The Spiderwick Chronicles by Holly Black (2004, Reinforced Hardcover)

This is an enchanting and engaging set of books about three children who go to visit a great aunt and find a book telling them about the fairies and woodland creatures inhabiting the land around them.
What child would not go out to explore?

The quintet is very well-written with an engaging story line and contains a realism to the characters of both worlds. There is an innocence of spirit to this book not found in the Harry Potter series making it appropriate for 3rd grade children reading at or higher than grade level at this time of year, and up! It is of a high interest level and is a quintet of chapter books that give children both the enjoyment of a good story as well as the satisfaction of finishing a five-book set much more accessible than the Harry Potter books.

The publisher's age recommendations for this book are spot on.

It would also be appropriate for adult remedial readers and/or ESL students because of its high interest level and illustration of words not commonly encountered in conversation, such as goblin, boggart, and other mythical mystical creatures common to western mythology.

The books are filled with lovely Arthur Rackham-inspired pen-and-ink drawings, both full-page and cameo. In addition to the color drawings on the front of each, each book also has a full-page color frontispiece; as a bonus are the fanciful backs of the books hinting at what might be found within. Even the box holds surprises: the spines of the books lined up in order show a gryphon and a dragon in gold, and, if you look carefully, you just might surprise a Household Boggart lurking behind the shelved books.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, so much so that I read the entire set straight through.

I bought this in 2005 and read it right away with an eye to getting a couple of other sets for eBay; however, there was not much interest in it at the time, so I kept only this one set. Now that a movie is out, these will be flying off the shelves at top price; now is the time to pick this up, as the movie experience, as well as media literacy, is enhanced by having read the book before seeing the movie, as Harry Potter and The Da Vinci Code readers will tell you!

I also have the large companion book, which is a real gem, a wonderful "interactive" book with beautiful drawings and descriptions, fold-outs and pull-outs throughout.