Which Tolkien children’s story features the talking dog Roverandom?

Roverandom is the Tolkien children’s story featuring the talking dog Roverandom.

Tolkien wrote Roverandom after his young son Michael lost a toy dog during a holiday at the English seaside. The story transforms that small childhood incident into a fantasy journey involving the Moon, the sea, wizards, and a dog who is changed by enchantment.

The main character begins as Rover, a dog who is punished by a wizard and undergoes a series of magical transformations. The narrative has a playful, episodic quality and is much shorter and lighter than The Hobbit or The Lord of the Rings.

Roverandom was not published during Tolkien’s lifetime. It appeared in 1998, edited by Christopher Tolkien as part of the continuing publication of his father’s lesser-known writings. It is often grouped with Tolkien’s shorter children’s works, including Mr. Bliss and Farmer Giles of Ham, but its talking-dog premise and seaside origin make it distinctive.