J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit has been ranked the “most fun children’s book of all time” by entertainment publication Collider, which placed the 1937 fantasy classic ahead of other renowned titles including Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, per parade.com.
Collider’s ranking, published on September 24, highlighted eight children’s books celebrated for their humour, imagination and enduring appeal to young readers.
The publication said The Hobbit deserved the top position because of its entertaining storytelling and its message that courage is not determined by size or strength. The novel introduced readers to Bilbo Baggins, the reluctant hero whose adventure helped establish Tolkien’s Middle-earth as one of fantasy literature’s most influential settings.
The book remains highly regarded among readers, holding a 4.3 out of 5 rating on Goodreads based on more than 4.6 million reviews.
Tolkien later reflected on the novel’s origins in a BBC interview. While marking examination papers during his time at Pembroke College, he came across a blank page and wrote a sentence that would become one of literature’s most famous openings.
“In a hole in the ground lived a Hobbit,” Tolkien recalled writing on the unused page, adding that the book was eventually published in 1937.
Following the success of The Hobbit, Tolkien expanded the world of Middle-earth with The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King, published between 1954 and 1955.
First published in 1937, The Hobbit is widely regarded as a landmark work of children’s fantasy and served as the foundation for Tolkien’s later The Lord of the Rings trilogy.