The Hobbit By J.R.R. Tolkien

J.R.R. Tolkien is a brilliant story teller.  His tales are full of adventure, mystery, and magic.  Lord of the Rings is a great read, but may be a bit difficult for younger readers to plough through.  The Hobbit is a great start for 9-12 year olds.  It is the story of Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit who enjoys staying home and doesn't care much for adventure.  He is persuaded to join a band of dwarves on a journey by the wizard, Gandalf.  It turns out to be a very exciting journey with giant spiders, dragons, goblins, trolls, a magic ring (which, of course, features more prominately in The Lord of the Rings series), and a strange creature called Gollum.  This is a classic for a reason.  I have loved reading this book myself, but it's also a good one to read aloud as a family.