"A most readable guide to that land over the rainbow, firmly establishing Baum’s importance to the history of American children’s literature and to the fantasy/folklore tradition. Will inspire renewed appreciation for a great writer's magical vision."—Library Journal
"Sure to be of interest to both ‘old timers’ in the Oz field and to those who are just discovering L. Frank Baum and the fantastic products of his imagination."—Yellowback Library
"Oz fans will feel vindicated as Riley accords Baum proper literary recognition and celebrates his most important achievement."—The Baum Bugle
"An excellent introduction to the work of America’s greatest writer of children’s fantasy, Oz and Beyond is also a remarkable achievement in the criticism of Baum and American popular culture. It breaks new ground and opens up, really for the first time, all sorts of entrancing possibilities for critical dialogue."—Douglass Parker, professor of classics, University of Texas
"This is not, I hope, the last work that places Baum’s Oz books into an account of his entire career, but it is a most welcome first one. Queen Xixi of Ix and The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, marvelous books almost lost to us, are here given the attention they deserve."—Roger Sale, author of Fairy Tales and After: From Snow White to E. B. White
"The best critical analysis of Baum and his contributions to American children’s literature since the publication in 1929 of Edward Wagenknecht’s Utopia Americana. Given that Baum still has a huge readership, the book should also have a large commercial market."—Douglas G. Greene, director, Institute of Humanities, Old Dominion University
"Written with honest respect and great affection for Baum and his achievement. This book is refreshingly free of the humbuggery of much current literary criticism, for Riley has no hidden agenda to promote. He lets the stories speak for themselves. A rewarding guide to Baum and Oz."—Michael Patrick Hearn in the Washington Post Book World
