, THE CHRONICLES OF SPIDERWICK is quite likely to inspire them to find the series and dive on in. In addition, the short snippets in this scrapbook will encourage reluctant readers.

--- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon

The review comes from my 6 year old Grandson, Ethan. He is learning to read from the stories. He is so enthralled with the stories, I will be buying the rest of the set. Some of the words are hard for him, but is forging on into the fantasy.

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 13 reviews  4.5 out of 5 stars