Advanced Children's Literature: Fantasy

Diterlizzi, Tony. THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES. New York: Listening Library, 2003. Narrated by Holly Black and Mark Hamill.

It is easy to understand the huge popularity of this series. Simon, who loves tadpoles, frogs, and all animals. Mallory Grace, the eldest, who enjoys fencing and outdoor and athletic pursuits. Jared is the bookworm and the child who happens upon the dumb waiter and a legendary bogart, a mystery creature who is a "brownie" or "fairy" type creature from the Celtic Lands. There has been a divorce and the mother of the children moves into a crumbling old Victorian homeplace with her family. Soon thereafter Jared discovers a skeleton and a notebook with his great grandfather's last name, Spiderwick. The children's mother blames Jared for all the mischief that is caused by the bogart, but Jared cleverly leaves flour out to have evidence of his footprints. The bogart puts Simon's tadpoles in the freezer and causes Mallory much grief including leaving a threatening note and tying her hair to the headboard of her new bed. Soon, as Jared begins to unravel the mystery the flabbergasted children track down the bogart and come into his presence. An adventurous story that will be equally enjoyed by boys and girls. It is the beginning of a series. Very good narration and appealing to grades 1-6. Topnotch writing which reminds me just a bit of A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS. Excellent character development and the right amount of action and mysterious fantasy.