The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Sterling Unabridged Classics Series)

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Overview

They're off to read the Wizard--the original, imaginative American tale written by Frank L. Baum just over a century ago. All the beloved characters are here, along with the splendid Emerald City and the heartwarming motto: "There's no place like home."

After a cyclone transports her to the land of Oz, Dorothy must seek out the great Wizard in order to return to Kansas.

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The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

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More About This Book

Overview

They're off to read the Wizard--the original, imaginative American tale written by Frank L. Baum just over a century ago. All the beloved characters are here, along with the splendid Emerald City and the heartwarming motto: "There's no place like home."

After a cyclone transports her to the land of Oz, Dorothy must seek out the great Wizard in order to return to Kansas.

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Editorial Reviews

New York Times Book Review
A revelation. As rich in emotion as they are in detail.
Christian Science Monitor
A delightful volume illustrated with haunting but witty illustrations that provide a fresh, anti-Hollywood interpretation of the story.
Chicago Tribune
Combines substance with style. Ray Bradbury offers a poetic, reverential introduction, and Michael McCurdy contributes appropriately eerie drawings.
Washington Post Book World
Irresistible.
Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly
Viennese illustrator and Hans Christian Andersen Medalist Lisbeth Zwerger takes a fresh look at L. Frank Baum's The Wizard of Oz in a large-format edition. Zwerger's fantastical, delicate, eccentric illustrations bear no resemblance to the vision of the movie; they make the classic tale new again. And readers can view the Emerald City through a pair of green-tinted glasses, provided in the back of the book.
Children's Literature - Marilyn Courtot
After a tornado transports her to the land of OZ, Dorothy must seek out the great wizard in order to return to Kansas. This is a facsimile of the first edition including 24 original color plates and 130 two color illustrations. It is another story that parents can share from their childhood, and it is perfect for reading reading-aloud (a chapter a night).
School Library Journal
Gr 3-6-In a brief endnote, the Viennese illustrator writes of the challenge of bringing something new to this American classic. Indeed, for many, Dorothy and Judy are one and the same, and there are over 20 trade versions of the book in print (not to mention the various pop-ups and other spin-offs). Well, make room for this new edition anyway; it's a beauty. What strikes readers first is the glorious red and sophisticated design of the larger-than-life poppies on the cover. Then it's the sheen of the high-quality paper and the extravagant amount of white space. Zwerger's characters are completely original. Dorothy is diminutive and feminine with straight, cropped hair. The rotund Scarecrow is dressed in an enormous blue overcoat; his gentle visage resembles a snowman's. The Wicked Witch is depicted as a gray-blue "mountain," capped with a small head. She fills the space, and wolves stand at attention on her form. The pages are a tour de force of design, some with a single, small illustrative detail, others with figures racing across two pages. Yet, the artist's style remains subtle: there is much to learn from close inspection of posture, expression, and placement.-Wendy Lukehart, Dauphin County Library, Harrisburg, PA
Kirkus Reviews
Zwerger (illustrator of Theodor Storm's Little Hobbin, 1995, etc.) creates characters who may, if not erase the MGM cast from the collective conscious of US readers, make them share some space therein. These tinkling, wafty creatures are very comfortable in Baumland—the creator did, after all, want this to be a fairy tale where "the heart-aches and nightmares are left out"—particularly the Scarecrow, with his stuffed-pillow head, conical hat, and tremendous girth. Zwerger doesn't try to overwhelm the story, and many of the pieces are small expressive exercises of her vision. In an illustrator's note, she says, "Baum's precise details—his vivid descriptions of the Munchkins, for example—make an illustrator almost superfluous." Actually, her paintings lead readers gracefully into the pages, to be surprised and entertained by the story they only think they know from the movie.
From Barnes & Noble
Faithful to L. Frank Baum's original story, this condensed version, which uses Baum's language, is a highly visual interpretation of the classic American fairy tale--a journey of colors as well as one through lands & adventures. 10" x 13". All ages
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781402725043
  • Publisher: Sterling
  • Publication date: 10/1/2005
  • Series: Sterling Classics Series , #1
  • Pages: 176
  • Sales rank: 228,570
  • Age range: 10 - 12 Years
  • Lexile: 1030L (what's this?)
  • Product dimensions: 6.00 (w) x 8.10 (h) x 0.80 (d)

Meet the Author

L. Frank Baum
Not only is L. Frank Baum’s classic The Wonderful Wizard of Oz one of the most enduring and magical children’s books ever written, it’s also -- with its adventurousness and its lessons of resourcefulness, friendship, courage, and self-reliance -- one of the most American.

Biography

Dorothy, Toto, the Scarecrow, Aunt Em -- where would our national psyche be without The Wonderful Wizard of Oz? L. Frank Baum, who created a story with an indelible, sometimes haunting impression on so many people, led a life that had a fairy-tale quality of its own.

Baum was born in 1856 to a family that had made a fortune in the oil business. Because he had a heart condition, his parents arranged for him to be tutored privately at the family’s Syracuse estate, “Roselawn.” As an adult, though, Baum flourished and failed at a dizzying variety of ventures, from writing plays to a stint with his family’s medicinal oil business (where he produced a potion called “Baum’s Castorine”), to managing a general store, to editing the Aberdeen Pioneer in Aberdeen, South Dakota. In 1897, following his mother-in-law’s advice, Baum wrote down the stories that he told his children. The firm of Way & Williams published the stories under the title Mother Goose in Prose, with illustrations by Maxfield Parrish, and Baum’s career as a writer was launched.

With the publication of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in 1900, Baum gained instant success. The book, lavishly produced and featuring voluptuous illustrations by William Wallace Denslow, was the bestselling children’s book of the year. It also set a new standard for children’s literature. As a commentator for the September 8, 1900 New York Times described it, “The crudeness that was characteristic of the oldtime publications...would now be enough to cause the modern child to yell with rage and vigor...” The reviewer praised the book’s sheer entertainment value (its “bright and joyous atmosphere”) and likened it to The Story of the Three Bears for its enduring value. As the film industry emerged in the following years, few books were as manifestly destined for adaptation, and although it took almost four decades for a movie studio to translate Baum’s vision to film, the 1939 film did for the movies what Baum’s book had done for children’s literature: that is, raised the imaginative and technical bar higher than it had been before.

The loss of parents, the inevitable voyage toward independence, the yearning for home -- in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Baum touched upon a child’s primal experiences while providing a rousing story of adventure. As his health declined, Baum continued the series with 14 more Oz books (his publisher commissioned more by other authors after his death), but none had quite the effect on the reading public that the first one did. Baum died from complications of a stroke in 1919.

Good To Know

Baum founded the National Association of Window Trimmers and published a magazine for the window-trimming trade – he also raised exotic chickens.

Buam was married to Maud Gage, a daughter of the famous women’s rights advocate Matilda Joslyn Gage.

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    1. Also Known As:
      Floyd Akers, Laura Bancroft, George Brooks, Edith Van Dyne, Schuyler Staunton, John Estes Cooke, Suzanne Metcalf, Louis F. Baum, Lyman Frank Baum (full name)
    1. Date of Birth:
      May 15, 1856
    2. Place of Birth:
      Chittenango, New York
    1. Date of Death:
      May 6, 1919
    2. Place of Death:
      Hollywood, California

First Chapter

Chapter 1

Dorothy lived in the midst of the great Kansas prairies, with Uncle Henry, who was a farmer, and Aunt Em, who was the farmer's wife. Their house was small, for the lumber to build it had to be carried by wagon many miles. There were four walls, a floor and a roof, which made one room; and this room contained a rusty looking cooking stove, a cupboard for the dishes, a table, three or four chairs, and the beds. Uncle Henry and Aunt Em had a big bed in one corner, and Dorothy a little bed in another corner. There was no garret at all, and no cellar-except a small hole, dug in the ground, called a cyclone cellar, where the family could go in case one of those great whirlwinds arose, mighty enough to crush any building in its path. It was reached by a trap-door in the middle of the floor, from which a ladder led down into the small, dark hole.

When Dorothy stood in the doorway and looked around, she could see nothing but the great gray prairie on every side. Not a tree nor a house broke the broad sweep of flat country that reached the edge of the sky in all directions. The sun had baked the plowed land into a gray mass, with little cracks running through it. Even the grass was not green, for the sun had burned the tops of the long blades until they were the same gray color to be seen everywhere. Once the house had been painted, but the sun blistered the paint and the rains washed it away, and now the house was as dull and gray as everything else.

When Aunt Em came there to live she was a young, pretty wife. The sun and wind had changed her, too. They had taken the sparkle from her eyes and left them a sober gray; they had taken the red from her cheeksand lips, and they were gray also. She was thin and gaunt, and never smiled, now. When Dorothy, who was an orphan, first came to her, Aunt Em had been so startled by the child's laughter that she would scream and press her hand upon her heart whenever Dorothy's merry voice reached her ears; and she still looked at the little girl with wonder that she could find anything to laugh at.

Uncle Henry never laughed. He worked hard from morning till night and did not know what joy was. He was gray also, from his long beard to his rough boots, and he looked stern and solemn, and rarely spoke.

It was Toto that made Dorothy laugh, and saved her from growing as gray as her other surroundings. Toto was not gray; he was a little black dog, with long, silky hair and small black eyes that twinkled merrily on either side of his funny, wee nose. Toto played all day long, and Dorothy played with him, and loved him dearly.

To-day, however, they were not playing. Uncle Henry sat upon the door-step and looked anxiously at the sky, which was even grayer than usual. Dorothy stood in the door with Toto in her arms, and looked at the sky too. Aunt Em was washing the dishes.

From the far north they heard a low wail of the wind, and Uncle Henry and Dorothy could see where the long grass bowed in waves before the coming storm. There now came a sharp whistling in the air from the south, and as they turned their eyes that way they saw ripples in the grass coming from that direction also.

Suddenly Uncle Henry stood up.

"There's a cyclone coming, Em," he called to his wife; "I'll go look after the stock." Then he ran toward the sheds where the cows and horses were kept.

Aunt Em dropped her work and came to the door. One glance told her of the danger close at hand.

"Quick, Dorothy!" she screamed; "run for the cellar!"

Toto jumped out of Dorothy's arms and hid under the bed, and the girl started to get him. Aunt Em, badly frightened, threw open the trap-door in the floor and climbed down the ladder into the small, dark hole. Dorothy caught Toto at last, and started to follow her aunt. When she was half way across the room there came a great shriek from the wind, and the house shook so hard that she lost her footing and sat down suddenly upon the floor.

A strange thing then happened.

The house whirled around two or three times and rose slowly through the air. Dorothy felt as if she were going up in a balloon.

The north and south winds met where the house stood, and made it the exact center of the cyclone. In the middle of a cyclone the air is generally still, but the great pressure of the wind on every side of the house raised it up higher and higher, until it was at the very top of the cyclone; and there it remained and was carried miles and miles away as easily as you could carry a feather.

It was very dark, and the wind howled horribly around her, but Dorothy found she was riding quite easily. After the first few whirls around, and one other time when the house tipped badly, she felt as if she were being rocked gently, like a baby in a cradle.

Toto did not like it. He ran about the room, now here, now there, barking loudly; but Dorothy sat quite still on the floor and waited to see what would happen.

Once Toto got too near the open trap-door, and fell in; and at first the little girl thought she had lost him. But soon she saw one of his ears sticking up through the hole, for the strong pressure of the air was keeping him up so that he could not fall. She crept to the hole, caught Toto by the ear, and dragged him into the room again; afterward closing the trap-door so that no more accidents could happen.

Hour after hour passed away, and slowly Dorothy got over her fright; but she felt quite lonely, and the wind shrieked so loudly all about her that she nearly became deaf. At first she had wondered if she would be dashed to pieces when the house fell again; but as the hours passed and nothing terrible happened, she stopped worrying and resolved to wait calmly and see what the future would bring. At last she crawled over the swaying floor to her bed, and lay down upon it; and Toto followed and lay down beside her.

In spite of the swaying of the house and the wailing of the wind, Dorothy soon closed her eyes and fell fast asleep.

Chapter 2

She was awakened by a shock, so sudden and severe that if Dorothy had not been lying on the soft bed she might have been hurt. As it was, the jar made her catch her breath and wonder what had happened; and Toto put his cold little nose into her face and whined dismally. Dorothy sat up and noticed that the house was not moving; nor was it dark, for the bright sunshine came in at the window, flooding the little room. She sprang from her bed and with Toto at her heels ran and opened the door.

The little girl gave a cry of amazement and looked about her, her eyes growing bigger and bigger at the wonderful sights she saw.

The cyclone had set the house down, very gently-for a cyclone-in the midst of a country of marvelous beauty. There were lovely patches of green sward all about, with stately trees bearing rich and luscious fruits. Banks of gorgeous flowers were on every hand, and birds with rare and brilliant plumage sang and fluttered in the trees and bushes. A little way off was a small brook, rushing and sparkling along between green banks, and murmuring in a voice very grateful to a little girl who had lived so long on the dry, gray prairies.

While she stood looking eagerly at the strange and beautiful sights, she noticed coming toward her a group of the queerest people she had ever seen. They were not as big as the grown folk she had always been used to; but neither were they very small. In fact, they seemed about as tall as Dorothy, who was a well-grown child for her age, although they were, so far as looks go, many years older.

Three were men and one a woman, and all were oddly dressed. They wore round hats that rose to a small point a foot above their heads, with little bells around the brims that tinkled sweetly as they moved. The hats of the men were blue; the little woman's hat was white, and she wore a white gown that hung in plaits from her shoulders; over it were sprinkled little stars that glistened in the sun like diamonds. The men were dressed in blue, of the same shade as their hats, and wore well polished boots with a deep roll of blue at the tops. The men, Dorothy thought, were about as old as Uncle Henry, for two of them had beards. But the little woman was doubtless much older: her face was covered with wrinkles, her hair was nearly white, and she walked rather stiffly.

When these people drew near the house where Dorothy was standing in the doorway, they paused and whispered among themselves, as if afraid to come farther. But the little old woman walked up to Dorothy, made a low bow and said, in a sweet voice,

"You are welcome, most noble Sorceress, to the land of the Munchkins. We are so grateful to you for having killed the wicked Witch of the East, and for setting our people free from bondage."

Dorothy listened to this speech with wonder. What could the little woman possibly mean by calling her a sorceress, and saying she had killed the wicked Witch of the East? Dorothy was an innocent, harmless little girl, who had been carried by a cyclone many miles from home; and she had never killed anything in all her life.

But the little woman evidently expected her to answer; so Dorothy said, with hesitation,

"You are very kind; but there must be some mistake. I have not killed anything."

"Your house did, anyway," replied the little old woman, with a laugh; "and that is the same thing. See!" she continued, pointing to the corner of the house; "there are her two toes still sticking out from under a block of wood."

Dorothy looked and gave a little cry of fright. There, indeed, just under the corner of the great beam the house rested on, two feet were sticking out, shod in silver shoes with pointed toes.

"Oh, dear! oh, dear!" cried Dorothy, clasping her hands together in dismay; "the house must have fallen on her. What ever shall we do?"

"There is nothing to be done," said the little woman, calmly.

"But who was she?" asked Dorothy.

"She was the wicked Witch of the East, as I said," answered the little woman. "She has held all the Munchkins in bondage for many years, making them slave for her night and day. Now they are all set free, and are grateful to you for the favour."

"Who are the Munchkins?" enquired Dorothy.

"They are the people who live in this land of the East, where the wicked Witch ruled."

"Are you a Munchkin?" asked Dorothy.

"No; but I am their friend, although I live in the land of the North. When they saw the Witch of the East was dead the Munchkins sent a swift messenger to me, and I came at once. I am the Witch of the North."

"Oh, gracious!" cried Dorothy; "are you a real witch?"

"Yes, indeed;" answered the little woman. "But I am a good witch, and the people love me. I am not as powerful as the wicked Witch was who ruled here, or I should have set the people free myself."

"But I thought all witches were wicked," said the girl, who was half frightened at facing a real witch.

"Oh, no; that is a great mistake. There were only four witches in all the Land of Oz, and two of them, those who live in the North and the South, are good witches. I know this is true, for I am one of them myself, and cannot be mistaken. Those who dwelt in the East and the West were, indeed, wicked witches; but now that you have killed one of them, there is but one wicked Witch in all the Land of Oz-the one who lives in the West."

"But," said Dorothy, after a moment's thought, "Aunt Em has told me that the witches were all dead-years and years ago."

"Who is Aunt Em?" inquired the little old woman.

"She is my aunt who lives in Kansas, where I came from."

The Witch of the North seemed to think for a time, with her head bowed and her eyes upon the ground. Then she looked up and said,

"I do not know where Kansas is, for I have never heard that country mentioned before. But tell me, is it a civilized country?"

"Oh, yes;" replied Dorothy.

"Then that accounts for it. In the civilized countries I believe there are no witches left; nor wizards, nor sorceresses, nor magicians. But, you see, the Land of Oz has never been civilized, for we are cut off from all the rest of the world. Therefore we still have witches and wizards amongst us."

"Who are the Wizards?" asked Dorothy.

"Oz himself is the Great Wizard," answered the Witch, sinking her voice to a whisper. "He is more powerful than all the rest of us together. He lives in the City of Emeralds."

Dorothy was going to ask another question, but just then the Munchkins, who had been standing silently by, gave a loud shout and pointed to the corner of the house where the Wicked Witch had been lying.

"What is it?" asked the little old woman; and looked, and began to laugh. The feet of the dead Witch had disappeared entirely and nothing was left but the silver shoes.

"She was so old," explained the Witch of the North, "that she dried up quickly in the sun. That is the end of her. But the silver shoes are yours, and you shall have them to wear." She reached down and picked up the shoes, and after shaking the dust out of them handed them to Dorothy.

"The Witch of the East was proud of those silver shoes," said one of the Munchkins; "and there is some charm connected with them; but what it is we never knew."

Dorothy carried the shoes into the house and placed them on the table. Then she came out again to the Munchkins and said,

"I am anxious to get back to my Aunt and Uncle, for I am sure they will worry about me. Can you help me find my way?"

The Munchkins and the Witch first looked at one another, and then at Dorothy, and then shook their heads.

"At the East, not far from here," said one, "there is a great desert, and none could live to cross it."
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Reading Group Guide

L. Frank Baum's timeless classic The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was the first uniquely American fairy tale. A combination of enchanting fantasy and piercing social commentary, this remarkable story has entertained and beguiled readers of all ages since it was first published in 1900. Ray Bradbury writes in his Introduction, "Both [Baum and Shakespeare] lived inside their heads with a mind gone wild with wanting, wishing, hoping, shaping, dreaming," and it is this same hunger that makes all of us continue to seek out the story of Oz—and be nourished by it.
This Modern Library Paperback Classic is set from the text of the definitive first edition and includes the New York Times review of that edition as well as the original Preface by the author.

1. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was first published in 1900 and met with both commercial and critical success. It continues to be a favorite, and the story has been translated to the stage and film numerous times. What do you think makes this tale so appealing, so timeless, and so easily adapted to other media?

2. What roles do money and capitalism play in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz? What is valued in the land of Oz as opposed to what is valued in the real world?

3. In addition to being a writer, L. Frank Baum was an actor and playwright. Does theatricality play a role in this book? How? What role does illlusion play in the story?

4. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is said to be the first American fairy tale, and L. Frank Baum had indeed aspired to write a fairy tale that was different from the older, mostly European ones. How is this story the same as or different from, forexample, those by the Brothers Grimm? Is it particularly American? If so, in what way(s)? What makes it unique?

5. One of the things that L. Frank Baum did not like about traditional fairy tales was the didactic way in which they taught
morals and values. Does his story express any particular values or moral lessons? If so, how does he communicate them?

6. Though this story has had a timeless appeal, is there anything time-bounded or dated about it? Are there aspects of the story, characters, style, or setting that decrease the accessibility or appeal of the book for a modern audience?

7. William Wallace Denslow's illustrations have been an essential part of this book since its first publication. In some cases, these illustrations anticipate the action in the text. What effect do the illustrations have on your reading of the story?

8. The Scarecrow yearns for a brain, but in reality he is the most intelligent of the small group in which Dorothy travels. Is this irony present elsewhere in the story? If so, what do you suppose Baum's purpose is in using this device?

9. Baum has been praised for his ability to include psychological and philosophical insight in a fantastical children's story. In what ways is this story psychologically and/or philosophically insightful or sophisticated?

10. Analyze the character of the Wizard. Why does he behave the way he does? Is his behavior excusable or not? He tells Dorothy that he is a good man but a bad wizard. Do you agree?

11. What is the significance of the delicate people in the Dainty China Country? What is Baum saying about beauty and/or about sensitivity in this chapter?

12. In his Preface to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Baum says that he aimed to create a tale in which "wonderment and joy are retained and the heart-aches and nightmares are left out." Would you say he succeeded? Do you think that this type of optimism and pure entertainment are valuable? Why or why not?

13. Are there ways in which the characters and political dynamics in Oz could be likened to real-life people and political dynamics during Baum's time? How about during our time?

14. Why do you think Baum wrote this story when he did? Was there anything going on in the world at that time that might have led him to want to write a pure fairy tale?

15. What are the power dynamics in Oz? Who has power and who lacks it? How does one gain and lose power in Oz?

16. Baum's mother-in-law was a feminist and a suffragette. Do you think the ideals of feminism influenced Baum's writing of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz? In particular, how would you view Dorothy and the witches in a feminist context?

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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 581 )
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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 583 Customer Reviews

  • Posted November 17, 2011

    I Also Recommend:

    Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz [Illustrated]
    The Marvelous Land of Oz [Illustrated]
    The Wonderful Wizard of Oz [Illustrated]
    Ozma of Oz [illustrated]

    Eltanin Publishing version is the one to get

    I used to "buy" the free versions of all the classics, including the Wizard of Oz series. But the free versions don't have the illustrations. I didn't know what I was missing. But then I started looking at some of the Oz ebooks that do have the original illustrations. Some are terrible quality - only some of the images are included or they are really small or grainy. I'm so happy I stumbled upon Eltanin Publishing's series. They have done the first 4 books of the series so far. But something is wrong with the reviews - my reviews and others are showing up under other versions of the books. So make sure you find the Eltanin Publishing versions. They have ALL the images and they look great. I just search on "Eltanin Publishing" to find them.

    35 out of 38 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted January 19, 2007

    Allegory Makes for a Good Story

    I have always loved the Wizard of Oz, it was probably the first live action film I ever saw and has greatly affected my life, fostering my love of musicals into something more than Disney ever could. I thought it was the greatest thing ever. Then I read the book when I was seven, I had just discovered it in my Grandfather's attic, and I decided that the book was by far superior. The story was longer, there was backstory, and it didn't have the weak, 'It was all a dream' ending, which I had always found disappointing. My love of the book was reaffirmed last year in my U. S. History class when the allegory of the novel was discussed in a featured essay, relating it to the argument between the gold and silver standard of the late 1800s. I highly recommend this book to anyone, but especially children with imaginations that need space to grow.

    11 out of 16 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted December 6, 2004

    Bringing Back a Childhood Classic

    Since I was a child, my favorite movie has always been The Wizard of Oz. I can remember having the entire collection of plastic Oz characters, a Wizard of Oz lunch box, sleeping bag, and of course the famous back pack. I dressed up as Dorothy at least twice for Halloween and forced my dog along the way acting as Toto. But something I had never realized was that I never read the book. Recently comming across the opportunity to do so, I find the book just as amazing as the movie--if not better. Although I couldn't seem to get the image of Judy Garland out of my mind, I found that Dorothy is more adventureous than ever in Baum's novel. By reading The Wizard of Oz readers find out that the Land of Oz is even more fantastic than portrayed in the film version. Dorothy and company befriend a Queen of Mice, a China Princess, and even the King of the Flying Monkeys. Reading Baum's novel made me realize the wonders of being a child and visioning the fantastic voyage of Dorothy; however, the novel also made me realize that The Wizard of Oz is not only for children, but for adults as well. Reading this novel gives adults a chace to escape from the chaos of everyday life and enter a world full of wonder and excitement (not to mention the chance to revisit childhood). Baum's novel reminds us the of meaning of friendship, courage, love, and most of all that 'there is no place like home.' I recommend readers of all ages to revisit this timeless classic and enter into the Wonderful World of Oz.

    7 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted November 13, 2008

    I Also Recommend:

    Wicked/Son of a Witch (Barnes & Noble Leatherbound Classics)
    A Lion among Men (Wicked Years Series #3)

    Wonderful

    I have seen the original movie, the Sci-fi channel sequel and the 80's anime cartoons but never actually read the book. After reading Wicked, Son of a witch and a Lion among men I wanted to read a little more about the original work that these stories were based on. I took my time in purchasing the right copy for me because there are many version of this story and I wanted to get the closest thing to the original. I was so pleased when I found this version and when I sat home and read it I was even more pleased to find that for a "child's" book it was actually gripping. The illustrations are also wonderfully done and they help to visualize the story very effectively.

    4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 15, 2001

    We're Off to Read the Wizard!

    Can you imagine that during World War II, two Australian brigades in North Africa actually marched into battle singing, 'We're off to see the Wizard/The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'? This just goes to show the appeal The Wonderful Wizard of Oz has, not only to children, but also to those special adults young in spirit. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a fantasy written by L. Frank Baum. It tells the story of Dorothy, a young farm girl from Kansas who is carried away by a cyclone to a strange land called Oz. In order to return home, she must travel to its capital, Emerald City, and ask the assistance of the Wizard of Oz. On her journey along the Yellow Brick Road, she meets three companions, a tin woodman, a talking scarecrow, and a cowardly lion with whom she has a series of adventures. Each has their own quest and individual wishes to fulfill. Upon reaching the Emerald City, Oz promises to fulfill their wishes if one of them first kills the Wicked Witch of the West. In my opinion, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz teaches, in a most entertaining way, a valuable lesson to all its readers - look no further for happiness than within yourself. Obviously, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a book worth reading. In addition to its entertainment value, it also inspires its readers to be happy with what they already possess. The characters in the story, Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion desperately desired things that they thought would make them happy, when in reality, they already possessed those things. True happiness has to come from within and the search for happiness should always begin there. This a valuable lesson for us all.

    3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 9, 2013

    Wow

    Im ten and my mom got me this book its great!!! Its pictures are beautiful and I can't stop reading! Finished it in a day highly recomend it ( :

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 14, 2008

    Awesome book!!

    The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum is an exciting fantasy book. At some times it left me on the edge of my seat. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is mostly about the obstacles Dorothy endures to get back to Kansas to see her Aunt Em. I think the reason L. Frank Baum wrote this book was to show that Dorothy would do anything to see the people she loves. Things happen for a purpose, and if they didn¿t, you could miss out on a journey of a lifetime. In this riveting book there are various settings. In the beginning of the book Dorothy is in Kansas, living with her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry. When L. Frank Baum describes it, Kansas seems like a very dry and boring place to live. That lead me to think Dorothy really loves her Aunt and Uncle, because she doesn¿t care where she lived, as long as she¿s with them. After a terrible tornado that sends their house spinning in the air, Dorothy was in Munchkin Land. She meet three small munchkins. The good witch of Munchkin Land tells her the Great Oz of Emerald City may be able to help her get back to wherever she¿s from. Dorothy makes her way down the yellow brick road. Surprisingly, a scarecrow talks to her. Dorothy invites him to go on the journey with her and her little dog, Toto. The scarecrow is in search of brains, and thinks that without brains he is miniscule in his society and only exists to scare pesky crows. As Dorothy, Toto and scarecrow continue down the road they see a rusty Tin Man holding an ax in midair as if frozen. After some mumbling, Dorothy grabs an oil can and lubricates it¿s limbs until it can move again. The Tin Man says he would like a heart because he is made of tin. As they carry on with their pursuit to see the Wizard of Oz, a monstrous lion tries to hurt little Toto. This is because he is a coward and scares innocent creatures to make himself look tough. The lion is in search of bravery. Dorothy then invites him to go with them to the land of Oz. All of them in need of something from the Great Oz, they start their journey. They undergo many obstacles on their journey to the great and wonderful Oz, but somehow got through by using the materials they have. `¿How shall we cross the river?¿ asked Dorothy. ¿That is easily done,¿ replied the Scarecrow. ¿The Tin Woodman must build us a raft, so we can float to the other side.¿¿ This shows each of the characters has something special in their group that will help them get through rough patches. Each of the characters pitch in. I think the description of the settings were very helpful when I was trying to create a mental picture of the scenario. ¿To their great joy the trees became thinner the further they advanced, and in the afternoon they suddenly came upon a broad river, flowing swiftly just before them. On the other side of the water they could see the road of yellow brick running through a beautiful country, with green meadows dotted with bright flowers and all the road bordered with trees hanging full of delicious fruits.¿ The paragraph above just demonstrated the sort of details of setting, which is scattered throughout the book. When Dorothy, scarecrow, Tin Man, Lion and little Toto get the The Emerald City of Oz, they each have to go in on different days. Although Oz tells them all the same thing. What is it? Well you¿re going to have to read the book to find out! I think that the book was very violent, more violent than I was expecting. For example: there were a lot of beheadings due to the Tin Man. That¿s sending a message to children that to solve problems, they can hurt things and the problem is solved....no problem. Children don¿t realize there are consequences to their actions. Although I don¿t like comparing books to movies, the movie is so much different from the book. The movie just has the story outline but not the juicy and exciting parts. There was so much more in the book than the movie. I was so glad I read The Wonderful Wizard of Oz because I never had known what actually ha

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted June 28, 2001

    Wonderful Indeed!

    The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a classic fairytale which helps you escape from the stress and trouble of reality. This book tells the story of Dorothy, who is carried away from her aunt and uncle in Kansas by a cyclone and thrown into the magical world of Oz, along with her dog Toto. The adventure and magic begin as soon as Dorothy arrives. For she is greeted by the munchkins and a good witch, only to find that she has killed a wicked witch and gains possession of her silver shoes, which the munchkins say have an unknown charm to them. Before sending them off Dorothy receives a kiss from the good witch and is then sent on a journey along the Yellow Brick Road to see the great wizard in the Emerald City. Fortunately, Dorothy and Toto are not alone on their journey. Along the way they gain companions who also wish to see the wizard. There is the scarecrow- he wants a brain, the tin woodsman- who wants a heart, and the cowardly lion- who wants some courage. Together they continue their adventures and face many strange things and impediments. Using their strengths they are able to pass most of the challenges both quickly and easily. Just when you think the story has come to its end, Baum ingeniously puts a spin on the story when they go into the Emerald City. The companions discover a terrible truth about the wizard which leads them into additional escapades and formidable tasks which set them back from reaching their goal. These struggles include wicked witches, flying monkeys, trees that attack when you go to near and many other bizarre creatures. Aside from the troubles that arise the companions meet many nice creatures and make many friends, such as the Winkies and the people of Emerald City. However, there is more to this story than just strange creatures and adventure. There are many hidden themes in the story including the importance of self- esteem and self- reliance. The themes are concealed behind the brain, heart and courage that the scarecrow, tin woodsman, and lion seek, but obviously already possess. Even Dorothy finds that she has to rely on herself to find her way home. Through this exciting adventure you may find yourself lost in the magical world of Oz. This enchanting story unmistakably has universal appeal which makes it a true classic. Baum did a wonderful job of creating such an imaginative book that leaves you wanting more.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted March 7, 2013

    Ggh

    It was super short and i thought it was the whole book it has 18 pages dont by it its cheap because theres nothing to really read

    1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 22, 2013

    Best book ever

    It is a really good book and it shows a lot of details and is one of my favorites just like Alice in wnderland!

    1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted January 25, 2013

    Adults of my age waited every year for this to come on TV. It was a big event. It's so nice to have a copy of the book.

    This is one of many Leatherbound Classics that I have purchased and it like the others does not disappoint. Beautiful leather cover makes this classic tale even more appealing.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 10, 2013

    Sucks

    Do not read

    1 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 10, 2012

    Awesome must read !!

    Good book Its way better than the movie

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 6, 2012

    Wonderful, Amazing

    This book is awesome and a good classic for kids

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted August 31, 2011

    Luv u

    It is great

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted August 20, 2011

    Ehh

    I liked it but it needed more deatails to pull the reader in very disapointed movie is better

    1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 20, 2010

    Great book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    The story is a classic and touching especially the scene with the wizard about how we are all amazing as long as we believe in ourselves its a book you'll want your children to read and pass down to there children. Though the story is over 100 years old it hasn't aged at all. Great for rainy days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted July 2, 2009

    more from this reviewer

    The book is a classic children story and a fascination to read, especially because of all the discrepancies from the classic Judy Garland movie.

    L. Frank Baum's classic tale is 100 years old. I had the pleasure of reading the original version.

    Just like in the classic movie, Dorothy is blown to Oz by a tornado from with the farmhouse where she lived in Kansas with her aunt and uncle. The house lands in Munchkiland and kills the Wicked Witch of the West.

    After realizing what has happened, Dorothy is met by the good with of the north who tells her that Dorothy should go to Emerald City to ask the great wizard to send her back to Kansas. Dorothy likes the SILVER shoes that the Wicked Witch of the West was wearing and she starts wearing them. For her safety, the good witch of the north gives Dorothy a kiss which marks her for protection.

    Dorothy starts following the yellow brick road and meets the scarecrow. After putting him down from the stick he was placed, the scarecrow befriends Dorothy and decides to accompany her to Emerald City to see if he can get a brain.

    Later they meet the Tin Man who was corroded while trying to cut a tree. After oiling him back, the Tin man tells Dorothy of his predicament. He was originally human but kept losing body parts which were replaced by tin. Finally he lost his chest and he was not able to get a heart in the replacement so he stopped loving. he wishes to accompany them to see if he can get his heart back.

    Next the meet the lion, who is looking for courage. He also joins the group.

    When they are in the poppy fields, Dorothy and Toto are carried by the Tin Man and the Scarecrow to safety, but the Lions falls asleep. They think they have lost him, until Dorothy rescues the Queen of the rats, who commands an army of rats to pull the lion from the poppy field in a cart that Tin Man makes, while Tin Man and Scarecrow push from behind.

    As they get to Oz, they are admitted to the city and made to wear green goggles.

    Oz grants each one of the a separate audition and presents himself in different shapes to all four but asking the same thing from each--in order to grant their wish they must kill the wicked with of the west.

    They set west for the adventure. The wicked witch of the West has only one eye, but can see everything in her land. When she sees the silver shoes she wants to kill all but Dorothy to get the shoes.

    She first send a pack of wolves to do the job, but the tin man kills them all with his ax. The she send a pack of crows to get them, but the Scarecrow scares them and one by one dismember them.

    After she sends her killer bees, but they hide Dorothy and the Tin Man takes on all the bees which die as they sting him.

    Then she send the Winkies, her slaves, and the Lion this time is the hero by roaring so loud that they all run away.

    Finally the witch gets her Golden Cap which had one more wish to ask from the flying monkeys. They capture all the gang, but the witch is scared of Dorothy because of the good witch's kiss and the shoes.

    The wicked witch tricks Dorothy to lose a shoe, but Dorothy gets mad and throws a pot with the dinner at the witch. The water in the pot melts the witch.

    I will say no more, but the book is so different from the book that it takes almost as long to finish the story, where each character finds where they want to live in Oz and Dorothy returns to Kansas.

    The book is a classic children story and a fascination to read, especially because of all the discrepancies from the classic Judy Garland movie.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted March 30, 2006

    BEST BOOK EVER!

    You should get this if you can! From this book it's the best I've ever read! It's about Dorthy Gets sucked in a tornado and lands in a bueatiful land and meets friends on the way And much much more!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted June 14, 2013

    No

    This is not illistrated like it said

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