I was excited to see this book is coming out since we were getting ready to listen to The Hobbit. It was really interesting learning about J.R.R. Tolkien’s life in a child friendly way. The illustrations in the book really made the book come to life. My youngest even asked to read it again, which is a rare occurrence. We all really enjoyed this book.

As a massive fan of Tolkien I was really happy to get the chance to read this book. I didn't learn anything, as I said, I'm a big fan, but I think this is a nice resumé of his life and that this short biography could introduce him to a new generation of reader!

Thank you to NetGalley for approving me for an arc in exhcnsge for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions are my own.



Okay- this probably has to be one of my favorites in the little series! My 9 year old and 7 year old also read this with me and loved the illustrations, and loved learning a little about the author of The Hobbit- they’re recently starting to watch the movies and have heard the hobbit on audio. Very well put together!

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What a lovely little biography of Tolkien. It’s a wonderful addition to the collection. I feel the influences of Tolkien’s life—the loss of his parents, his experiences in the war—were deftly handled here; mentioned and identified but in a gentle way that can foster further discussion. I was pleased to see the Silmarillion mentioned. Lovely illustrations.

Another great book in this series! These books are great for kids and tell the stories of great people. Like always, beautifully illustrated!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and Quarto Publishing for a copy of the digital galley in exchange for my honest review.

J.R.R. Tolkien is a great addition to the Little People, Big Dreams series. His writing, and the films that were produced from it are awe-inspiring and gorgeous stories about language and friendship.

Specifically, the story of Bilbo is such a powerful one for young minds, that even one so small as a Hobbit can make a difference. It’s a beautiful message for kids, and I’m glad to see this series continue to expand to meet the interests of all children across all backgrounds.

This was one of those entries into this series that I felt doesn't fill in the gaps very well and just jumps into the story with no explanation. I also think the cover is kind of scary?

A nice little biography of JRR Tolkien (author of The Hobbit and Lord of the RIngs) for young readers, filled with cartoonish illustrations showing Tolkien growing from a little boy who loved to make up stories and new languages to a bestselling author who never stopped writing. The last two pages are suitable for older readers as well, containing real photographs and more specific details about Tolkien's life such as his serving in the army in World War I and his work as a code-breaker during World War II. I would recommend this book to young fans of Middle Earth who want to know more about its creator!

This was an absolutely adorable book about the Master of Fantasy, J. R. R. Tolkein. It is beautifully illustrated and was short and sweet. The only thing I found was that it was a bit too short, Tolkein had quite a life filled with creation BUT I know this is for younger readers. I just enjoyed it so much and wanted more!

I went into this children's book 100% prepared to be sad about J.R.R. Tolkien, then was surprised it made me, in fact, sad about J.R.R. Tolkien. A cute biography about the father of fantasy fiction that does not exploit the success of the movie adaptations of LOTR and actually focuses on his passion for linguistics and the inspiration behind his best-known of stories. Sweet!

[Reviewed through Netgalley]

An absolutely adorable biography on the life of Tolkien. The story was short and sweet, filled with lively art.

It was a good introduction to the author, touching on themes like environmentalism, friendship, and family in an easy to digest way.

Since Tolkien's life was not an easy one, the book needed to touch on tough themes such as death (and even war). Its plain and clear language was easy to understand, appropriate for children, and did not sugar coat the often harsh realities of life and history.

I enjoyed the timeline given at the end of the book, which was perfect for those who wanted a bit more detail about the famous author's life, or wanted to learn a bit more about him.

To improve, I think that since the book did talk so much about his family and friends, it would be nice to have a direct reference to how they helped shape the stories he told.

All in all this book was quite enjoyable, perfect to read to children at a library.

Current and prospective fans of Middle-earth will enjoy learning about young JRR and how he grew up to be a well-known author. It is a lovely story about the gift of writing and the belief in ordinary heroes.

Young John Ronald Reuel moved to England when he was three. He lived out his life there with losses (his father, his mother, friends from school who died in war) and the wonders of his mind. Tolkien, in over 900 pages, created an indelible world which has been his gift to readers for generations.

Read this book and watch how the young Ronald, who created imaginary languages, grew up to be the author. It is an impressive journey told here with evocative illustrations. Note that there are a timeline and additional resources at the end of the book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto-Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

Another one of the Little People, BIG DREAMS series. This one tells the life of author J. R. R. Tolkien. I loved the illustrations in this book, they are so detailed. Tolkien's life also makes for an inspiring story, but mostly I enjoyed the illustrations. Definitely a keeper!