My goodness I loved this idea! D’Auleries Greek Myths was one of my most beloved children’s books, and I was so excited as an adult to discover his Norse Myths. Another series that formed me to love Tolkien I think was the Redwall Series-big meaty books for a kid, medieval aesthetic, clear lines of good vs evil
I love this!!! Have you read Holly Ordway's book, Tolkien's Modern Reading? I loved learning about Tolkien's influences (William Morris! H. Rider Haggard! Beatrix Potter!). I grew up on the d'Aulaires. Their work is incredible. I would also humbly submit the work of Ruth Sanderson, who really should publish a book of her LOTR illustrations.
I haven't read Ordway's book yet but I've been meaning to! Also, I didn't know Ruth Sanderson had done LOTR illustrations! I love her. Going to go look them up!
It all started when I was trying to get a copy of her book about her art, Golden Dreams, for less than $400 (what it was going for on Ebay), and then I found what felt like fairyland! :)
This is wonderful! And so helpful because I would have no idea where to start with preparing children for Lord of the Rings. Actually, I need to do my own remedial reading! I've never heard of Mio, My Son, even though I loved Pippi Longstocking as a child. The Little Grey Men and The Princess and the Goblin are some of my recent reads that it was so fun to see on this list!
Elizabeth, I think I found The Little Grey Men through you! That one and Mio, My Son and the D'aulaires are all NYRB Kids reprints. You always know you're in for a good time with their books! And I did debate whether to add an addendum stating that this list doesn't just have to be for kids. It was inspired by a conversation with my adult brother about stories that ought to be read before Tolkien, and he told me to send him a list if I ever came up with one 😄
I love how this came about! Totally agree about NYRB. I’ve got these down on my list to look for at my local bookstore. 😍 I think I learned about Little Grey Men from Slightly Foxed! I also loved your paragraph early in about the conversations books have when we pick them up and read. 👏🏻
I am so happy to have discovered your SS Page! These are a wonderful collection of LOTR Primers. I am hopeful as the grandchildren grow up it might help lead them to Snorri Sturluson, and a love for the Epics of old!
Ohh! You should read Travel Light by Naomi Mitchison if you love Norse mythology!! It's a short and fascinating early fantasy novel (published around the same time as LOTR!)
So many great suggestions here! My mum read most of these to me when I was a child and I was obsessed with Tolkien from the moment I started reading him.
Re George MacDonald, The Princess and Curdie is also excellent 😊
That's wonderful! I discovered most of these long past childhood, so I'm excited to share them with my kids now.
And for all the George MacDonald I've read, I still haven't got around to The Princess and Curdie 🤦🏻♀️ but my kids just ate up The Princess and the Goblin, so I need to bump it up higher on our read aloud list!
Yes indeed to George Macdonald (mentor also to Lewis Carroll). His fairy stories and moral stories like The Light Princess are child-worthy and adult necessities.
This is wonderful! These are books I read as a child and read to my children! With the exception of some new ones to me that I'm so happy to learn about! I can't wait to get a copy of the Astrid Lindgren novel.
I recently read aloud Mio, My Son to my 2 youngest daughters and loved it! I copied down several quotations from it and am considering writing something about it - we'll see. I'm glad you mention it here. It's well worth reading.
Oh I'd love to read your thoughts about it! It's extraordinary--very Christological even though Lindgren wasn't religious (that I know of). I read she wrote after her father passed away.
My goodness I loved this idea! D’Auleries Greek Myths was one of my most beloved children’s books, and I was so excited as an adult to discover his Norse Myths. Another series that formed me to love Tolkien I think was the Redwall Series-big meaty books for a kid, medieval aesthetic, clear lines of good vs evil
Redwall! I can't believe I didn't think to put that in here. I feel like it must have primed countless kids for LOTR.
I love this!!! Have you read Holly Ordway's book, Tolkien's Modern Reading? I loved learning about Tolkien's influences (William Morris! H. Rider Haggard! Beatrix Potter!). I grew up on the d'Aulaires. Their work is incredible. I would also humbly submit the work of Ruth Sanderson, who really should publish a book of her LOTR illustrations.
I haven't read Ordway's book yet but I've been meaning to! Also, I didn't know Ruth Sanderson had done LOTR illustrations! I love her. Going to go look them up!
They're on her website (Golden Wood Studio). I think the map is my favorite!
Oh my goodness her whole website is a treasure trove. Thank you for knowing about these things! 😂
It all started when I was trying to get a copy of her book about her art, Golden Dreams, for less than $400 (what it was going for on Ebay), and then I found what felt like fairyland! :)
Came here to say this exactly. Excellent book right in this vein.
Add to your list The Dragon of Og by Rumer Godden. It's a delightful fairy tale about a Scottish dragon.
Oh yes!! We read the Dragon of Og last year and loved it. The illustrations by Pauline Baynes were a bonus!
Yes! Pauline Baynes is brilliant.
This is wonderful! And so helpful because I would have no idea where to start with preparing children for Lord of the Rings. Actually, I need to do my own remedial reading! I've never heard of Mio, My Son, even though I loved Pippi Longstocking as a child. The Little Grey Men and The Princess and the Goblin are some of my recent reads that it was so fun to see on this list!
Elizabeth, I think I found The Little Grey Men through you! That one and Mio, My Son and the D'aulaires are all NYRB Kids reprints. You always know you're in for a good time with their books! And I did debate whether to add an addendum stating that this list doesn't just have to be for kids. It was inspired by a conversation with my adult brother about stories that ought to be read before Tolkien, and he told me to send him a list if I ever came up with one 😄
I love how this came about! Totally agree about NYRB. I’ve got these down on my list to look for at my local bookstore. 😍 I think I learned about Little Grey Men from Slightly Foxed! I also loved your paragraph early in about the conversations books have when we pick them up and read. 👏🏻
Ahh Slightly Foxed--always full of treasures! And yes, once you start reading the Great Books, the joys of reading multiply unto themselves!
I am so happy to have discovered your SS Page! These are a wonderful collection of LOTR Primers. I am hopeful as the grandchildren grow up it might help lead them to Snorri Sturluson, and a love for the Epics of old!
That's a beautiful hope for them!
I love Norse mythology and all of a sudden want to immerse myself in it. Thanks for this!
Ohh! You should read Travel Light by Naomi Mitchison if you love Norse mythology!! It's a short and fascinating early fantasy novel (published around the same time as LOTR!)
Fantastic compilation - thank you for sharing! I had no idea where to start
You're so welcome!
So many great suggestions here! My mum read most of these to me when I was a child and I was obsessed with Tolkien from the moment I started reading him.
Re George MacDonald, The Princess and Curdie is also excellent 😊
That's wonderful! I discovered most of these long past childhood, so I'm excited to share them with my kids now.
And for all the George MacDonald I've read, I still haven't got around to The Princess and Curdie 🤦🏻♀️ but my kids just ate up The Princess and the Goblin, so I need to bump it up higher on our read aloud list!
Yes indeed to George Macdonald (mentor also to Lewis Carroll). His fairy stories and moral stories like The Light Princess are child-worthy and adult necessities.
John Ronald’s Dragons is a charming picture book about JRRT with bonus points for a positive portrayal of being an altar boy!
Have seen it but haven't read it yet 🤦♀️ that's sweet about the altar boy portrayal!
Just bought a few of these! Thank you for the great recommendations!
That's wonderful! I'm happy this list has been of use to others!
You might want to add Zach Weinersmith's Bea Wolf to your list ... like a gateway drug for alliterative verse. :)
Oh man! I just checked it out and it looks amazing! Thank you for the recommendation. I love alliterative verse--so powerful!
You might also want to check out my website alliteration.net ... if its modern English alliterative verse, I probably have it or have linked to it.
Ah I'll definitely check it out!
This is wonderful! These are books I read as a child and read to my children! With the exception of some new ones to me that I'm so happy to learn about! I can't wait to get a copy of the Astrid Lindgren novel.
Thank you for this list -- I will be sharing it!
Leila, I feel honored that you commented here and shared my post! I own and love your book, The Little Oratory!
I hope you enjoy Mio, My Son! I found it hauntingly beautiful.
I recently read aloud Mio, My Son to my 2 youngest daughters and loved it! I copied down several quotations from it and am considering writing something about it - we'll see. I'm glad you mention it here. It's well worth reading.
Oh I'd love to read your thoughts about it! It's extraordinary--very Christological even though Lindgren wasn't religious (that I know of). I read she wrote after her father passed away.
There's a beautiful essay about it on plough: https://www.plough.com/en/topics/community/family-corner/love-loss-and-eucatastrophe#!
This is brilliant! Thank you!