by J. R. R. Tolkien
This book includes five short stories: Roverandom, Farmer Giles of Ham, The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, Smith of Wootton Major, and Leaf by Niggle. Tolkien's essay, "On-Fairy Stories," is included as well, in the appendix. I had only read Leaf by Niggle before (still one of my favorites).
The tales were fun, but the best part for me was "On Fairy-Stories." Despite hearing references to this essay often, I had never read it. We have had a book of fairy tales or folktales as a read-aloud continually for more than a decade. When we finish one, we just pick up another. And that's not counting the tales my kids read on their own or as part of their lessons.
I actually...don't like fairy tales or even folktales that much personally, but I believe they are an important part of our culture. They reveal something of our human nature, and reading tales from other cultures can show us some things that are universal and other things that are vastly different. For the most part, however, we read these tales because they were recommended by Mater Amabilis back when I was starting homeschooling (and wasn't an advisory board member). I simply accepted the wisdom of those who had gone before.
Reading Tolkien's essay allowed me to spend some time contemplating the fairy story and its place in our homeschool.
Many people, wiser and more thoughtful than I, have written this essay. Dr. Holly Ordway wrote something for Word on Fire. I'm sure there are others. So I won't waste your time by writing something less interesting myself.
I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Amazon and Bookshop are affiliate links. I received this book as a Christmas gift many years ago.
