Also, to answer the OP (warning - a pop-up advertisement will appear)
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy: The Fellowship of the Ring - Short Summary
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy: The Two Towers - Short Summary
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy: The Return of the King - Short Summary
Also in reply to the OP:
There is a book called “A Guide to Middle Earth”, by Robert Foster. Amazon.com has them available. I found mine while digging through the basement awhile ago. It’s basically a dictionary that defines every person, place, thing, tree, spell, nuance, creature, gem, and day of the week mentioned in the books. It’s likely more than your son will ever want to know about the books. Or, if he’s really into them, he’ll soon be telling you more than you ever wanted to know about it all.
Isn’t there a rule about Moderaters not posting stuff like this? 
** Glee**,
But you see, the Dwarves only wore the rings. They were made by the elves of Eregion, in the time after the fall of Morgoth, while Sauron pretended to repent his evil from the First Age. He taught many of the Noldor how to make rings of power, and although Celebrimbor never allowed Sauron to touch the three he made, others were not so cautious. Eventually, Sauron was able to collect all but the three, although the one still had power over those, as well.
So, the ring, which Thorin did not have, was in fact not a dwarvish ring, but an elven ring.
All the rings of power were elvish, in fact, except the one. The rings of the Nazgul were also elvish, but since Sauron had a hand in making them, they were much more readily turned to evil. One suspects that among the Noldor, the desire for power was rather more prevalent than was prudent.
Tris
Um… Puts hands behind back, Samwise-style
Three rings for the elven-kings under the sky
Seven for the dwarf-lords in their halls of stone
Nine for mortal men doomed to die
One for the dark lord on his dark throne
In the land of Mordor where the shadows lie
One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them
One ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the land of Mordor where the shadows lie
Look, Ma, no book (or any references at all)!
I need to get a life. :rolleyes:
Dang, but you’re good!
HMMMMMMMMMMM,
I must be a MAJOR DORK: I read The Hobbit when I was 7 (and 8 and 9 and 10 and 11, once a year until I was 15 and discovered the very mystical race called Females) It was the first “real” book I read.
Ummm. I had a point but I forgot it, sorry.
Da Slave to Da Code
Oh, yeah? Watch this! No book!
Earendil was a mariner
That tarried in Arvernien
He built a boat of timber felled
In Nimbrethil to journey in;
Her sails he wove of silver fair,
Of silver were her lanterns made.
Her prow was fashioned like a swan
And light upon her banners laid.
Thorin is posh? Hmm…
Knock on Bilbo’s door. Bilbo opens the door and we see Gandalf and the Dwarves.
Bilbo:Tell me what you want. What you really, really want!
Thorin: I’ll tell you what I want. What I really, really want!
Gandalf: You’e the lucky number! You gotta get with my Dwarves!
Thorin: Gotta get with my Dwarves!
Gandalf: You’ll help with the thieving and swiping of the hoards!
You’re the lucky number! Now you’ve got to go! If I have to I’ll drag ya by the hair upon your toes!
Thorin: Everybody sing! We’re going travelling!
Gandalf: Everybody, everybody zig-a-zug-ahh!
OR
Gandalf: We need you, o Bilbo Baggins!
To kill some spiders and some dragons!
We can achieve it. We can achive it.
You see you’re the lucky number.
Dumb luck don’t get much dumber.
Time for a stroll now. Leave your warm hole now.
Be a little bit wiser, Bilbo.
Put it on. Put it on.
Bilbo the Hobbit,
You’ll find the one!
Thorin: I need a halfling like I’ve never needed one before!
I read the secret sign, there on the door!
Dwarves-You’re the lucky number, Bilbo!
Gandalf-I know that you can!
It’s part of my plan!
To Sum Up-
Thorin-Posh Spice, Gandalf-Old Spice, Saruman-Scary Spice, Bilbo-Hairy Spice, Aragorn-Swarthy Spice
Impressive, Lissla.
Et Eärello Endorenna utúlien. Sinome maruvan ar Hildinyar tenn’ Ambar-metta!
Utúlie’n aurë! Aiya Eldalië ar Atanatári, utúlie’n aurë! Auta i lóme!
Hope I got the accent marks right!
How is it that I refused to read these until I saw the movie? You people make me feel stupid I’m into TTT though - but to be honest, there is a LOT I don’t even understand about the histroy/explanations.
:sigh:
Don’t understand the background history? Just ask us! We’re Tolkien geeks! There’s been plenty of explanatory threads about the History of Middle-Earth in Cafe society! Here’s a brief synopsis:
Ilu Ilúvatar carnë Eldain ar Fírimain
The Father made the World for Elves and Mortals
ar antanéros mannar Valaron: ëantë Númessë.
and he gave it into the hands of the Lords. They are in the West.
Nantë ainë, mánë ar meldë - hequa morion:
They are holy, blessed, and beloved: save the dark one.
alantiéro. Melkor Mardello lendë: nás mára.
He is fallen. Melkor has gone from Earth: it is good.
At least Gandalf would smell nice…
You have no idea how corny my accents and sound effects can be, when reading Tolkien aloud - yet the kids still lap it up.
Every door in Middle-Earth squeaks…
Every horse and pony whinnies…
The wind constantly whistles through the trees…
Immediately after a meal, everyone farts*…
*I got the idea from Blazing Saddles, of course. British kids love toilet humour.
Seriously parents/uncles/aunts, this is a brilliant way to spend time with kids. 
I can recite the beginning of The Hobbit from memory, after reading the opening so many times out loud to my son, and to other children, and a few adults.
In a hole in the ground, there lived a Hobbit. Not . . . .
Great reading.