"In a hole in the ground, there lived a hobbit." So begins one of the most beloved and delightful tales in the English language.Set in the imaginary world of Middle-earth, at once a classic myth and a modern fairy tale, J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit is one of literature's most enduring and well-loved novels. This edition of The Hobbit has been specially formatted for young readers and features cover art by Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator Peter Sís.Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely traveling any farther than his pantry or cellar. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard Gandalf and a company of dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an adventure. They have launched a plot to raid the treasure hoard guarded by Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon.Bilbo reluctantly joins their quest, unaware that on his journey to the Lonely Mountain he will encounter both a magic ring and a frightening creature known as Gollum.Written for Tolkien's own children, The Hobbit has sold many millions of copies worldwide and established itself as a modern classic.