SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES
Care and Feeding of Sprites
From the Spiderwick Chronicles series
by Holly Black & illustrated by Tony DiTerlizzi
Jacketed in a large, folded, glow-in-the-dark poster, this guide for prospective sprite owners features a suite of minutely detailed, full-body portraits paired with cogent advice on selecting, obtaining (legally), housing, feeding and showing the finger-sized creatures.
Distinctly insect-like in appearance, with wings, faceted eyes (“Sprites see in a manner that could be compared to looking at a wall of televisions, with several turned to different channels”), ornate coloration on chitinous bodies, but humanoid facial features, sprites come in a rich assortment of types. They range from the Rackham Sprite (a bit of homage there) to the Glowing Toadfly, and make rewarding, if invariably mischievous, pets—far less dangerous than, for instance, boggarts or will-o-the-wisps.
This diverting vade mecum ends with an entry on the International Sprite League, which confirmed Spiderwickians will be strongly tempted to join. (Nonfiction. 8-11)