Part of Middle Earth
First published 1991
Tom Bombadil wanders through his woodland realm, where danger lurks behind every ancient tree. The River-woman's daughter calls to him from flowing waters while Old Man Willow stretches gnarled branches to trap unwary travelers. Tom must outwit the Badger-folk in their underground tunnels and escape the clutches of a ghostly Barrowwight guarding treasure in forgotten barrows. His path leads him to encounters with a beautiful princess, hulking trolls, and sturdy dwarves mining in distant mountains. Legendary beasts roam the wild places, testing Tom's wisdom and magical abilities. Through sixteen musical tales told in verse and rhyme, Tom navigates a world where every creature has its own agenda and every forest path holds surprises. His adventures reveal a character who meets each challenge with songs, riddles, and an unshakeable joy in the natural world around him.
Genres: adventure, fantasy, folklore, fairy-tale-retellings
Vibes: lyrical, thought-provoking, whimsical
Tropes: found-family, magical-abilities
Setting: Woodland Realm
75 pages · Hardcover · Houghton Mifflin Harcourt