Amazon.com

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the publication of L. FrankBaum's The Wizard of Oz,master paper engineer Robert Sabuda has created a pop-up version of Dorothy'sadventures in Oz that fans will find hard to resist. Modeling his depictions ofDorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the rest after W. W. Denslow'soriginal art, Sabuda adds a third dimension that would have rockedDenslow's--and Baum's--world. A rapidly spinning cyclone actually casts a breezeover the startled reader's face. Glorious red poppies wave seductively in afield. And the Emerald City positively glitters with green, especially whenyoung readers try on the special tinted "Spectacles for You" provided in apocket on the page. The abridged text, provided in minibooklets set onto eachpage, covers enough basics for the Oz novice, but we recommend a read-aloud ofthe original, as well, for all the glory and detail of Baum's fantastic tale.Sabuda's homage to the classic is truly spectacular; even purists will gasp indelight at the sight of the humbug wizard floating away in his shiny green,gold, and blue hot-air balloon. This great introduction to the story of Ozdoubles as a fun collector's item. (Ages 3 to 7) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (60)

There's no place like a Robert Sabuda pop-up!
I just have to disagree with the folks who say this is not a book for children...this is THE book for children! If you are looking for a book to give this holiday season that rates 100% on the "oooh-ahhhh!" meter, this is the one. Any child, in particular a reluctant reader, will be dazzled and fascinated by the Emerald City jumping to life in the middle of the book, the whirling balloon and spinning tornado. The artwork warrants accolades even without the magnificent engineering, and there is enough text to make this pop-up perfect for older kids as well. This book does great honor to the Wonderful Wizard, and will be as treasured in your home as a pair of ruby slippers. Whether or not this book actually survives the twister of children's handling, you'd be a real wicked witch not to share it with your favorite munchkin.

"Magical experience"
I collect children's books that are "special" and added this book to my collection as one of my favorites! The experience of looking through the pop-ups can only be described as a "magical experience". The illustrations are done in a nostalgic format with vivid colors. The first page really grabbed me...when you open it up a tornato rises up in a whirling motion and goes completely off of the page. There is fine detail (look under the house in "Munchkinland" and you will actually see the wicked witches feet underneath). Emerald City pops up and actually glitters before your eyes (you would swear it was really made of emeralds)! Oz's hot air balloon rises out of one page and spins in suspension. This is more of a collector book and I would not recommend putting it in the hands of a young child to do with as he/she pleases! It is just too beautiful! But, you would definately have fun viewing/reading the book to a young child...and a child of seven or eight would probably be old enough to care for it! There are also several small pop-ups within the sections you open up and read that are quite charming! There is quite alot of story to read within small sections of the pages, or within flaps that open up. But; if you are a collector of "Oz" memorabilia, or love creative pop-up books... this book would be a great addition to your family!

Spectacular Pop-Ups Illustrate A Timeless Classic!
Robert Sabuda is one of my favorite illustrators and certainly the most renowned pop-up book artist and paper engineer working today. Combine Sabuda's entrancing three dimensional illustrations with Frank Baum's glorious story about Dorothy, the Tin Woodman, the Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion, Toto and their amazing adventures in the Land of Oz and you have pure magic!

The pop-up illustrations are quite intricate, with artwork that's faithful to W. W. Denslow's original illustrations. Sabuda works in a fresh, new style here using prints made from cut linoleum blocks. He brings the drawings to life in a way that will enchant children and adults alike. Each page contains a large pop-up and a small booklet which tells part of the story. And each mini-book contains small pop-ups too. There's a cyclone that really twists, a wizard's balloon that sails into the sky, holographic foil creates a true, sparkling Emerald City made even greener with the included green glasses for the reader

The text is slightly abridged so I would suggest that true "Wizard of Oz" fans include an unabridged copy in their library. I recently bought a copy for my cousin's little girl. She calls it her "magic book" and can't seem to put it down. This very special edition, published to commemorate the book's 100th Anniversary, is well worth the price and will surely find a place of honor on your bookshelf. It is spectacular!
JANA

WOW!
This is impressive! Something really great for Wizard of Oz enthusiasts to keep for years. Don't buy it intending it for small children to handle independently, though. The amazing detail is somewhat fragile. But don't be afraid to get it and hang onto it until they're old enough to be careful with it. It's really incredible!

The Best Pop up book ever!
Hey buy this one for your young friends and read it with them and share the 3-D glasses! Its wonderful you gotta see it to belive it! I am one happy reader!! ... Read more

Book Description

This special retelling of The Wizard of Oz contains within it 1850 SAT-type vocabulary words, which appear in bold type throughout the story. At the bottom of each page are thorough but easy-to-understand definitions and funny or informative illustrative sentences for each of the highlighted words. Includes index. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Innovative and Fun Vocabulary Builder
By weaving vocabulary words into the classic story of "The Wizard of Oz," Mark Phillips enables readers to greatly increase their vocabulary in a fun way, while eliminating the drudgery so commonly associated with the standard approaches. Because you're engrossed in the story, it's easy to forget you're actually learning.

An aspect of this book which makes it especially user-friendly is that all definitions for the vocabulary words (which are bold-faced and footnoted) can quickly be found at the bottom of the page they appear on. This is in sharp contrast to other books of this type which force the reader to constantly turn to the back of the book, something no one wants to do when they're in the midst of reading.

The definitions, themselves, are extremely helpful as they are always clear and concise, and oftentimes witty and educational. (You'll learn a lot of the history you forgot just by reading them!) And whenever there might be a question, pronunciation is made clear.

This book is great for those who are studying for the SAT's and would rather not rotely memorize lists of vocabulary words, or for anyone who simply wants to build their vocabulary in an absorbing and fun way. Most importantly, having the words already in context makes remembering them a whole lot easier. Highly recommended!

A must read for everyone!
Mark Phillips uses a universallly familiar tale in "The Wizard of Oz", and retells it substituting challenging vocabulary words, for the language the book was originally written in. This is performed masterfully, without losing any of the context of the original story, while still instituting a new verbal element in almost every sentence. This unique method creates a lasting effect, allowing vocabulary to seamlessly enter your psyche. Mark calls on his own incisive wit on the bottom of each page, where he defines each word that has been added, and goes on to add yet another memorable example of the words usage. This creates a doubly indelible impression, allowing for immediate delivery of new words into your everyday language. Impress your friends, ace your SAT's, or just enjoy reading on a higher level, as this book truly carries your language mastery to the next level. A MUST READ FOR EVERYONE!

The best vocabulary book available
I've seen many vocabulary books -- those that contain lists of thousands of words, and those that imitate Phillips' technique. The imitators are all (as of this writing) cr*p. Many of them are quite useful if you regard "book", "chair", "indirect", etc. to be vocabulary words. I hope that Phillips comes out with another book of more advanced words for the ultimate GRE preparation.

The only problem I have with the book is that it needs to be larger. Sometimes the words come at you so quickly that they lie adjacent to one another -- in some cases three at a time!

Great idea
This book is a excellent idea and it works! The only comment I have is that sometimes many similar words are used at the same point in the story (e.g. listless, enervating, langour). This makes the reading not so interesting and the definitions confusing since they're so similar. Another example, "trite cliche". Perhaps this is the authors intention, to group the synonyms. But maybe greater separation of the words will help the reader better appreciate the nuances of their meanings.

Works like magic
I purchased The Wizard of Oz nearly two months ago and it has given me fabulous results. Every day, whether I hear it on TV or in person, I recognize at least one of my new words. My vocabulary has extended tremendously and I could not be happier. I previously tried many methods. I even tried reading the entire thesaurus! Yet my vocabulary did not seem to make any progress. This book works like magic. It would be great if schools all over the nation became aware of this and bought them for every student. I strongly recommend this book. ... Read more

Book Description

One of the true classics of American literature, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz has stirred the imagination of young and old alike for over four generations. Originally published in 1900, it was the first truly American fairy tale, as Baum crafted a wonderful out of such familiar items as a cornfield scarecrow, a mechanical woodman, and a humbug wizard who used old-fashioned hokum to express that universal theme, "There's no place like home."

Follow the adventures of young Dorothy Gale and her dog, Toto, as their Kansas house is swept away by a cyclone and they find themselves in a strange land called Oz. Here she meets the Munchkins and joins the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion on an unforgettable journey to the Emerald City, where lives the all-powered Wizard of Oz.

This lavishly produced facsimile of the rare first edition contains all 24 of W. W. Denslow's original color plates, the colorful pictorial binding, and the 130 two-color illustrations that help make The Wonderful Wizard of Oz so special and enduring. ... Read more

Reviews (29)

A Masterpiece! The book that started it all! I love Oz!
"The Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank Baum is the book that started all the Oz mania! I've read this book many times and I love it! Dorothy Gale and her little black dog, Toto are whisked from Kansas by a cyclone where she ends up in a magical fairy land called Oz. She meets some interesting friends along the way such as the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion. They face many adventures and dangers in this wonderful book. You may think "why read the book? I've seen the movie!" Well it's my all time favorite movie too but the book's better! Once you read it I'm sure you'll be hooked on Oz!

We're Off to READ the Wizard!
Well what can I say about this incredible book. This story started it all. It was a huge success when it was published in 1900 and an even bigger success today. While reading this book, you're sure to notice more than a few changes and omissions compared to the wonderful 1939 movie classic. Baum weaves us into his magic spell of imagination, excitement, and adventure as we land in Munchkin Country, walk to the Emerald City, battle a Wicked Witch in Winkie Country, and finally make our way to Quadling Country. Never has an assembly of so many fantastical characters come together than in THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ. Hailed as the FIRST true American fairy tale, it will bring hope, joy, and magic into every person's life from ages 2 to 92. Don't miss out on the book that brought you the 1939 movie. You will feel as one with Dorothy and Toto and sympathize with the plights of the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and Cowardly Lion. Don't forget to read Baum's other Oz books....he wrote more than one ya know!

a book for all ages..........
Several years ago I was on a trip with my mother.....one day we happened to stop at a small town in St. George Utah (we were doing the SW national parks) and while she looked for something in a drugstore I found a small bookstore.....It was summer time and they had a stack of those cheap paperback classics. I picked up three.....One of them was THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ.....When I was younger my mother and my grandmother read to us, however we had never heard Frank Baum's tales of OZ.
That night I began to read it and simply could not believe how truly 'wonderful' Dorothy's adventures were in the 'Land of OZ'.....it brought back memories of many things from my childhood......but mainly the enchantment and inquisitiveness of it all.....
This is not only a charming and thoroughly enjoyable book for people of all ages.......but for all ages to come.

The ORIGINAL Wizard of Oz is Published
I don't own THIS particular Edition, but I will soon, and as soon as I saw it in Dymmocks, I looked through it and thought "I've really gotta get this book!" And this is why . . . .
I'm sure that there are those of you who have the annotated Wizard of Oz and/or the Dover editions of the Wonderful/Wizard of Oz (Dover has made different copies in publishing it in different ways). the Annotated Wizard of Oz may have the pictures in full-colour, but the colour plates are in 1 whole place, in the middle of the book, and that goes the same for the recent Dover Edition of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz (where dorothy is wearing a pink dress, talking to her friends, all waering the Green glasses). The other Dover editions of this story have the pictures in black-and-white (sometimes all, other times, a few of them) with the colour-plates in their own chapter but in black-and-white.
THIS EDITION - the 100th Anniversary Edition - is one everybody should have. It has all the pictures in colour-and-black lined with the FULL-COLOUR-Plates in their OWN PROPER CHAPTER place, e.g. "She caught Toto by the ear" in THE CYCLONE, "I am the Witch of the North" in THE COUNCIL WITH THE MUNCHKINS, etc. It even has the picture of Dorothy and Toto back in Kansas on the very final page on the book in the backboard. And when you pull off this picture-cover (the one that you see now), the actual cardboard-leather-bound cover has the EXACT SAME ORIGINAL Cover Angela Lansbury shows in "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: The Making of a Movie Classic", where the Cowardly Lion is wearing the Green glasses on the Front cover, Toto is on the spine and the back has the faces of Dorothy, the Scarecrow and (Nick chopper) the Tin woodman in circles.
Hope you enjoyed my descriptive review. watch out for my other Oz and Digimon reviews (by Sam A. Milazzo).

The Wonderful Wizard - A Wonderful Classic & Must Have Book!
From the time I learned to read until my preteen years my favorite books were L. Frank Baum's Oz Books. I was an extremely avid reader but, for me, no other stories could compare with the magical world that Baum created. His characters and their adventures fueled my childhood fantasies like no others. In turn, these books became favorites of my daughter's. And this book, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" is the one that started it all.

As most folks know, an enormous cyclone suddenly hit young Dorothy Gale's home in Kansas, resulting in the extraordinary transportation of said home, girl and dog across time and space to the wondrous land of Oz. The house fell on a wicked witch and killed her, with dire future consequences for Dorothy and Company. Dorothy is directed to travel to the Emerald City to ask the Wizard of Oz to help her return to Kansas. On the way, she meets and befriends a Scarecrow (who desires brains), a Tin Woodman (who craves a heart), and a Lion (who wants to possess courage). And thus the famous adventures begin, which have been translated into many languages for children around the world. If there was ever a classic children's book - this is it.

Baum's narrative honors the ideals of home, heart, intellect, and courage. He introduces the reader to wizards, witches, winged monkeys, the Munchkins, and the beloved characters who have become cultural icons: Dorothy, Toto, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion. This edition features W. W. Denslow's illustrations, the original art that graced Baum's books, and my favorites.

This is a wonderful, non-abridged edition of one of the best stories ever told. Highest recommendations!
JANA ... Read more

Book Description

Fantasy lovers of all ages will rejoice at this chance to travel once again to the marvelous land of Oz!

A California earthquake sends Dorothy Gale and her new friends--Zeb the farm boy, Jim the cab-horse, and Eureka the mischievous kitten--tumbling through a crack in the ground. Deep beneath the earth, Dorothy is reunited with her old friend the Wizard of Oz and his troupe of nine tiny piglets.

Together, Dorothy, the Wizard, and their friends travel through many fantastic lands, where they encounter the Mangaboos, people growing like vegetables in the ground; cross the Valley of Voe, where dama-fruit has turned everyone invisible; and are captured by mysterious flying Gargoyles. At last, the intrepid travelers reach Oz, where they have many unforgettable encounters with such favorites as the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman, the Cowardly Lion and the Hungry Tiger, Princess Ozma and the wooden Sawhorse.

Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz was the fourth Oz adventure. First published in 1908, it has captured the imaginations of young readers and listeners for four generations. Now a new generation can discover these superb adventures for themselves. This deluxe gift edition faithfully reproduces the rare first edition, including all sixteen color plates and all fifty black-and-white illustrations by John R. Neill, as well as the original colorful endpapers.

Reviews (10)

I think it's a great book!
I think Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz is a exciteing book which is funny and intresting in a lot of ways.I read all the Oz books but I think this one is one of his best!I definetly rate this a 5 star book! From Hallie McPherson

Dorothy and the Wizard In Oz
NOTE: This is not the edition of the book I would have liked to review. I just didn't see it anywhere. This review is based on the Del Rey edition.

Dorothy and the Wizard In Oz is the 4th book in The Wizard of Oz series.

In this story, Dorothy and Zebediah (Zeb), her second cousin, fell into the middle of the earth though a crack. When they landed, they were in a city. The rest of the story is the trying to get out of the middle of the earth.

There is one really neat thing that happens in this book. As many of you remember, whether you read the book or saw the movie, the Wizard of Oz floated away in a hot-air balloon. Well, in this book, the Wizard lands in the city where Dorothy and Zeb are. He must have been floating for a really long time!

As I have for all of the books in this series, I suggest this book for those who like to read for fun and don't mind a little major fantasy. (Like when Dorothy and Zeb fall through the earthquake to the center of the earth, they could've never survived!)

The best in the series
While all of Baum's books are great, overall I think this was the one that I enjoyed the most. Like the very first book, the plot is simple. Dorothy gets pulled into a magical world against her will, and she wants to get home. She then goes through a series of adventures trying to achieve her goal. Although the book has "In Oz" in the title, Dorothy and the Wizard spend very little time actually in Oz. But don't let this put you off. The underground lands that they pass through are every bit as exciting and magical as the different lands actually in Oz. The ending (how they escape the underground world) is a bit weak, but the imaginative countries that they pass through and the adventures they have in each more than make up for this. Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz is a book that you will want to start reading again as soon as you finish, but don't. Go on to the next Oz book and then the next. While I believe that this was the best of the 14 original books in the series, they are all wonderful and I would recommend that everyone read the entire series from beginning to end. And then try the books written by some of the other authors. While none are as inspired as those written by Baum, many of them are very good.

And if you've read all the Oz books and are looking for other titles that are just as magical and just as inspired, try the Chronicles of Narnia, King Fortis the Brave or Abarat. All will introduce you to other magical worlds that are every bit as fun to visit as Oz.

This book is "Super, thanks for asking".
The book "Dorothy and the Wizard of OZ," is a great book,and should be recommended for anyone who likes to read. It starts out when Dorothy and Zeb are riding in a buggy, and then this huge earthquake comes, causing a big crack in the earth to form. they fall inside the earth, and end up landing in what we know as "munchkin City", but in the book it is called "The Glass City". They meet the munchkins, and then take off for the wizard. They get there, and then this sorcerer comes out, and starts talking them, as he turns into a funny looking thorny man. the wizard finds the sorcerer and cuts him in half. They take the cut in half sorcerer, and barry him in the vegetable garden. The prince of the vegetable kingdom, tells Dorothy to go and find him a princess. So she does. One night while the wizard and Dorothy are sleeping, they get a visit from the evil Mangaboos. They wernt goin to let them go, but then they did. They then went through a mountain, and came put on the other side, which was the Mangaboos's kingdom. While they were there, they ran into a man they called The Braided Man of Pyramid Mountain. The man then lead them to the Wooden gargoyles. They then made a great escape from them. After a few more stunts took place, all the old friends reunited. The wizard then did another trick, and then Zeb went back to the ranch, and after Dorothy gave them a kiss, and said goodbye, she was gone in a madder of seconds.

In this book the three main characters are, Dorothy, the wizard, adn Zeb. Dorothy was a little girl, who liked to take risk, and liked to have fun, but be careful about it at the same time. In this book, she was about eleven years old, she had blonde hair, and wore a shirt little white dress. instead of a dog, she onwned a cat named Eureka. The cat isn't mentioned very much, until the very end. Zeb is Dorothy's cousin, and he is pretty quite during the book. He is mentioned, and helps take care od buisness, and helps them get out of situations when they are in danger, or are trapped by somebody bad. In this book he is about thirteen, or so and does not talk very much. The wizard is very very talkitive. He likes to help people through times, and he likes to be in charge over everything. He knows alot about the land, and what is there, and what can happen. He is about in his fortys, but still is a great wizard, he helped out Dorothy from the funny looking thorney sorcerer by cutting him in half. In my opinion I think this book is really good, but can get a little confussing. So you have to pay atention to all of it, and read it when your not buissy, other wise it wont make any since.

The wonderful Wizard of Oz
The book Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz by Frank Baum was a great book! I would rate it five stars. It was more interesting than the movie because the book describes the munchkins a lot better. I would recommend this book to anyone that likes fairy tales and adventures. ... Read more

Book Description

Tor Classics are affordably-priced editions designed to attract the young reader. Original dynamic cover art enthusiastically represents the excitement of each story. Appropriate "reader friendly" type sizes have been chosen for each title—offering clear, accurate, and readable text. All editions are complete and unabridged, and feature Introductions and Afterwords.

This edition of The Wizard of Oz includes a Foreword, Biographical Note, and Afterword by Jane Yolen.

In a terrifying instant of darkness, a tornado snatches up Dorothy Gale and her dog Toto, whirling them on the wild wind out of Kansas and straight to Oz.

In this wondrous world of sorcery and danger, Munchkins, flying monkeys, talking mice and fighting trees, all Dorothy wants to do is go home...

Together with the Scarecrow who wants a brain, the Tin Man who wants a heart, and the Cowardly Lion who wants courage, Dorothy and Toto must follow the Yellow Brick Road to find the Wizard of the Emerald City. But before the wizard of Oz will grant their wishes, Dorothy and her friends must do the impossible--Destroy the all-powerful Wicked Witch of the West....
... Read more

Reviews (69)

A Great Book
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a classical story about a girl and her dog that get trapped in a twister. She wakes up in a magical land and asks how she can get home. They tell her she has to follow the yellow brick road. She meets people on her way to the Wizard. The Scarecrow needs brains, the Tinman needs a heart, the Lion needs courage and Dorothy needs to go home. They meet strange things on the way to The Good Witch of the South. I like the book because it's interesting and exciting and that's why I think you should read it.

A Great Book
This story all started when a farm girl from Kansas named Dorothy Gale, and her little dog Toto got sucked into a tornado and landed in a fairyland named Oz. In Oz she meets a bunch of strange characters, a scarecrow, tin woodsman, and a cowardly lion. Together they go on a mission to see the wizard of oz by following the yellow brick road. Each one wanting a different wish. On the way to the wizard they come across multiple things. And when they finally got to Emerald city the wizard told them that they must first kill the wicked witch of the west if they want him to make there wishes come true. Eventually they succeed in doing that along with multiple hard things to do. After all that they find out that the wizard is a "humbug" and he grants everyone's wishes. Except for Dorothy's wich is for her to return back home. So now Dorothy and her friends go on another adventure to find the Good Witch of the South. Well they found her and Dorothy got back home along with her dog Toto, and she had what she needed all along in order for her to return home. Personally in my opinion I enjoyed the book better then the movie. I would recommend this book to anyone with a good imagination, because I kept imagining the story as I read it. The book has some drawings in it wich makes imagining things a lot easier, it has drawings of the main characters, villains, and some of the scenes in the book such as there journey on the yellow brick road. I would also recommend this book to anyone if the ages of 10 and up.

A Classic ...
For those of us who've seen the movie umpteen times, this retelling of the classic tale is actually fresh and worth the read.

A good book
This book is a wonderful childrens' classic, though for adults it might seem a little bit too fanciful. The same characters from the movie are in it (Dorothy, Glinda, the Wizard of Oz) but don't be surprised if you notice a lot of details in the book that aren't in the movie- they're both completely different. The book is complicated , and contains a lot of elements that are magical in nature, not to mention all the different races (there's even one made out of china!). I don't think I'd recommend it to a smaller child, but eight, nine, ten year olds would LOVE it.

The Wondeful Wizard of Oz by Ryan Widner
This is a wonderful book by the famous author, L. Frank Baum. Dorothy gets whisked away into a strange land where most of it is pleasant, but the other half of this strange land is dark and creepy. Dorothy must follow the Yellow Brick Road to get to the City of Emeralds to ask the great and powerful Wizard of Oz to help her get back to Kansas. On the way she meets three new friends who come with her to Oz in need of something. The Scarecrow wants some brains, the Tin Woodman wants a heart, and the Cowardly Lion wants some courage. They travel a long way and meet many dangers including the Kalidahs, the Deadly Poppy Field, the Wicked Witch of the West's Castle, and the Hammerheads. But they find ways to get across these obstacles. Their wishes get granted; in a funny way that is. Dorothy doesn't get her wish granted by the Wizard, Glinda, the Good Witch of the South, grants her wish with Dorothy's silver shoes. Read this book and it is sure to make you laugh, make you cry, and even at some parts fill you with mystery and horror! ... Read more

Book Description

One of the true classics of American literature, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz has stirred the imagination of young and old alike for over four generations. Originally published in 1900, it was the first truly American fairy tale, as Baum crafted a wonderful out of such familiar items as a cornfield scarecrow, a mechanical woodman, and a humbug wizard who used old-fashioned hokum to express that universal theme, "There's no place like home."

Follow the adventures of young Dorothy Gale and her dog, Toto, as their Kansas house is swept away by a cyclone and they find themselves in a strange land called Oz. Here she meets the Munchkins and joins the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion on an unforgettable journey to the Emerald City, where lives the all-powered Wizard of Oz.

This lavishly produced facsimile of the rare first edition contains all 24 of W. W. Denslow's original color plates, the colorful pictorial binding, and the 130 two-color illustrations that help make The Wonderful Wizard of Oz so special and enduring. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Ohdear714
Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz lost much in its adaptation from print to film. One concept that did not make the jump from the book to the movie was the concept of the emerald spectacles. Before entering the Emerald City to meet the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy and her friends are required to first put on green spectacles and were told that the spectacles were a necessary precaution against the brightness of the city. Upon further scrutiny, Dorothy finds that everyone in the city is wearing green spectacles of some sort. Later in the story, Dorothy and company stumble upon the truth; the Emerald City is not really green. It only looks green because of the spectacles. Furthermore, most residents of the city have been wearing the spectacles for so long, they have forgotten that they are wearing them.

The idea that Baum was trying to convey was that we too, like the citizens of the Emerald City, are wearing colored spectacles. In fact, we have been wearing these spectacles so long; we too are unaware of their existence. It is these spectacles that cause us to interpret our world and establish values the way that we do.

The point of this excerpt? There is much to be gained by reading the book rather than just watching the movie.

On my short list of favorite books
Most Americans have seen the movie, but a surprising number haven't read the book on which it's based. That's too bad, it really is a fabulous book and Baum is a great storyteller. The characters of the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodsman and the Lion far more developed in the novel and we also travel to the land of the South and encounter my favorite creatures: the china dolls. Although this is a wonderful fairy tale for children, adults will find a lot to enjoy as well.

One interesting note is that the book can be read as an allegory for the populist silver movement at the end of the 19th century. Dorothy's silver shoes, the yellow (gold) bricks, the scarecrow (farmer), Kansas, Oz (politicians); they all take on a new meaning when read in this framework. It's a good reading assignment for high school students in this context, and one they usually don't mind reading.

It Was So Different Than The Movie
I bought a PalmOne and it contained an e-Book of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
I was never really interested in reading this book because, let's face it, how many times have we all seen this movie? It was a slow day at work and I fished out my PalmOne from my purse. I remembered that I had this book. I decided to read a few pages but if it was exactly like the movie I would quit reading it. I didn't have to read more than four pages to know that this book was totally different than the movie. I was pleasantly surprised that the book held my interested since it is really a young reader's book. Let me give you a little hint on how it is different than the movie. The Munchkins role is not much in the book. They are mentioned on a few pages but that's all. The Good Witch is not young or pretty. The Wicked Witch never cast one spell on Dorothy. The shoes, forget it, they aren't red at all. The Tin Woodsman was a human male who eventually turned into tin. Also, there is a lot of violence in the book. The Tin Woodsman for example cuts off the heads of 40 wolves, the scarecrow kills 40 crows by snapping their necks. The Witches guard's are actually called Winkies. The Cowardly Lion is saved by thousands of mice. I just wanted to give you a little flavor about the book. I was really getting into the story and my office phone rang. It was my boss, yelling at me because I was late for a meeting! Unfortunately, it was back to work. I promise you when you read this book, you will agree that it is NOT like the movie after all. It's better!

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Lyman Frank Baum has a great way of making a fairy tale with a moral without the bloody wars and battles. Just like it said in the introduction, "it is time for a new generation of fairy tales". There are so many surprises if you've only seen the movie.

Where did those ruby slippers come in?
The Wizard of Oz, a classic 1939 movie but where on this earth did they come up with red shoes? I mean honest to god if you want to change anything it's like the fact that the witch has one eye i mean. there was to many monsters. (...) ... Read more

Book Description

The Historian's Wizard of Oz synthesizes four decades of scholarly interpretations of L. Frank Baum's classic children's novel as an allegory of the Gilded Age political economy and a comment on the gold standard. The heart of the book is an annotated version of The Wizard of Oz that highlights the possible political and monetary symbolism in the book by relating characters, settings, and incidents in it to the historical events and figures of the 1890s, the decade in which Baum wrote his story. Dighe simultaneously values the leading political interpretations of Oz as useful and creative teaching tools, and consolidates them in a sympathetic fashion; yet he rejects the commonly held, and by now well-debunked, view that those interpretations reflect Baum's likely motivations in writing the book. The result is a unique way for readers to acquaint themselves with a classic of children's literature that is a bit different and darker than the better-known film version. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (14)

Incredible!
Joey Green has written an awesome book, filled with incredible insights about the Wizard of Oz. This book is a must-read for anyone who loves this movie. You'll discover a wealth of beautiful and enriching spiritual messages. Unbelieveable!

are you kidding me?
An interesting idea behind the book... finding the spiritual connections and philosophy behind the story of the wizard of oz. The writing style of the book is poor, redundant, and not terribly smooth (inconsistent pronoun usage, repetitive sentence structure, etc.) The book has its glimmers of insight, but in general, I think it looks way too much into the Wizard of Oz- and that means a lot coming from someone who usually gives new-age, self-help, and spiritual books more credit than they probably deserve sometimes. The very basic connections between the Yellow Brick Road and intuition or following the true self, and the basic metaphors of each the scarecrow, lion, and tin man are backed by literary evidence and are argued logically... and I think these basic connections are compelling. Prevelant is the idea that each of the characters, whether his/her search is for brains, courage, a heart, or home, actually possesses these qualities already... it's just a matter of discovering this truth. Green also goes into the philosophy of love, intelligence, courage, and one's personal "home" or the self, and that too is interesting (but at times can be a stretch when relating it back to the story). The book sometimes takes great dives into detail, jumping to conclusions that are based 100% on speculation ... of the author, and not at all on a logical connection. An example you ask? Well, the Lion, while being primped at the Wash & Brush Up Co. in Emerald City, the author observes, gestures "with a decidedly limp wrist, possibly insinuating that his sexual orientation is a 'fate I don't deserve.'" The author continues to discuss the lion's inability to come out of the closet to come to terms with his true self, assuming that his limp wrist gesture and interest in fine fabrics means the he is gay. Frankly, I think the lion was just acting like a wealthy king. He also suggests Ms. Gulch is a "victim of her own repressed sexuality." To come to this conclusion would require pure speculation based upon [standards], and though the idea has good intentions, it actually weakens his overarching statement. The idea of the book was obviously very interesting to me, but ... the book has left me disappointed and unsatisfied. The kernels of truth in the book are cluttered by details that are not fully developed. But the pictures are cool, I guess.

Three and a half stars
A cute book with wonderful illustrations; unfortunately it seems like the author came up with a great idea (at least for light cocktail party conversation) but really had to reach for enough material to form a book. Better as a gift for a Wizard of Oz fan than for a Zen Buddhist...

Wow!
The Zen of Oz is a thoughtfully laid out interpretation of an American Classic. Joey Green offers up so much insight for consideration that, often times, my brain felt as full as if it had eaten 2 holiday dinners. Follow the yellow brick road to your check book and buy this one for every human you care about. No one will leave Oz dissapointed.

The low down on the hoe down.
Just when you thought you had a firm grip on those psychological heroes from the cultural abyss, Green takes ahold of these sacred virginic icons and gives your life a run for its spiritual money. By examining our subconcious choices, Green drives us deep into the realites of exactly why those characters where who they were and why they preformed true to form. One word of caution though, If you always identified with the Masterful Wizard, you may be in for a shock to the proverbial system, finding out that he was nothing but a bully, equally as bad as the Wicked Witch. Myself, I always saw myself in the Scarecrow, a man made of straw. Regarded by few and respected by none, caught an eternal crossroads of life with an arm going in both directions - but feet - frozen by own indecision.

Examining Karma can be a good thing and enlightening, done without the rote mental abberations that push us away from the tasks that usually have a positive and lasting effect on us.

So, jump down off that cross, clock tower, wooden pole in corn feild, or where ever it is you find yourself unfortunately by choice and read this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (2)

Really cute item - it's really colorforms
The Amazon provided description on this product is a little lacking, but this is a really cute item! It's not really stickers or a book - it's a colorform-type activity (although not made by Colorforms). You get an 18 1/2 inch x 12 1/4 inch laminated backdrop of the Oz countryside with the yellow brick road, trees, flowers and some small houses. You also get 27 colorform-type stickers that you can use on the backdrop over and over. Included as stickers are Dorothy, Tinman, Lion, Scarecrow, Wicked Witch, Glenda the Good Witch, various munchins and monkeys, Toto and additional props and figures. I bought this as a birthday gift for my three year old neice who loves The Wizard of Oz movie and also loves stickers - so this was a big hit! Any child who loves colorforms and Oz will enjoy hours of imaginative play with this item! One note of caution: the included stickers are a little thinner and less durable than the old-fashioned rubbery Colorforms and probably could be ripped if a child tried to do so. They still are more durable than regular stickers and will stand up to normal play.

great fun
My 17 month old grandchild loves this. She watches The Wizard of every week. She loves the movie and has quite a lot of Oz stuff. She enjoys this sticker book so much I'm going to order a couple more . I think the age recomendation for ages 4-5 is to old. Younger children who watch the movie will want this to play with. I suggest to go ahead and order 2. ... Read more

Book Description

Welcome to the Land of Oz and the imagination of L. Frank Baum. Welcome to The Willard Carroll Collection, a world-renowned archive of more than 30,000 Wizard of Oz items.

For the first time ever, editor Linda Sunshine has collected excerpts from Baum’s fourteen Oz novels, poems, short stories, and song lyrics and married them to art from around the world, some dating as far back as 1899. Here are 352 pages of stunning illustrations (some never before published in this country) and profoundly wise text that honors the ideals of home, heart, intellect, and bravery. Be prepared for wizards, witches, winged monkeys, a hungry tiger, a rainbow fairy, the Munchkins, the Fuddles, and the beloved characters who have become cultural icons: Dorothy, Toto, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion. “In the Land of Oz, anything is possible,” Baum tells us in Ozma of Oz (1907). “For it is a wonderful fairy country.”

Ever since The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was first published, we’ve been entranced with life in Oz. More than a hundred years later, All Things Oz comes to earth to reignite the imagination and offer safe passage back to the land over the rainbow. Open this book and let the journey begin. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Not in Kansas Anymore!
This is a delightful book! As a big Oz fan when I was a child, it was great to see all the characters and stories I grew up with come alive again. There are segments from pretty much all the Baum authored books (not the ones by other authors after his death), and great quotes dealing with all kinds of subjects pertinent to children and adults alike, such as intelligence, courage, etc. As an adult, I really enjoyed reading the "Other Voices" segments, where various people comment on Oz and 'what it means'. My favorite entry is the television summary of the 1939 movie by the Marin Independent Journal (p 72): "Transported to a surreal landscape, a young girl kills the first woman she meets, then teams up with three complete strangers to kill again." If that is not the ultimate in revisionism, I don't know what is. Entertaining and well worth reading.

All Things Oz is stunning and sweet!
Willard and Linda,
"All Things Oz" is just a beautiful book that covers the Oz Gambit. I love how you tied the passages from the books with the lovely rare collectibles. Fans will just be in awe when they see the magnitude of the collection.

The companion collectibles will make an elegant gift for the holidays. It is truly museum quality stock, and the recipient will feel like they are writing on stationery from a Four-Star Hotel. It's stunning and sweet!
My hat is off to both of you!
Bravo!
Elaine Willingham ... Read more

Amazon.com

An updated version of the definitive guide, The Annotated Wizard ofOz provides a facsimile color version of the first edition of L. FrankBaum's children's classic along with extensive notes and a thorough history ofthe immense Oz project. In his excellent introduction, Michael Patrick Hearndescribes the author's early life and interests and the development of hiscollaboration with W.W. Denslow, the original illustrator for his books.

An energetic and excitable fellow, Baum's devotion to make-believe began inhis early 20s, when he joined a small touring theatrical troupe on the EastCoast. Later attempts to run a general store and a newspaper in South Dakota(then the Wild West) failed miserably. Although few of his business ventures orartistic efforts had met with success, in 1897 Baum's "Father Goose" rhymes(designed and illustrated by Denslow) became a surprise bestseller, and Baum wasable to buy his family a summer cottage on Lake Michigan, christened "The Signof the Goose," for which he made most of the furniture (goose-themed, of course)and stenciled the walls with a frieze of green geese.

The idea for The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, "a modern fairy tale," as heconsidered it, soon followed, and the book appeared in May 1900. The 10,000-copyfirst printing sold out in two weeks, and about 90,000 sold within the firstyear. Hearn goes on to describe the many books that followed, as well as the1902 musical extravaganza The Wizard of Oz and Baum's subsequent,ill-starred attempts to depict the world of Oz on film. (He died long before the1939 MGM musical made his fairy tale known around the globe.) In 1907, he told areporter for the Grand Rapids Herald why he preferred young readers:

To write fairy stories for children, to amuse them, to divert restless children,sick children, to keep them out of mischief on rainy days, seems of greaterimportance than to write grown-up novels. Few of the popular novels last theyear out, responding as they do to a certain psychological demand,characteristic of the time; whereas, a child's book is, comparatively speaking,the same always, since children are always the same kind of folks with the sameneeds to be satisfied.

Reviews (19)

A good reference book.
This is quite a thorough reference book for Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. It contains about 70 pages of biographical information about Baum, a history of the Oz series including some color plates, and related discussions; a reproduction of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz printed with correct colors with thorough annotations; a 20 page section about W. W. Denslow's illustrations beyond the collaboration with Baum; and 20 pages of bibliography.

Hearn makes a point of saying that the reproduction of the Wizard reproduces the colors correctly; this is probably less of an issue now that high quality facsimile editions are available, unlike say the Dover edition of 1960. There are plenty of annotations, often fairly long, which are interesting but aren't in the category of opening up whole new worlds of perspective on the book. There are also some b&w photos and some other illustrations which hadn't been previously published. The Annotated Wizard is probably most of interest to those with a particular fascination about Oz, and those who are interested in a historical perspective and context for Baum's first Oz book. It would have been nice if it were printed on higher quality paper -- especially the color plates.

28 x 22 cm (landscape), hardcover, 384 pages + 32 unnumbered pages of color plates. New York: Clarkson N. Potter Inc, 1973. LCCN 72-80842.

If it's not in here, it's not worth knowing!
"The Wizard of Oz" and its sequels were books that I enjoyed in childhood, but had largely forgotten about as an adult. No more! This book recaptured my interest in Oz for good. You know this book is thick with information when the introduction runs over 100 pages, and the first page of the Oz story is accompanied by six pages of annotations! I learned so much about Baum, Denslow, and the psycho-social and political aspects of Oz from this book (as well as what politics are NOT involved!). This is not a book for children, but for those who can go back to their childhood down the Yellow Brick Road.

Amazon - no slipcover?
Beautiful book. But one of the reviewer mentioned that he was missing the slipcover. I also ordered mine from Amazon and it too did not come with an embossed slipcover. I'm also wondering if all the other Norton Annotated selections came with a slipcover. Does anyone have any info?

Wowie!
I don't need to tell you about the Wizard of Oz - you already know the story.

What is amazing about this edition is that the original story is completely reprinted in it's original form. That means that all of the illustrations are included with the text arranged exactly as it should be, something that almost no edition has done correctly.

Believe it or not, it makes a difference. The text makes a bit more sense, as the illustrations are integral to the text. The illustrations actually flow INTO the text! It's hard to describe, really, but there is an interaction. This book was a collaborative effort between Baum and Denslow, who split the profits evenly.

Okay, so that's it for the actual story.

The forward gives a brief but very readable biography of Baum, and the annotations are also quite good. There are a number of color pictures of rare Oz Ephemera, and many good black and white pictures of film and stage productions as well.

The type is clearly set, making this book very easy to read.

The only faults with this book are that it's a bit heavy for casual reading, and the annotation sometimes severely impact the flow of the story. These faults are easily overlooked when the material is so good!

If you've ever read this story and thought that it was merely okay, you really should read a good version such as this, it will change your preception radically!

Enjoy!

Everything you wanted to know about the Wizard of Oz
This holiday season I am coming on strong as the Ghost of Christmas past and one of the things I am strongly advocating are annotated editions of beloved books. One title that has to be on any short lists of beloved books would be "The Wizard of Oz." As you know, this book is a potent political allegory representing a nation divided between an agricultural past, represented by the Scarecrow, and the industrial future, symbolized by the Tin Woodman. Baum's position on the free silver issue that dominated American politics at the turn of the last century is self-evident, from the silver slippers that Dorothy wears to the caricature of William Jennings Bryan as the Cowardly Lion.

Of course, this interpretation has been around for years and you can certainly make up your mind after reading what Michael Patrick Hearn has put together in this wonderful Centennial Edition of "The Annotated Wizard of Oz." For starters, we have all of the original illustrations by W. W. Denslow, reproduced in their correct colors. That alone is worth having, but this volume also includes lots of rare drawings, photographs, and maps having to do with Baum's classic tale. Hearn's annotations focus not only on where Baum got his ideas but where "The Wizard of Oz" fits into the grand scheme of folk tales and children's stories as well as Baum's collective writings. Obviously, Hearn knows about a lot more than just Baum's career and writings, but he avoids sounding like a scholar speaking from an ivory tower.

Obviously, "The Annotated Wizard of Oz" is not for the first time reader. I would contend that an annotated edition of this, or any other beloved book like "Anne of Green Gables," "Alice in Wonderland," or "The Hobbit," is for those who are in double-figures when it comes to the number of times they have read the book in question. This is a chance to discover new levels of meanings. There is really no need for persuasion here: if you know how you feel about this story and you see what is collected in this annotated version, that should be more than enough to convince you this is worth getting for yourself (or someone you love) even if you do not find it under the tree on Christmas morning. ... Read more

Book Description

Help tell the endlessly popular story of Oz with this fun-filled interactive storybook, featuring 14 full-color stickers of Dorothy, Toto, and friends, ready to be placed in appropriately numbered spaces within the easy-to-read text.
... Read more

Reviews (1)

Very cute for younger children
This book is perfect for younger children that like stickers and to read. You match the stickers to the place in the story. Also, the story is more like the orginal version of the Wizard of Oz, and I think children should know that one too. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Wonderful abridged story
Much more than a coloring book, this is a wonderfully abridged edition of The Wizard of Oz with the terrific original illustrations. Great for reading aloud to younger kids. And I enjoy coloring the picture myself. I also recommend the Alice in Wonderland coloring book by the same publisher - my three-year-old will sit and listen to all 40-plus pages! An excellent product at a great price.

The perfect color book for the true Oz aficionado
Granted, the drawings W. W. Denslow did for the first editions of L. Frank Baum's "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," are not as famous as what John Tenniel did for "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," but these are a lot more fun to color. The illustrations alone would have been enough to justify picking up this reasonably priced coloring book, but there is an abridged version of Baum's story as well. This is good because for those who grew up on the classical movie and never got around to reading the original story (and how many hands would you need to count those who did not grow up that way?), the differences can be rather startling. The story is especially adapted for young readers, with large type, and the pictures can be colored in which crayons, colored pencils, or even, I suppose, markers. My advice, however, would be to pick up a couple of these because it is not nice to give a child a present like this and then fight with them over it so that you can color in the Cowardly Lion yourself. "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Coloring Book" is just such a neat idea. Hopefully they can do this for the other dozen Oz books that Baum wrote.

HOW FUN!
I spent my whole spring break coloring the pretty pictures, and my mommy ended up throwing the book away, but its cool, because I am gonna get another one!

Great Oz Coloring Book!
This coloring book is amazingly incredible! You can color the exact Denslow Drawings and give them life! Beautifully adapted as well. It was AWESOME!=0) EVERYONE Should buy this book!=) ... Read more

Reviews (2)

wizard of oz
This book is really good book plus it ha alot more parts in the book than in the movie. Once i started reading this book i could not put it down. It was a non stop adventure book. Every time the story started to die it would start right back up again.
It is about a girl named Dorthy who lived in Kansas and a tornado hit. She could not make it into the basement, so she got stuck in her bedroom. The tornado sucked her up and took her over the rainbow. Then she gets stuck in aland called Oz and she is trying to get back to Kansas. THe little people tell her that she has to travel to Emerald city to ask the Wizard of Oz to get her back home. On her way to Emerald city she runs into three people. the first person is the scarecrow. Then next person is a tin man. THe third person is a lion. Each of them want something from the Wizard of Oz. The scarecrow wants to get a brain. The tin man wants a heart, and the lions wants courage. On their way the wicked witch of the west keeps interfering trying to get Dorthys red sparkling shoes. then later in they have an encounter with the witch at her castle. They run away from the soldier monkeys and get cornered and Dorthys teaches for the bucket of water that they use to put out the fire. She grabs the handle and throws the water on the wicked witch and to dorthys surprise she melts. finally they arrive at Emerald city. Then the Wizard of Oz listens to their story and they each get what they want. This book shows a lot of freindship and courage. That is why i thought it was a good book.

Feels like a magazine - lots of glossy pictures
I bought this as a read-aloud picture book for my four-year old daughter, who's into the movie big time. It's perfect for her, except that the binding and pages feel like a magazine, not a book. I wish it were more durable!

There's plenty of big beautiful pictures on every page straight from the movie. The text is true to the movie and reads aloud well. My only complaint is the durability - I just don't expect it to hold up to her intense scrutiny!

Update - 15 months later - my daughter lost interest after a couple of months, and I'm pleased to report that the Movie Storybook lasted not only through her interest, but through my 2 year old son's interest as well! (He prefers to skip any pages with the witch on them.) ... Read more

Book Description

The Oz series has captured the hearts of children and adults alike over the past century. In The Wisdom of Oz, Gita Morena explores her personal connection to Dorothy and uses theories of psychoanalysis and meditation as passageways into the psychological healing central to the story's themes. The book is divided into three sections, weaving the significance of Oz together with Morena's embodiment of Dorothy. "Enchantment of Oz" lays out the history of Oz and tales of the man who created it. "The Journey Through Oz" explores the archetypes and the symbology of Oz, with an emphasis on sandplay therapy and case studies. "Follow Your Own Yellow Brick Road" sets the reader on a journey of self-exploration and self-discovery. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

YES!
I am forever a student. In this book Gita relates the world of Oz to the field of psychology, something I have never seen. Exploring her family heritage she gives ample backround in explianing that we are all traveling in our own yellow brick road. Truly exceptional, Gita has a way with words. This is definatly a book for the eager to learn and open-minded. If you are such, it is a must read...

Misled on the Yellow Brick Road
I found that Morena has mislead her readers into thinking that this is a book about OZ; especially since she is a relative of the creator. But it really talks about her interest in play/sandbox therapy. I am not interested in that so I felt disappointed with the book. ... Read more

Book Description

Celebrate the 100th birthday of a beloved American classic.

From the moment it appeared in 1900, The Wizard of Oz sparked the imaginations of children and adults alike. The inhabitants of Oz have become an important part of American literary history.

When Dorothy and her little dog Toto are suddenly swept from the plains of Kansas to the land of Oz, they meet up with some of the most endearing characters ever created, as well as one of the worst villains in children's literature. Together, Dorothy and her friends the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion set off on a fantastic journey down the yellow brick road in search of the wonderful Wizard.

To celebrate the hundredth anniversary of the publication of this classic American tale, Michael Hague re-illustrated the jacket, which, along with the book's cover, has been newly designed.The cover is now a three-piece case with gold foil stamps of Oz and the artist's signature on the front. Spot illustrations have been added to the redesigned front and back matter and a photograph of L. Frank Baum is now included, making this a lavish edition just right for gift givers or collectors.
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Reviews (7)

A Must have for any Oz fan!
I bought this book years ago and am looking for another copy as a gift. This edition is the entire MGM script (including the lyrics to the songs) of the 1939 movie and is is wonderfully illustrated with stills from the movie. My family has practically worn out this oversized book and we need another! My husband recently witnessed my daughter's new boyfriend reading along as they watched the movie because he knew we were just fans and he had better catch up! Our families favorite book!

I know this makes me a terrible person....
This book is poorly written. That does not mean it is not a great story--it's just not a great novel. The Wizard of Oz is written in a very conversational style; it often does not flow, as if Baum were pausing to collect his thoughts or remember exactly how he last described the Wicked Witch. I think it is meant to be read aloud to a child or else you are missing something. I feel that the pauses and the stops and starts probably have more impact on a small child trying to fight off sleep with a wonderful tale than they do on a grown woman finally checking The Wizard of Oz off her "Things I Always Wanted to Read" list.
Please don't misunderstand, I enjoyed the story of The Wizard of Oz, and I think everyone should read it, especially those who enjoyed the movie. There is much more to it than the movie, many more adventures, more explanation, and more sarcasm and social criticism. There just isn't much more literary merit.

Beautifully Illustrated Heirloom Edition of The Wizard of Oz
Here's a trivia question for you. When Dorothy killed the Wicked Witch of the West by dropping her house on the witch, was the witch wearing (a) ruby slippers? (b) silver shoes? (c) both?

If you answered "both," you have the correct answer. L. Frank Baum's original story (found in this book) has magical silver shoes in it. The movie version of the story, starring Judy Garland as Dorothy, had ruby slippers. Why the change? Well, ruby slippers film much better. So the Wicked Witch of the West wore both types of footwear, depending on whether you are reading the book or watching the movie.

I share that example with you because 9 people out of 10 have seen the movie, but never read the book. When I was a wee lad, I started in the opposite direction and was sorry to see how much of the Oz story was left out in the movie.

Now, you can make up for lost time by reading or rereading the original. I commend it to you for three primary reasons. First, the book version is built around the idea that the different parts of Oz cannot be easily traversed and the ensuing travel complications make for a better plot. Second, there are many more types of imaginative creatures in the book than in the movie. Third, the book has been lovingly enhanced by new illustrations done in turn of the 20th century style by Michael Hague. The illustrations encompass styles from immediately post van Gogh (yes, there are sunflowers) through Art Deco. I especially liked the water colors of gloomy and darkening skies.

If you are like me, you will chortle when you read L. Frank Baum's comment in the beginning that the story was "written solely to please children . . . a modernized fairy tale, in which the wonderment and joy are retained . . ." while the scary parts are left out. If you remember frightening moments, you are thinking about the movie. The book is much more gentle, which makes it more suitable for the youngsters. Yes, there are frightening villains, but they are quickly dispatched rather than being allowed to hang around to menace and frighten children just before bedtime. Still, children must have been braver in those days. This story is still scary enough for most to feel a deathly chill now and then.

Many of the ambiguities and confusing aspects