Bilbo Baggins (and his Tookishness)

Bilbo the hobbit is such an unlikely hero, which is what makes him so likeable. He is childlike in his love of relaxing, eating and playing- which is smoking his pipe and enjoying pipe rings. The entire book of “The Hobbit” is filled with remarks of how hard it is for a hobbit to go without second breakfast, etc. This extreme love of food and the easy life makes Bilbo’s adjustments to the rough life of an adventurer even more extraordinary. In Tolkien’s middle earth he is the most unlikely of heroes, yet he is a hero, even so. His similarities with children by way of his size and characteristics, and how he is viewed by others, make him relatable for kids. When Bilbo triumphs, the child reading triumphs. Bilbo the hobbit is such a marvelous character who encourages kids to be braver and bigger than their size (and the world) dictates!