My fourth grade teacher read The Hobbit to the class and I loved it. I got The Hobbit and LotR in a box set for Christmas that year and I read The Hobbit over and over but couldn't get through LotR until 7th grade. I kept giving up and starting over.
Favorite Tolkien character:
Gandalf is my favorite character because he's a comforting, reassuring presence. Galadriel makes me feel all Gimli inside, and despite my nick, Bilbo is my favorite hobbit.