2016
WISE Score
Amazon
The ultimate rabbit hole for kids who want to find a gnome in their backyard and a cipher in their cereal.
4.8
4.8View →Our reviews and ratings are 100% unbiased, but as an Amazon Associate, Screenwise earns an affiliate fee if you buy a book or game by clicking one of our links. We don't get any credit if you just Google it instead :)
Journal 3 is one of those rare pieces of merchandise that actually respects the audience's intelligence. It’s not just a cash grab; it’s a dense, beautifully illustrated expansion of the show that encourages kids to put down the remote and pick up a magnifying glass.
It’s 'spooky' in a fun, Goosebumps-adjacent way, and the code-breaking elements are some of the best interactive 'analog' fun you can find in 2026. If your kid is into mysteries or world-building, this is a no-brainer.
Perfect for the 8-14 crowd, but honestly, plenty of adults have this on their coffee tables. If they like the show, they'll love this.
At its core, it's about the bond between siblings and the messy, complicated reality of family. It doesn't shy away from the 'weird' or the slightly dark, but it always comes back to loyalty and protecting the people you love.
This is the gold standard for tie-in media. It's packed with codes, ciphers, hidden blueprints, and monster lore that turns the reader into a detective. It doesn't just tell a story; it invites the kid to solve it.
It's a book, so no hidden chat rooms or predatory ads here. Content-wise, it features some 'spooky' monsters and themes of demonic possession (Bill Cipher), but it's all within the context of a middle-grade mystery. If your kid can handle the show, they can handle the book.
It’s a secret workout for the brain. Between the Caesar ciphers and the logic puzzles, kids are learning cryptography and critical thinking without realizing they're doing 'work.'
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