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Library | Material Type | Shelf Number | Child Count | Shelf Location | Status | Item Holds |
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Searching... Branch | Juvenile Book | J TOLKIEN | 1 | Stacks | Searching... Unknown | Searching... Unavailable |
Searching... Branch | Juvenile Book | J 821 TOLKIEN | 1 | Stacks | Searching... Unknown | Searching... Unavailable |
Searching... Branch | Juvenile Book | YA TOLKIEN | 1 | Stacks | Searching... Unknown | Searching... Unavailable |
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Summary
Summary
Bilbo's Last Song is considered by many to be Tolkien's epilogue to his classic work The Lord of the Rings . As Bilbo Baggins takes his final voyage to the Undying Lands, he must say goodbye to Middle-earth. Poignant and lyrical, the song is both a longing to set forth on his ultimate journey and a tender farewell to friends left behind.
Pauline Baynes's jewel-like illustrations lushly depict both this final voyage and scenes from The Hobbit , as Bilbo remembers his first journey while he prepares for his last.
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 5 Up-- An illustrated version of a small poem from the ``Lord of the Rings'' trilogy. The poem, in which Bilbo talks about leaving Middle Earth and bidding farewell to his life and friends there, is a vehicle for Baynes to immerse herself in the characters and events in this trilogy. The pages are filled with watercolor drawings skillfully depicting detailed scenes of great adventure--magical beings with glistening capes, sparkling rings, and other mystical objects that convey all the wonder and charm of Tolkien. Unfortunately, none of these wonderfully detailed drawings illustrate the words in this book. In fact, they were not intended to do so. Instead, they depict scenes from The Hobbit, The Return of the King, or The Fellowship of the Ring , necessitating complex explanatory notes for all of the illustrations, even the endpapers. The result is not a blending of pictures and words or even a picture book version of a children's poem, but a study of Tolkien--overwhelming for any reader unfamiliar with his work. Although this book pays tribute to him, it suffers from an excess of praise and loses its audience as a result. Most children would only be confused by it. --Jane Marino, White Plains Public Library, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
The text for this lush picture book is a poem purportedly written by Bilbo Baggins (hero of the The Hobbit and an important figure in The Lord of the Rings ) just before he takes ship from Middle-earth to the Undying Lands at the end of The Lord of the Rings. Baynes, illustrator of many of Tolkien's tales, has filled this book's colorful, medieval-flavored paintings with her deep love and understanding of Tolkien's masterpieces. Framed by gracefully gnarled trees, circular paintings on each recto page faithfully illustrate the events described in the final pages of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings while insets tell the story of The Hobbit ; endnotes identify the specific passages that serve as sources for these pictures. The effect is stirring, the mood elegiac and the imagery riveting, making this a must for all fans of Tolkien's vast, epic fantasy. All ages. (Nov.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book Review
A lovely, nostalgic depiction of the last poem in 'The Lord of the Rings' (Houghton) by the illustrator of many of Tolkien's books. The artist has gathered episodes from the Middle-earth cycle of stories and presented them as Bilbo's remembrances and dreams. Notes at the end identify scenes. For Tolkien fans, especially. From HORN BOOK 1990, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
Gr. 4 and up. Readers of Tolkien's fantasies may recall the poem that forms the text of this picture book. Carefully structured in layout, the book includes several kinds of illustrations running concurrently. The dominant pictures depict Bilbo's preparations to leave Middle Earth. Below these are smaller vignettes detailing his memories of earlier adventures from The Hobbit. At one end of the border that separates these two sets of illustrations sits the poet Bilbo, musing and dozing in turn, looking altogether too young and rosy for his years. While some of the individual scenes are well conceived and deftly drawn, the problem of audience is unavoidable. Appended explanatory notes are for an older audience, but will anyone old enough to read the original fantasies want to look at a picture book based on this reflective poem? Will any younger child find this convoluted book of interest at all? Important questions to consider before purchasing. ~--Carolyn Phelan