There may be many great children’s novel but one that takes the throne for me is The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien. Everything from the world building to the adventure style of the novel make it a great read. And the great characters that have stayed with us since the book was first released in 1937.
The Hobbit: Summary
All it starts with Bilbo Baggins (a hobbit) hosting a party that he had no idea he was going to host. Galdalf the wizard tricks Bilbo to host Thorin Oakenshield and his twelve companions whom are all dwarves. During the party, Gandalf tells the dwarves that Bilbo should be their “burgler” for the hunt for the dragon Smaug’s guarded treasure. Bilbo decides to tag along despite hobbits not being the adventures type.

As the group enters the wild, they face many challenges. Bilbo and his friends have to navigate across the country with some help from Gandalf. But Gandalf comes and goes as urgent matters call him. Thus, Bilbo must use his wit to survive and not be killed by Goblins or worse.
Commentary
The Hobbit is a simple adventure tale yet that is exactly why it is great. Now, there are a lot of adventure novels and a lot of them do burrow from Tolkien and his world. It is no surprise that almost a century later, Tolkien’s novel along with The Lord of the Rings Trilogy is still inspiring authors and novels.
While the Hobbit does take place before the Lord of the Rings, you don’t have to read it to follow the series. Tolkien gives a short recap which doesn’t capture the epic tale of Bilbo Baggins. But most likely, you will want to read The Hobbit and want to experience the whole world Tolkien has built with meticulous care.
Conclusion
If you are a fan of the fantasy genre, then reading Tolkien is a must. He is the father of the genre and you will definitely see his mark in other books once you read his novels. And even now, there are few novels that are as complicated in their world as the Lord of the Rings. So make sure to add this novel and the main series to your reading list if you haven’t already read it!
I loved The Hobbit–I’m reading the main series right now. Fantasy is my favorite 💕💕
The Hobbit and the main series are the best fantasy novels there are. You’ll notice how many fantasy novels took inspiration from LOTG.