Book Review of The Hobbit
The Children’s Book Review

Written by J.R.R. Tolkien

Ages 10+

Publisher: ‎ Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

We may have a ten-year-old boy to thank for the publishing of The Hobbit. When the manuscript ended up in the hand of the publisher Stanley Unwin (George, Allen & Unwin), he gave it to his son to write a report about whether or not it should be published. His son wrote positive things about The Hobbit, and it was published. It is now a major motion picture, too!

“There is nothing like looking, if you want to find something. You certainly usually find something, if you look, but it is not always quite the something you were after.” 

Thanks to pages filled with dwarves, elves, trolls, goblins, spiders, eagles, wizards, and, of course, hobbits, J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit is almost certainly the adventure of a lifetime. Hobbits, in general, do not like an adventure. Still, when Gandalf the wizard shows up for tea at the hairy-footed hobbit Bilbo Baggins’ house, along with thirteen dwarves, adventure is precisely what this hobbit gets.

Gandalf and the dwarves have come to hire him as a thief to reclaim some treasure. The treasure is guarded by Smaug the Magnificent, a hoarding fiery dragon, and the only way to get to the treasure is to travel “far over the misty mountains cold, to dungeons deep and caverns old.” Bilbo much prefers the safety and comfort of his hobbit-hole, but he reluctantly agrees to go on this dangerous quest. His life is never the same again—especially once he finds a powerful and dangerous ring and encounters the ghastly Gollum.

Danger lurks at every twist and turn, as Bilbo and the dwarves are captured, almost cooked by trolls, and forced to fight deadly battles. Bilbo’s journey through Middle-earth is one of the most unforgettable adventures that has ever taken place in a book. There are even maps of Middle-earth included, so you don’t get lost in this wild world. Bilbo’s bravery and loyalty, and knowing when to stand up to friends are outstanding. “So comes snow after fire, and even dragons have their endings.” 

May you enjoy J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit immensely and may the hair never fall out of your toes!

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About the Author

J.R.R. Tolkien was born on 3rd January 1892. After serving in the First World War, he became best known for The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, selling 150 million copies in more than 40 languages worldwide. Awarded the CBE and an honorary Doctorate of Letters from Oxford University, he died in 1973 at the age of 81.

The Hobbit, written by J.R.R. Tolkien, was reviewed by Bianca Schulze. Discover more books like Wilderlore: The Accidental Apprentice by following our reviews and articles tagged with Classics, Illustrated Chapter Books, and Roald Dahl.