Age 12-16. 5 Stars. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy continues the story begun in The Hobbit and more fully develops the world of Middle Earth. In this epic saga, ordinary beings must use their small gifts in a struggle against great evil…. This work has becoming a defining influence in the genre in fantasy literature, and none of the works that came after it have matched it for its marvelous use of language, the deep coherency of the fantasy world, and the epic themes which propel the story to its climactic finish. Christian readers have long appreciated the way in which Tolkien’s stories express his Christian view of reality.

Age 00-04. 2 Stars. This is a very different version of the fairy tale told by Rumer Godden about an old woman who lives in a vinegar bottle…. this one is clearly intended for younger readers; there is some verbal repetition (“What a pity, pity, pity”) as opposed to the more lyrical style in Godden. The artwork is brash and colorful, and the moral lesson is much less subtle. If Godden’s version didn’t exist this one might make a good library checkout, but I’m afraid it might spoil readers for Godden’s most excellent story.

Age 04-08. 5 Stars. A charming variation of the traditional story…. The artwork is pleasing, and the storytelling includes oral storytelling conventions which, from the author’s preface, seem to be drawn from the story’s being retold within his family for four generations.