[Child of the 7th Age]

Take a look at Lost Tales. Gandalf had known Bilbo when he was younger. He was a very adventurous hobbit and was always interested in Elves. But, as age crept up on Bilbo and he hit the big 50, he turned quite conventional. He spent all his time worrying whether his hobbit hole was just so and whether the meals were served at exactly the right time.

Gandalf knew that Bilbo needed a little push to get him out the door and put him back on the more inquisitive path he had been on when he was younger.

So, in addition to all the great cosmic reasons why Bilbo needed to secure the Ring and make way for the next book, he also needed to find himself and mature on a personal level. And this is exactly what happens in the Hobbit. Bilbo goes from being a fussy, conventional figure worried about losing his pocket handkerchief to being someone who conquors some very great fears, stands up for his friends, and makes some important moral choices. Not bad for a "children's book".

sharon, the 7th age hobbit