The Wonderful Wizard of OZ

by Lyman Frank Baum

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is an American children's novel written by author L. Frank Baum and illustrated by W. W. Denslow. It is the first novel in the Oz series of books. A Kansas farm girl named Dorothy ends up in the magical Land of Oz after she and her pet dog Toto are swept away from their home by a tornado. Upon her arrival in Oz, she learns she cannot return home until she has destroyed the Wicked Witch of the West.

The book was first published in the United States in May 1900 by the George M. Hill Company.[4] In January 1901, the publishing company completed printing the first edition, a total of 10,000 copies, which quickly sold out. It had sold three million copies by the time it entered the public domain in 1956. It was often reprinted under the title The Wizard of Oz, which is the title of the successful 1902 Broadway musical adaptation as well as the classic 1939 live-action film.
The ground-breaking success of both the original 1900 novel and the 1902 Broadway musical prompted Baum to write thirteen additional Oz books which serve as official sequels to the first story. Over a century later, the book is one of the best-known stories in American literature, and the Library of Congress has declared the work to be "America's greatest and best-loved homegrown fairytale."

136 pages, Paperback

Published July 30, 2022

About the author

See L. Frank Baum.

Lyman Frank Baum, born on May 15, 1856, in New York, and passed away on May 6, 1919, was an American author, best known for his enduring classic, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz." A man of diverse talents and interests, Baum tried his hand at various professions before finding his true calling in writing. He began his literary career with children's books and then ventured into playwriting and journalism. "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," published in 1900, marked a turning point in Baum's life and American children's literature. This magical tale, rich in imagination and filled with memorable characters, such as Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion, captivated readers worldwide. Baum's vision of a fantastical land, combined with his ability to weave an engaging narrative, cemented his status as a master storyteller. Baum wrote numerous sequels to "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" and several other novels and short stories, often exploring fantasy and fairy tales. His works are celebrated for their creativity, sense of adventure, and the underlying themes of courage, heart, and wisdom. Baum's legacy continues to enchant readers and inspire adaptations in various forms of media, making him an iconic figure in children's literature.

Reviews

[Barbara Pauly · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all time favorite books

[Sandi Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend reading Finding Dorothy then the Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The movie was so different from the book and its a quick read.