The Father Christmas Letters

This book is great for Tolkien fans and those who don't know his works. It has very cute illustrations and background info. I would suggest it for someone who loves to read Tolkien or for a child's Christmas present.

J.R.R. Tolkien was best known for his epic fantasy "Lord of the Rings" and his studies in myth and language. But Tolkien was also the proud dad of four kids -- and he didn't just read "Hobbit" to them at bedtime. Over the course of many years, he wrote and illustrated detailed, whimsical letters from Father Christmas, populated with a clumsy polar bear, elves and goblins. In these letters, Father Christmas kept the Tolkien... Read Full Review

Each year without fail, from 1920 to 1939, the children at the Tolkien household received a letter from Father Christmas, telling them of the ludicrous, hilarious events, mishaps and accidents that occurred in the North Pole previous to his yearly visits. Through his emotive letters and amusing drawings, Father Christmas often explained how most of his misfortunes were directly linked to the curiosity of the well-meaning but... Read Full Review

. . .which will be a joy to hobbit-lads and lasses for many years to come. (Most "Big People" don't know that Father Christmas visits the Shire each Yule -- but he does!)In this delightful book, the Master presents a series of illustrated letters sent from the North Pole each year to his children -- just in time for the holidays. In these letters, Father Christmas explains his difficulty in finding good help (thanks to the... Read Full Review

The appeal of this book is hardly limited to the under-10 age group, though one of my favorite personal memories is hearing it read aloud by my father. Tolkien brings his sense of magic and wonder to the tired old tale of a North Pole Santa Claus: instead of vapid reindeer with improbable noses, children will be fascinated by a Santa who must battle incompetent, mischevious elves, destructive polar bears, and above all the... Read Full Review