I’ve always loved The Hobbit even more than The Lord of the Rings.  It’s definitely a children’s book, told in a storytelling omniscient style.  It’s much less grand in scope, and not really about good versus evil.  This is an adventure yarn about a simple hobbit going off on an adventure with some dwarves to recover their gold from a dragon.  Along the way, he finds himself to be far more resourceful and capable than he ever dreamed.

I read all the books when I was still a kid, so perhaps that’s why I liked The Hobbit best at the time.  Reading it again, I found it a delightful way to pass some hours on the airplane.  (Though it was much shorter than I remembered it!)  I love Tolkien’s use of language and turns of phrase.  There are already hints at some of the events to come in The Lord of the Rings.

If you or your children haven’t read Tolkien’s books yet, The Hobbit is a perfect place to start, and a wonderful book for reading aloud to the family.  It’s a light-hearted story that will give you a taste of the magic and adventure in Tolkien’s world.

Reviews of other books by J. R. R. Tolkien:
The Lord of the Rings
Smith of Wooton Major and Farmer Giles of Ham
Letters from Father Christmas