Tolkien and Dickens' grandsons collaborate for children's book

London, Apr 19 (ANI): A grandson of famous author JRR Tolkien and a descendant of Charles Dickens will be teaming up for two new fantasy books for children.

Poet Michael Tolkien, the eldest grandson of 'The Hobbit' author, will write two novels based on stories his famous grandfather read to him as a child.

Gerald Dickens, the great-great grandson of Charles, will narrate the audio versions of the book.

Both works are scheduled to be released later this year.

Publisher Thames River Press said the first book, 'Wish', was inspired by Florence Bone's 1923 story, 'The Rose-Coloured Wish'.

The book tells the story of two children who set out to use an evil enchanter's wishing chain of stones to save their alpine valley, only to fall into trouble.

Michael Tolkien was introduced to the tales in the 1940s and 1950s as a child, and he later read them to his own children.

He said he decided to pay tribute to the now-neglected tale and to "recreate the spirit of the original in new dress".

The second book, 'Rainbow', is based on Bone's 1910 novel,' The Other Side of the Rainbow'.

"Wish is a timeless story which children will enjoy for years to come. Michael Tolkien has brought it to life in narrative verse," the BBC quoted Dickens as saying. (ANI)