The Spiderwick Chronicles: The Complete First Serial

THE FIELD GUIDE: BOOK 1 - The Grace children - nine-year-old twins, Simon and Jared, and their thirteen-year-old sister, Mallory - are as different as night and day, seeing as how Simon is busy with his menagerie of pets, Mallory practices her fencing 24/7, and Jared has been labeled a troublemaker. But each of the three children all agree on one thing when they arrive at their new home, the Spiderwick Estate - it's a dilapidated, old shack. But within a short time, the three children realize that the Spiderwick Estate is more than meets the eye. For it is home to various mythical creatures who are all after one very important thing - Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You. A book which Jared is guarding with his life, and will not give up without a fight. THE SEEING STONE: BOOK 2 - When Simon Grace's cat disappears, Jared simply thinks that the cat has wandered off on an excursion, and refuses to help Simon locate the missing animal. But when Jared discovers an old seeing glass - monocle - that gives him the ability to see strange and magical creatures around him, he realizes that Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide was absolutely right, and soon sees something amazing: Simon being pulled into the forest by a group of goblins. Now it's up to Jared and his older sister, Mallory, to make their way through the creepy forest, encountering goblins, an injured griffin, a terrifying troll, and a baby-toothed hobgoblin with a very interesting way of giving humans the "sight," in an attempt to save their kidnapped brother, before it's too late. LUCINDA'S SECRET: BOOK 3 - When the Grace children realize that Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You is leaving their family in danger, they decide to consult their Aunt Lucinda in the matter of what should be done with the book. The problem, is that Aunt Lucinda is locked away in an asylum, where she is being held under the false pretense that she is crazy, when she is quite the opposite. Luckily, the three children are able to convince their mother to bring them to Aunt Lucinda for a visit, where they hope to ask her all about Arthur Spiderwick and The Field Guide. However, when you've got an angry house brownie named Thimbletack, who has recently transmogrified into a nasty boggart who plays tricks on Jared, a task as easy as that may be quite difficult. THE IRONWOOD TREE: BOOK 4 - Things have been quiet for the Grace children ever since they tricked a group of nefarious faeries a few weeks ago. But when you're a resident of the Spiderwick Estate, and surrounded by various forms of mythical creatures, things can never stay quiet for long. And they don't. Which is quite evident, when Jared runs into a menacing shape-shifter that has taken on his characteristics, at Mallory's fencing match. But before Simon and Jared can figure out who the shape-shifter truly is, or inform Mallory about the mysterious character, she disappears - kidnapped, apparently.

My son was less than enthusiastic about reading until he got his hands on these books. We had a lot of trouble finding books that were interesting and exciting that were written for mid-level readers (My son was a 3rd grader when we bought the 1st four books). He wasn't quite ready for Harry Potter and ...Unfortunate Events. He read the whole Spiderwick series in a week and it built his confidence and enthusiasm to the point that he now (7 months later) LOVES to read just about anything we hand him. I would (and do) reccommend these books to all of my friends!

I read all the books from the Spiderwick collection because i got them for my birthday. I suggest that you buy them for your son or daughter i believe they would like them very much. My favortite books of all time and i hope more are coming.

At first, it seemed like the Spiderwick Chronicles were just a knockoff of the popular Series of Unfortunate Events books, but after reading the first installment I knew how wrong I was - the Spiderwick books are better! I found the story to be excellent, the characters interesting and lovable, and the illustrations absolutely beautiful. These books can be enjoyed by readers of all ages, from young children to full grown adults. My only problem with the series was that I felt it could easily have been continued, but I guess all good things must come to an end. Highly recommended.

My boys & I have finished reading the last of this thriling five title series THE WRATH OF MULGRATH and I must say we are sorry the Grace children's story is not continuing. This series is an easy quick read that keeps the kids asking for more, so we will start reading them over and over again. The box set which includes The Field Guide, The Seeing Stone, Lucinda's Secret, The Ironwood Tree and the last book newly released, The Wrath of Mulgrath is in a very attractive gift box. The books are all durable hardbacks, wonderfully illustrated and make a GREAT gift. I highly recommend.