J.R.R. TOLKIEN FOR KIDS: HIS LIFE AND WRITINGS, WITH 21 ACTIVITIES, by Simonetta Carr, Chicago Review Press, Aug. 3, 2021, Paperback, $16.99 (ages 9-12)
The author behind The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings comes to life for younger readers in Simonetta Carr’s J. R. R. Tolkien for Kids.
J. R. R. Tolkien for Kids takes young readers through the exciting life of the man who created amazing new worlds and helps kids discover how he could see them. Explore the personal experiences and subjects that inspired Tolkien’s stories through hands-on activities, and learn how he influenced his contemporaries as well as later writers.
Activities include: making a shadowy dragon come to life; making marmalade; rewriting an ancient tale; inventing a new code; painting an enchanted forest; drawing a map for a story; making mushroom toast; and turning your friends into heroes. —Synopsis provided by Chicago Review Press
We own a number of “for kids” books from Chicago Review Press, and all of them are excellent. J. R. R. Tolkien for Kids is no exception. Each chapter is divided into manageable sections, giving readers natural spots for taking breaks. The book is full of photographs, illustrations, maps and fact boxes — all of which also break up the text. The text itself is clear and accessible. Extensive backmatter includes a glossary, a list of resources, notes, a selected bibliography and index.
J. R. R. Tolkien for Kids is a great resource for Tolkien fans new and old.
