It was a quiet morning in the Shire. The grass sparkled with dew, the birds were singing, and your thoughts were on breakfast—not adventures. Hobbits don’t go on adventures… or at least, they didn’t used to.

Then came a knock at the door.

A tall figure stood on the path—cloaked in grey, shadowed beneath a wide-brimmed hat, and leaning on a staff that hummed softly with hidden power. His eyes, sharp and kind all at once, met yours.

“The world is stirring,” said Gandalf the Grey. “Sauron’s shadow grows stronger each day. Soon, even the Shire will not be safe. I do not come to bring fear, but to ask for something greater: courage.”

You hesitated. Hobbits were not made for such things.

Gandalf’s voice softened. “You have been chosen, not because of strength of arms, but because you have the kind of heart the world needs. There is a Ring—the One Ring. Forged long ago in fire, it holds the Enemy’s power. If he regains it, all hope will fall.” He leaned closer.

“You must find the Ring, and when you do, you must carry it to the fire where it was made. Only there can it be destroyed.”

Then his eyes twinkled with a secret smile. “But remember this: the road is long, and each step forward must be earned. Every book you read, every story you complete, will carry you further on your journey. Reading will give you the wisdom, courage, and strength you’ll need to face the darkness ahead.”

Before you could speak, another voice called from down the path. “Wait for me!”

A hobbit jogged up, cheeks red, a satchel of pots and pans rattling at his side. He stopped at your door, catching his breath but smiling proudly.

“Samwise Gamgee, at your service,” he said. “Gandalf told me you’d need a good companion, and I won’t let you go alone. I’ll stick by you all the way—through every book, every step, and every challenge. And don’t worry—I’ve packed bread, bandages, and plenty of tea.”

At this, Gandalf’s smile deepened.

“You will need each other. The road is full of dangers, but also full of friendship, courage, and hope."

And so your story begins—not in songs already sung, but in the pages you will read and the steps you are about to take.

The wind stirred, and the path stretched ahead into the unknown.

With Sam at your side and Gandalf’s charge in your heart, you stepped out the door—and into An Unexpected Reading Journey.