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Oz #4-6
Oz, the Complete Collection, Volume 2: Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz / The Road to Oz / The Emerald City of Oz
Delve deeper into the world of Oz in this collection of books four through six in L. Frank Baum’s classic American fairy tale series.
The fourth, fifth, and sixth titles of the iconic Oz series, now in one collection!
In Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz, Dorothy and the Wizard visit the center of the Earth, where people are vegetables, glass houses grow, and Oz characters reappear. Eventually they return to the Emerald City—but will they stay?
In The Road to Oz, Dorothy sets out on another adventure with some new friends like the Shaggy Man, Button-Bright, and Polychrome, and some old ones like the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman. Will they reach the Emerald City in time for Ozma’s birthday?
In The Emerald City of Oz, Dorothy, her Uncle Henry, and Aunt Em are going to live in the Emerald City. They set out of explore the land of Oz with the help of Dorothy’s friends, but must rush home again when they discover that the Nome King is busy gathering an army for an invasion of Oz. Will they be able to stop the invasion?
The fourth, fifth, and sixth titles of the iconic Oz series, now in one collection!
In Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz, Dorothy and the Wizard visit the center of the Earth, where people are vegetables, glass houses grow, and Oz characters reappear. Eventually they return to the Emerald City—but will they stay?
In The Road to Oz, Dorothy sets out on another adventure with some new friends like the Shaggy Man, Button-Bright, and Polychrome, and some old ones like the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman. Will they reach the Emerald City in time for Ozma’s birthday?
In The Emerald City of Oz, Dorothy, her Uncle Henry, and Aunt Em are going to live in the Emerald City. They set out of explore the land of Oz with the help of Dorothy’s friends, but must rush home again when they discover that the Nome King is busy gathering an army for an invasion of Oz. Will they be able to stop the invasion?
641 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1910
54 people are currently reading
949 people want to read
About the author
L. Frank Baum
3,299 books2,789 followersalso wrote under the names:
* Edith van Dyne,
* Floyd Akers,
* Schuyler Staunton,
* John Estes Cooke,
* Suzanne Metcalf,
* Laura Bancroft,
* Louis F. Baum,
* Captain Hugh Fitzgerald
Lyman Frank Baum was an American author best known for his children's fantasy books, particularly The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, part of a series. In addition to the 14 Oz books, Baum penned 41 other novels (not including four lost, unpublished novels), 83 short stories, over 200 poems, and at least 42 scripts. He made numerous attempts to bring his works to the stage and screen; the 1939 adaptation of the first Oz book became a landmark of 20th-century cinema.
Born and raised in Chittenango, New York, Baum moved west after an unsuccessful stint as a theater producer and playwright. He and his wife opened a store in South Dakota and he edited and published a newspaper. They then moved to Chicago, where he worked as a newspaper reporter and published children's literature, coming out with the first Oz book in 1900. While continuing his writing, among his final projects he sought to establish a film studio focused on children's films in Los Angeles, California.
His works anticipated such later commonplaces as television, augmented reality, laptop computers (The Master Key), wireless telephones (Tik-Tok of Oz), women in high-risk and action-heavy occupations (Mary Louise in the Country), and the ubiquity of advertising on clothing (Aunt Jane's Nieces at Work).
* Edith van Dyne,
* Floyd Akers,
* Schuyler Staunton,
* John Estes Cooke,
* Suzanne Metcalf,
* Laura Bancroft,
* Louis F. Baum,
* Captain Hugh Fitzgerald
Lyman Frank Baum was an American author best known for his children's fantasy books, particularly The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, part of a series. In addition to the 14 Oz books, Baum penned 41 other novels (not including four lost, unpublished novels), 83 short stories, over 200 poems, and at least 42 scripts. He made numerous attempts to bring his works to the stage and screen; the 1939 adaptation of the first Oz book became a landmark of 20th-century cinema.
Born and raised in Chittenango, New York, Baum moved west after an unsuccessful stint as a theater producer and playwright. He and his wife opened a store in South Dakota and he edited and published a newspaper. They then moved to Chicago, where he worked as a newspaper reporter and published children's literature, coming out with the first Oz book in 1900. While continuing his writing, among his final projects he sought to establish a film studio focused on children's films in Los Angeles, California.
His works anticipated such later commonplaces as television, augmented reality, laptop computers (The Master Key), wireless telephones (Tik-Tok of Oz), women in high-risk and action-heavy occupations (Mary Louise in the Country), and the ubiquity of advertising on clothing (Aunt Jane's Nieces at Work).
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 62 reviews
February 17, 2023
If you're a fan of the 1939 classic film, "Wizard of Oz," the original story may seem slightly unfamiliar. Because Hollywood embellished Baum's book freely. Which is fine. A literal rendering would have flopped completely.
As it turns out, Baum wasn't a great writer. Unless you're somewhere in the 3- to 7-year-old range. The Oz stories are silly and fantastical. They're also inconsistent and contradictory in places. But there's one thing I have to say for Baums books...
They're perfect for bedtime stories. Most chapters are long enough to count as "reading a story." But not so long it's a chore. And if your little one(s) demand a second chapter, it's not too big a deal.
I'm about 2/3 through the collection. So far, the pace of Baum's stories is fast enough to keep a young child's interest. But even the scariest moments shouldn't overwhelm a 3- or 4-year-old. These stories hold nothing even close to the menace of Margaret Hamilton's Wicked Witch of the West.
As an adult, I appreciate the insights in the series. For instance, I now understand many of the references in Disney's "Return to Oz," and Amazon Prime's "Lost in Oz" - both of which relied to varying degrees to Baum's later books.
The stories - as silly as they sometimes are - also hold a certain old-fashioned charm. They were written at a time when kindness, honesty, and humility were prized. So the stories tend to reflect this. Not a bad set of values to encourage in your little one(s).
These books can't compete with "The Wolves of Willoughby Chase," "Matilda," or some other children's classics. But they have their place. And, as I write this (late summer 2020), a little silly escapism may be just what your younger child - and even you - could use.
As it turns out, Baum wasn't a great writer. Unless you're somewhere in the 3- to 7-year-old range. The Oz stories are silly and fantastical. They're also inconsistent and contradictory in places. But there's one thing I have to say for Baums books...
They're perfect for bedtime stories. Most chapters are long enough to count as "reading a story." But not so long it's a chore. And if your little one(s) demand a second chapter, it's not too big a deal.
I'm about 2/3 through the collection. So far, the pace of Baum's stories is fast enough to keep a young child's interest. But even the scariest moments shouldn't overwhelm a 3- or 4-year-old. These stories hold nothing even close to the menace of Margaret Hamilton's Wicked Witch of the West.
As an adult, I appreciate the insights in the series. For instance, I now understand many of the references in Disney's "Return to Oz," and Amazon Prime's "Lost in Oz" - both of which relied to varying degrees to Baum's later books.
The stories - as silly as they sometimes are - also hold a certain old-fashioned charm. They were written at a time when kindness, honesty, and humility were prized. So the stories tend to reflect this. Not a bad set of values to encourage in your little one(s).
These books can't compete with "The Wolves of Willoughby Chase," "Matilda," or some other children's classics. But they have their place. And, as I write this (late summer 2020), a little silly escapism may be just what your younger child - and even you - could use.
July 18, 2013
2.5 stars
-Not quite as enjoyable as the first volume, but that was probably because all the stories were so predictable and similar to one another.
-The most enjoyable aspect was the lovely worldbuilding, especially all the various people/species of Oz - they were all pretty entertaining.
-Dorothy turned into a cow. She was fine before but she suddenly changed into an insufferable bint. She was calling everyone stupid and acting like a know-it-all, she was just so annoying.
-What happened to Dorothy's dialogue? She was quite well spoken in the previous volume but she sounded like a hillbilly in this one.
-I liked the crazy/evul vegetables. I was really hoping they'd kill of Dorothy and co. But no such luck.
-I liked that Dorothy and her aunt/uncle permanently moved to Oz. It was about bloody time.
-Ozma's birthday celebration was quite fun to read about.
-The Wizard was kind of lame.
-The Nome king was lame.
-Ozma was lame.
-The Scarecrow, Tinman, and Shaggy man were lame.
-Button-Bright, Toto, and the Hen were great.
All in all, it was quite entertaining. I'm kind of sick of Dorothy though — she just gets on my nerves. I'm not sure if I'll bother reading any of the other Oz books because they're all the same sort of story.
-Not quite as enjoyable as the first volume, but that was probably because all the stories were so predictable and similar to one another.
-The most enjoyable aspect was the lovely worldbuilding, especially all the various people/species of Oz - they were all pretty entertaining.
-Dorothy turned into a cow. She was fine before but she suddenly changed into an insufferable bint. She was calling everyone stupid and acting like a know-it-all, she was just so annoying.
-What happened to Dorothy's dialogue? She was quite well spoken in the previous volume but she sounded like a hillbilly in this one.
-I liked the crazy/evul vegetables. I was really hoping they'd kill of Dorothy and co. But no such luck.
-I liked that Dorothy and her aunt/uncle permanently moved to Oz. It was about bloody time.
-Ozma's birthday celebration was quite fun to read about.
-The Wizard was kind of lame.
-The Nome king was lame.
-Ozma was lame.
-The Scarecrow, Tinman, and Shaggy man were lame.
-Button-Bright, Toto, and the Hen were great.
All in all, it was quite entertaining. I'm kind of sick of Dorothy though — she just gets on my nerves. I'm not sure if I'll bother reading any of the other Oz books because they're all the same sort of story.
July 10, 2020
Check out my individual reviews on each book's main page!
July 10, 2020
Check out my individual reviews on each book's main page!
Currently reading
July 16, 2025"Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz" - 3,5/5
This book was a bit all over the place with way too many adventures happening in the first 2/3 and then ending with a trial to the poor kitten that got weirdly so much hate. The adventures were a lot of fun, Dorothy being freaking savage is an absolute highlight, but it was too much one after the other and unfocused. The reunion with old friends was cute though, I really like the Tin Man and the Scarecrow, they are a delight.
This book was a bit all over the place with way too many adventures happening in the first 2/3 and then ending with a trial to the poor kitten that got weirdly so much hate. The adventures were a lot of fun, Dorothy being freaking savage is an absolute highlight, but it was too much one after the other and unfocused. The reunion with old friends was cute though, I really like the Tin Man and the Scarecrow, they are a delight.
September 18, 2021
What I enjoy most about all of these Oz books is the world-building -- just WILD -- and I'm not going to commit any spoilers. I also love the wordplay. Please do yourself a favor and read all of the Oz books. Seriously!
April 12, 2017
Dorothy & the Wizard in Oz ★★★★☆
Loved this Oz adventure, mainly due to the appearance of the 9 tiny piglets which were not in enough scenes at all! Other parts I enjoyed were the silly vegetable people, the Dragonettes (I really hope I'll meet them again in future books) and the creepy invisible bears. Zeb seemed kind of unnecessary as he stayed very pale throughout the book. And I didn't like the stupid kitten of course because she kept wanting to eat the tiny piglets. Come to me mouse-sized, precious piggies and let me take care of you forever ♥
The Road to Oz ★★✯☆☆
This adventure was pretty boring, very similar to the previous book but with less fun characters. I didn't care for the Shaggy Man or Button-Bright (and we didn't even figure out where he came from even though Santa Clause knew!). I did like Polychrome but she didn't get much spotlight. The only fun thing was the cross-over from Santa Clause and his little helpers whom I've gotten to know in Baum's other book The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus. Oh, and my beloved piglets were mentioned briefly!
The Emerald City of Oz ★★★★☆
Much better than the previous book! This one had a serious threat with the attack of the Nome King and it explored lots of new places and people in Oz. My favourite was Utensia (a place full of living cutlery and tableware) and Bunbury (where everyone and everything is made of bread, pastry, cake etc.) because their citizens constantly talked in puns.
I didn't like how much of a plot hole the magic belt is. It can fulfill any wish, so why not just wish the attackers away from the get-go? Also, the end – in which Oz is sealed off from the outside completely – left a bad taste in my mouth. I get that they want to be safe and keep Oz a happy place but it feels mean and elitist to shut yourself off from other countries so completely.
Loved this Oz adventure, mainly due to the appearance of the 9 tiny piglets which were not in enough scenes at all! Other parts I enjoyed were the silly vegetable people, the Dragonettes (I really hope I'll meet them again in future books) and the creepy invisible bears. Zeb seemed kind of unnecessary as he stayed very pale throughout the book. And I didn't like the stupid kitten of course because she kept wanting to eat the tiny piglets. Come to me mouse-sized, precious piggies and let me take care of you forever ♥
The Road to Oz ★★✯☆☆
This adventure was pretty boring, very similar to the previous book but with less fun characters. I didn't care for the Shaggy Man or Button-Bright (and we didn't even figure out where he came from even though Santa Clause knew!). I did like Polychrome but she didn't get much spotlight. The only fun thing was the cross-over from Santa Clause and his little helpers whom I've gotten to know in Baum's other book The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus. Oh, and my beloved piglets were mentioned briefly!
The Emerald City of Oz ★★★★☆
Much better than the previous book! This one had a serious threat with the attack of the Nome King and it explored lots of new places and people in Oz. My favourite was Utensia (a place full of living cutlery and tableware) and Bunbury (where everyone and everything is made of bread, pastry, cake etc.) because their citizens constantly talked in puns.
I didn't like how much of a plot hole the magic belt is. It can fulfill any wish, so why not just wish the attackers away from the get-go? Also, the end – in which Oz is sealed off from the outside completely – left a bad taste in my mouth. I get that they want to be safe and keep Oz a happy place but it feels mean and elitist to shut yourself off from other countries so completely.
August 16, 2015
Two stars might seem low, but these books really are okay. Personally, I'm not a fan of reading children's fiction as an adult, so my enjoyment level of this series began to wane after the fifth book (this collection comprises books 3-6). If you are looking for a fun, fantastical children's series, this is definitely one to try, but just beware that things get repetitive after so many stories.
July 10, 2020
Check out my reviews on the main page of each book.
July 10, 2020
Check out my reviews on the main page of each book.
July 10, 2020
Check out my individual reviews on each book's main page!
March 25, 2020
This was an awesome book! I love how there are different plot twists in the book because it is not all based off of the original story.
November 27, 2021
Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz: 4.5 stars
The Road to Oz: 3 stars
The Emerald City of Oz: 2.5 stars
The Road to Oz: 3 stars
The Emerald City of Oz: 2.5 stars
October 17, 2016
Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz: 2.5 stars.
It's not that I didn't like this story but I personally just had a really hard time getting through it. I don't know why. Maybe because so much of this book is not actually spent in Oz itself and rather various other lands beneath the Earth's surface. Once I got to Oz, however, I felt i enjoyed it a lot more. I am sad to have to rate this less than 3 stars but I just can't.
The Road to Oz: 3 stars.
Just a straight 3 stars for this one. I liked it, and it was easier to get into than the previous one. But I can't rate it higher than this because there's just too many things that contradict the previous books. Why couldn't Dorothy just signal Ozma like she did in 'Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz'? That would have shortened the journey and the book, yes, but she did it then, so why not now? Also, why can't Toto talk in the land of Oz when characters such as Billina and Eureka, who were normal animals, could talk once they entered the land of Oz? And what happened to the glasses that everyone had to wear when they entered the Emerald City? 'The Road to Oz' was a nice story with fresh characters as well as the return of old ones, but even though I liked it I can't give it more than 3 stars because of all the contradictions.
The Emerald City of Oz: 3 stars.
It was okay, and I liked it, but sometimes I was really into it and sometimes I could barely get through a page. That's why I'm giving this story 3 stars.
It sounds like I'm completely hating the series. I'm not. It's really creative and I really like the fact that at the beginning of each story, L Frank Baum writes a little letter to his readers saying that they requested more stories and sent him ideas which he used to write these stories. So really these books are written by L Frank Baum and his readers. And I love that. I just think that I'm maybe a little too old for the series.
It's not that I didn't like this story but I personally just had a really hard time getting through it. I don't know why. Maybe because so much of this book is not actually spent in Oz itself and rather various other lands beneath the Earth's surface. Once I got to Oz, however, I felt i enjoyed it a lot more. I am sad to have to rate this less than 3 stars but I just can't.
The Road to Oz: 3 stars.
Just a straight 3 stars for this one. I liked it, and it was easier to get into than the previous one. But I can't rate it higher than this because there's just too many things that contradict the previous books. Why couldn't Dorothy just signal Ozma like she did in 'Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz'? That would have shortened the journey and the book, yes, but she did it then, so why not now? Also, why can't Toto talk in the land of Oz when characters such as Billina and Eureka, who were normal animals, could talk once they entered the land of Oz? And what happened to the glasses that everyone had to wear when they entered the Emerald City? 'The Road to Oz' was a nice story with fresh characters as well as the return of old ones, but even though I liked it I can't give it more than 3 stars because of all the contradictions.
The Emerald City of Oz: 3 stars.
It was okay, and I liked it, but sometimes I was really into it and sometimes I could barely get through a page. That's why I'm giving this story 3 stars.
It sounds like I'm completely hating the series. I'm not. It's really creative and I really like the fact that at the beginning of each story, L Frank Baum writes a little letter to his readers saying that they requested more stories and sent him ideas which he used to write these stories. So really these books are written by L Frank Baum and his readers. And I love that. I just think that I'm maybe a little too old for the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2018
Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
4/5 stars
Dorothy, in the 4th book of the series, has traveled to California where she meets her second cousin Zeb. Dorothy, Zeb and Dorothy’s cat, Eureka take a ride in a wagon pulled by Jim, the horse, when an earthquake swallows them up. They end up in the Land of the Mangaboos, where vegetable people who grow on vines live and who blame them for the earthquake and are set to punish them. Luckily, the Wizard of Oz descends in a balloon and so starts the new adventures of Dorothy and the Wizard. Still enjoying this series!
The Road to OZ
3/5 stars
In the 5th book of the Oz Series, we find Dorothy back at home in Kansas but not for very long. Outside the farm, she encounters Shaggy Man. He is very unkempt but friendly and is looking for the road to Butterfield. Dorothy agrees to help but soon finds that the road splits into 7 roads and she, Toto and Shaggy Man are lost. So they decide to take the 7th road and along the way they meet several unusual characters and so starts their curious adventure on the road to Oz. Loved the beginning of the adventure but the ending, when they return to Oz, is basically just a description of all the people invited to Queen Ozma’s big ball. I do though wish this collection had pictures of all the characters which would have enhanced the story.
The Emerald City of Oz
4/5 stars
Auntie Em and Uncle Henry are getting old and the farm is too much work so Queen Ozma invites them all to live in her kingdom. In the meantime, the Nome King is plotting to steal the Magic Belt from Ozma by tunneling under the desert that protects the Land of Oz from its enemies. Delightful! One of my favorite parts of the book is the section where the Nome King tells his officials that he needs to talk to Marconi about a wireless sieve. This has to be a reference to Guglielmo Marconi who worked on long distance radio transmission. According to Wikipedia –this was to be Baum's last Oz book ( and the ending sounds like it would be the final book) but because of his finances he went on to write more books. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Eme...
4/5 stars
Dorothy, in the 4th book of the series, has traveled to California where she meets her second cousin Zeb. Dorothy, Zeb and Dorothy’s cat, Eureka take a ride in a wagon pulled by Jim, the horse, when an earthquake swallows them up. They end up in the Land of the Mangaboos, where vegetable people who grow on vines live and who blame them for the earthquake and are set to punish them. Luckily, the Wizard of Oz descends in a balloon and so starts the new adventures of Dorothy and the Wizard. Still enjoying this series!
The Road to OZ
3/5 stars
In the 5th book of the Oz Series, we find Dorothy back at home in Kansas but not for very long. Outside the farm, she encounters Shaggy Man. He is very unkempt but friendly and is looking for the road to Butterfield. Dorothy agrees to help but soon finds that the road splits into 7 roads and she, Toto and Shaggy Man are lost. So they decide to take the 7th road and along the way they meet several unusual characters and so starts their curious adventure on the road to Oz. Loved the beginning of the adventure but the ending, when they return to Oz, is basically just a description of all the people invited to Queen Ozma’s big ball. I do though wish this collection had pictures of all the characters which would have enhanced the story.
The Emerald City of Oz
4/5 stars
Auntie Em and Uncle Henry are getting old and the farm is too much work so Queen Ozma invites them all to live in her kingdom. In the meantime, the Nome King is plotting to steal the Magic Belt from Ozma by tunneling under the desert that protects the Land of Oz from its enemies. Delightful! One of my favorite parts of the book is the section where the Nome King tells his officials that he needs to talk to Marconi about a wireless sieve. This has to be a reference to Guglielmo Marconi who worked on long distance radio transmission. According to Wikipedia –this was to be Baum's last Oz book ( and the ending sounds like it would be the final book) but because of his finances he went on to write more books. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Eme...
May 10, 2019
Oz, the Complete Collection, Volume 2 is a bind up of the next three books in Oz series (Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz, The Road to Oz, and The Emerald City of Oz) written by L. Frank Baum and centered on Dorothy Gale and her companions and their adventures in the Land of Oz.
Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz (★★★☆☆) has Dorothy Gale and the former Wizard of Oz visiting the center of the Earth, after an earthquake had sucked them in, where people are vegetables, glass house grows, and Oz characters reappear, as Dorothy, the Wizard, and their companions that fell with them heads back to the surface – to Oz.
The Road to Oz (★★★★☆) has Dorothy Gale set out on another unexpected adventure with new companions in the Shaggy Man, Button-Bright, and Polychrome, and along the way, the meet up with old friends in the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman, as they try to reach the Emerald City in time for Princess Ozma's birthday.
The Emerald City of Oz (★★★★☆) has Dorothy Gale, her Uncle Henry, and Aunt Em moving to the Emerald City to live out their lives. They set out to explore the Land of Oz with the help of Dorothy's friends, but must rush home again when they discover that the Nome King is busy gathering an army for an invasion of Oz.
Oz, the Complete Collection, Volume 2 is written rather well. Baum has broadened his wonderful world of magic and awe in the Land of Oz and neighbors both on and below the Land of Oz. Knowing very little about the series beyond the first book, reading these three books heighten my appreciation for Baum and his imagination. One thing for certain, I would not like to be travelling with Dorothy Gale as she survived a cyclone (The Wonderful Wizard of Oz), a boat capsizing (Ozma of Oz), and an earthquake (Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz).
All in all, Oz, the Complete Collection, Volume 2 is written rather well and is a wonderful continuation of what would hopefully be a wonderful series, which I plan to continue in the very near future.
Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz (★★★☆☆) has Dorothy Gale and the former Wizard of Oz visiting the center of the Earth, after an earthquake had sucked them in, where people are vegetables, glass house grows, and Oz characters reappear, as Dorothy, the Wizard, and their companions that fell with them heads back to the surface – to Oz.
The Road to Oz (★★★★☆) has Dorothy Gale set out on another unexpected adventure with new companions in the Shaggy Man, Button-Bright, and Polychrome, and along the way, the meet up with old friends in the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman, as they try to reach the Emerald City in time for Princess Ozma's birthday.
The Emerald City of Oz (★★★★☆) has Dorothy Gale, her Uncle Henry, and Aunt Em moving to the Emerald City to live out their lives. They set out to explore the Land of Oz with the help of Dorothy's friends, but must rush home again when they discover that the Nome King is busy gathering an army for an invasion of Oz.
Oz, the Complete Collection, Volume 2 is written rather well. Baum has broadened his wonderful world of magic and awe in the Land of Oz and neighbors both on and below the Land of Oz. Knowing very little about the series beyond the first book, reading these three books heighten my appreciation for Baum and his imagination. One thing for certain, I would not like to be travelling with Dorothy Gale as she survived a cyclone (The Wonderful Wizard of Oz), a boat capsizing (Ozma of Oz), and an earthquake (Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz).
All in all, Oz, the Complete Collection, Volume 2 is written rather well and is a wonderful continuation of what would hopefully be a wonderful series, which I plan to continue in the very near future.
September 10, 2024
Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz: I loved reading about Dorothy, the Wizard, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodsman, the Cowardly Lion and Ozma. The start of the story was interesting, having an earthquake take them near Oz. I was wondering why Dorothy waited so long to call for Ozma but enjoyed the adventures they had before she returned to the wonderful land of Oz. I also enjoyed the new friends we met, Zeb, Jim, Eureka, and the piglets. I felt like the book ended suddenly but still enjoyed their adventure.
The Road to Oz: Another interesting story of Dorothy visiting Oz. This time it was a twist in how she got there but I did enjoy the new characters we met along the way and that Toto was their to join her on her adventure. I loved being reacquainted with some familiar characters from past books, especially the tin woodman, the scarecrow and the cowardly lion - still my favorite trio thanks to the movie adaptation. I loved the new fairy lands mentioned and how so many characters from past adventures made an appearance for such a large festivity. I’m excited to continue on the journey and see the next adventure to Oz, hopefully with Dorothy and some of the other beloved characters.
The Emerald City of Oz: Another great adventure to Oz! I loved having Uncle Henry and Aunt Em involved in this story and adventures with old friends and meeting new beings from the surrounding lands of Oz and beings from within Oz that we have not met before. I was always curious what happened to those we were introduced to in the past, so re-meeting the Nome King was a great storyline. The descriptions of each area and the houses are incredible and makes me imagine amazing fantasy images in my head. I love how everyone Dorothy loved and cares about is all together and that they get to live a happy life. This adventure makes me wonder how many other areas and beings there are inside Oz that we have not met yet. The ending was really surprising, but also makes me wonder since there are 7 more books. I look forward to the next Oz adventure!
The Road to Oz: Another interesting story of Dorothy visiting Oz. This time it was a twist in how she got there but I did enjoy the new characters we met along the way and that Toto was their to join her on her adventure. I loved being reacquainted with some familiar characters from past books, especially the tin woodman, the scarecrow and the cowardly lion - still my favorite trio thanks to the movie adaptation. I loved the new fairy lands mentioned and how so many characters from past adventures made an appearance for such a large festivity. I’m excited to continue on the journey and see the next adventure to Oz, hopefully with Dorothy and some of the other beloved characters.
The Emerald City of Oz: Another great adventure to Oz! I loved having Uncle Henry and Aunt Em involved in this story and adventures with old friends and meeting new beings from the surrounding lands of Oz and beings from within Oz that we have not met before. I was always curious what happened to those we were introduced to in the past, so re-meeting the Nome King was a great storyline. The descriptions of each area and the houses are incredible and makes me imagine amazing fantasy images in my head. I love how everyone Dorothy loved and cares about is all together and that they get to live a happy life. This adventure makes me wonder how many other areas and beings there are inside Oz that we have not met yet. The ending was really surprising, but also makes me wonder since there are 7 more books. I look forward to the next Oz adventure!
November 15, 2020
Volume two of the Oz collection, this title contains Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz, The Road to Oz, and The Emerald City of Oz.
With the well-established cast of characters and the Land of Oz explored end to end, Baum introduces more faces, both friendly and not, and takes us to new lands in these three titles. The same whimsy, fantasy, and fun fill these books as the first three, and they’re a delight to read.
Because the Land of Oz is at peace, the latest foe vanquished in book three of the series, Dorothy and friends stumble into danger beyond Oz’s borders. They fall deep underground, get lost in between Kansas and Oz, and navigate unknown areas and peoples in and around Oz.
Most notably, The Emerald City of Oz reveals the existence of other fantastical and magical nations that are also separated from the “real world” like Oz. These nations are populated by dreadful and powerful beings who pose a new threat to Dorothy and the Emerald City.
All these previously unknown creatures and lands, while intriguing, disrupt the series’ continuity. Oz had been separated from Kansas and the rest of the world by the Impassable Desert. Now other kingdoms lie beyond the desert surrounding Oz, and it’s unclear where the outside world is in relation to these kingdoms—or why the inhabitants of Oz hadn’t been aware of them before.
In addition, Dorothy herself has changed in this volume. She’s become mean, stubborn, and snarky, and her dialogue has taken on a truncated, simplistic quality. Her change seems driven not by character growth but rather from an inconsistency in writing style. Overall, she’s less likeable and more irritating.
There’s no question that Baum was improvising as he went, encouraged to write more books by his young readers and their outpouring of support. Nevertheless, the three books in this volume took me on an enjoyable adventure beyond the yellow brick road.
With the well-established cast of characters and the Land of Oz explored end to end, Baum introduces more faces, both friendly and not, and takes us to new lands in these three titles. The same whimsy, fantasy, and fun fill these books as the first three, and they’re a delight to read.
Because the Land of Oz is at peace, the latest foe vanquished in book three of the series, Dorothy and friends stumble into danger beyond Oz’s borders. They fall deep underground, get lost in between Kansas and Oz, and navigate unknown areas and peoples in and around Oz.
Most notably, The Emerald City of Oz reveals the existence of other fantastical and magical nations that are also separated from the “real world” like Oz. These nations are populated by dreadful and powerful beings who pose a new threat to Dorothy and the Emerald City.
All these previously unknown creatures and lands, while intriguing, disrupt the series’ continuity. Oz had been separated from Kansas and the rest of the world by the Impassable Desert. Now other kingdoms lie beyond the desert surrounding Oz, and it’s unclear where the outside world is in relation to these kingdoms—or why the inhabitants of Oz hadn’t been aware of them before.
In addition, Dorothy herself has changed in this volume. She’s become mean, stubborn, and snarky, and her dialogue has taken on a truncated, simplistic quality. Her change seems driven not by character growth but rather from an inconsistency in writing style. Overall, she’s less likeable and more irritating.
There’s no question that Baum was improvising as he went, encouraged to write more books by his young readers and their outpouring of support. Nevertheless, the three books in this volume took me on an enjoyable adventure beyond the yellow brick road.
July 26, 2020
Just like the first volume, these stories have a lot of inconsitencies. One example is that apparently the magic life powder doesn't need the magic words anymore. Another example is, why does Glinda not use her book in earlier stories, such as when she had to capture Mombi? The book isn't even mentioned before the third story in this volume. I enjoyed reading about the new places they went to, such as where they met King Dox, the Valley of Voe, Dunkiton, Fuddlecumjig, Bunnybury, and Utensia. I found that there were a lot of puns in the third of these stories, but the only ones I enjoyed were in Utensia (especially the reason why the colander is the High Priest). I found that the books were very anti climatic. I had high hoped for the ending of the third story, but it seemed to be over too soon and too easily. I am glad that Jack Pumpkinhead, who comes back in the second story, is now much smarter than he was before. I got really annoyed at Dorothy at some points, such as when she says that you can't climb down, and when she was perfectly fine with Toto and Billina eating some of the people who lived in Bunbury. I believe, though, that the rest of the Oz stories are less focused on Dorothy. At least, I hope they are.
February 20, 2019
I love the adventures of Dorothy, Toto, Princess Ozma and all the interesting and fun characters of Oz. It's a fun and easy read. So light and joyful and it just makes me happy to read these stories. The only reason I don't give it a full 5 stars is because there are some inconsistencies throughout the stories that bother me some. But, otherwise, the stories are fun, creative and entertaining. I never read the Oz books as a child, so this is a first for me as an adult. I would really recommend it to anyone who wants to spend some hours with light and fun reading, discovering the creative and interesting characters Baum created.
November 12, 2021
Junk. Absolute junk. Dorothy has overstayed her welcome in these books. She spends most of the books (again) saying hi to every character we’ve met in previous books and it’s getting tiring.
Honestly I would stop here and never read another Oz book again but apparently although she makes a few appearances in the following books she isn’t the main character anymore and thank fuck for that!
I want books about characters and people living in and existing in the land of Oz not just Dorothy somehow being brought back just for another get together.
In fact you can easily skip books 4,5,6 in my opinion 🤷🏼♂️🙌🏻🙏🏻
Honestly I would stop here and never read another Oz book again but apparently although she makes a few appearances in the following books she isn’t the main character anymore and thank fuck for that!
I want books about characters and people living in and existing in the land of Oz not just Dorothy somehow being brought back just for another get together.
In fact you can easily skip books 4,5,6 in my opinion 🤷🏼♂️🙌🏻🙏🏻
July 31, 2020
The books in this collections went much deeper into the absurd than those in the first collection. At this point, a lot of the introduced storylines and characters are things I haven’t seen before, which probably makes them seem even weirder. These three together felt a lot more magical than the first collection as well. I like the way it wraps up in the final story and I’m interested to see what the rest of the collections look like. I think the further the story gets from the well-known movie(s), the more interesting it is.
September 2, 2020
Three more whimsical little stories about Dorothy and her adventures in Oz. The first two I remember reading a long time ago. The last story was all new to me. Sometimes I think that the author tried too hard to please his young readers by putting too much into one story that had no significance to anything else. Funny how when I was younger I only thought that there was one story in the Oz universe.
October 25, 2020
This is the second set of Oz stories in the collection and while I didn't exactly love it, I also appreciate them for what they are. Fun, magic and adventure abound as we return to Oz with Dorothy and her pals, old and new.
I enjoy the stories but I also can't see how there are another three volumes! The story seems all wrapped up from here but I guess we'll see, because of course I'm going to finish them off.
I enjoy the stories but I also can't see how there are another three volumes! The story seems all wrapped up from here but I guess we'll see, because of course I'm going to finish them off.
January 12, 2021
Oz Volume 2 comprises books 4 to 6 - Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz, The Road to Oz, and The Emerald City of Oz.
Once again I completely fell in love with these stories. Baum's writing and world building was truly magical. There are new and interesting characters that are unforgettable and so so loveable.
As soon as I finished this book I picked up the next volume. I just wanted the adventure to keep going.
Once again I completely fell in love with these stories. Baum's writing and world building was truly magical. There are new and interesting characters that are unforgettable and so so loveable.
As soon as I finished this book I picked up the next volume. I just wanted the adventure to keep going.
May 9, 2025
Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
I think it was surprising that Dorothy and Zeb fell into a crack in the earth and fell into the middle of the world where there is a vegetable country and they put the travelers into the black pit, and then they met the wizard of oz, and they found a tunnel to go to the valley of Voe, then the fight the Gargoyles. But they found out they cannot escape, so they waited for Ozma to look in the magic picture and help them to come to emerald city. And then they had a lot of fun and continued their adventures in the next story.
The Emerald City of Oz
I thought it was right for the Oz friends to travel to remote and isolated places in Oz, and in that time Omby Amby, the wizard of Oz, the Shaggy man, the Sawhorse, Dorothy, Uncle Henry, Aunt Em, Toto which is Dorothy’s dog, and Billina which is a yellow hen. First, they came to the Cuttenclips, where they admired the living paper dolls. Second, they visited Fuddlecumjig, and they enjoyed themselves by putting the scattered pieces if a funny kind of human that is made out to give entertainment, and the traveles was hungry so they combined the cook first and got a wonderful dinner. Third, only Dorothy visited Utensia because she got lost, and also with Toto and Billina. They thought they were going to have consequences, but they let the travelers go. Next, they came to Bunbury, and all the people there are food, so the pets ate some of the people and the furniture, which is also food, and then they were driven out, so they went to Bunnybury and met rabbits and a rabbit king, and only Dorothy can come in because the pets does not have a pass from Ozma and the rabbits think that the pets will disturb the people. They then visited the Flutterbudgets, which is scared of anything that might happen in the future. What a fun adventure! And also later they used the fountain of oblivion to make the world powerful enemy that was attacking them forget what they were doing and went back home.
Thank you for sharing Samuel’s book commentary on The Emerald City of Oz. It’s clear that Samuel put effort into summarizing the story’s events, and he has captured many key plot points and characters. Below is a teacher-style review including:
The Road to Oz
I thought it was surprising when the normal highway turned into the different roads to Oz, and on the way they got the news that Ozma is soon having her birthday celebration, and on the way they first met the kingdom of the foxes, and they were nicely received by the fox people because the Shaggy man had the love magnet, and the same thing happened in donkey town where the people are also very nice, but that was not what happened in the third challenge. The scoodler people loved them, but they were hungry so they thought if they put the travelers in soup they would love them better, but the Shaggy man knocked out a scoodler guard and ran out of the scoodler kingdom, then they came to the desert that separated Oz from the outside countries, and Johny Dooit built a sand boat to cross the sandy desert and they happily attended Ozma’s birthday celebration.
I think it was surprising that Dorothy and Zeb fell into a crack in the earth and fell into the middle of the world where there is a vegetable country and they put the travelers into the black pit, and then they met the wizard of oz, and they found a tunnel to go to the valley of Voe, then the fight the Gargoyles. But they found out they cannot escape, so they waited for Ozma to look in the magic picture and help them to come to emerald city. And then they had a lot of fun and continued their adventures in the next story.
The Emerald City of Oz
I thought it was right for the Oz friends to travel to remote and isolated places in Oz, and in that time Omby Amby, the wizard of Oz, the Shaggy man, the Sawhorse, Dorothy, Uncle Henry, Aunt Em, Toto which is Dorothy’s dog, and Billina which is a yellow hen. First, they came to the Cuttenclips, where they admired the living paper dolls. Second, they visited Fuddlecumjig, and they enjoyed themselves by putting the scattered pieces if a funny kind of human that is made out to give entertainment, and the traveles was hungry so they combined the cook first and got a wonderful dinner. Third, only Dorothy visited Utensia because she got lost, and also with Toto and Billina. They thought they were going to have consequences, but they let the travelers go. Next, they came to Bunbury, and all the people there are food, so the pets ate some of the people and the furniture, which is also food, and then they were driven out, so they went to Bunnybury and met rabbits and a rabbit king, and only Dorothy can come in because the pets does not have a pass from Ozma and the rabbits think that the pets will disturb the people. They then visited the Flutterbudgets, which is scared of anything that might happen in the future. What a fun adventure! And also later they used the fountain of oblivion to make the world powerful enemy that was attacking them forget what they were doing and went back home.
Thank you for sharing Samuel’s book commentary on The Emerald City of Oz. It’s clear that Samuel put effort into summarizing the story’s events, and he has captured many key plot points and characters. Below is a teacher-style review including:
The Road to Oz
I thought it was surprising when the normal highway turned into the different roads to Oz, and on the way they got the news that Ozma is soon having her birthday celebration, and on the way they first met the kingdom of the foxes, and they were nicely received by the fox people because the Shaggy man had the love magnet, and the same thing happened in donkey town where the people are also very nice, but that was not what happened in the third challenge. The scoodler people loved them, but they were hungry so they thought if they put the travelers in soup they would love them better, but the Shaggy man knocked out a scoodler guard and ran out of the scoodler kingdom, then they came to the desert that separated Oz from the outside countries, and Johny Dooit built a sand boat to cross the sandy desert and they happily attended Ozma’s birthday celebration.
March 22, 2018
Surprisingly good book with some wonderful plot lines. Obviously we know it didn’t end here but we really got a glimpse into so many characters. Sometimes repetitive but always with a heart, I can’t wait to read further stories.
August 4, 2020
Once again I am completely blown away by Baum's story telling! The three books that made up this volume each had their own special quality, and I loved reading more about the new characters and how they ultimately fit into the story line.
Can't wait to start the third volume!
Can't wait to start the third volume!
February 20, 2024
Finished Book 5. in Vol 2.
A lot of new characters, some are my new favorites. I do see similar qualities in some that are in the original characters we know and love. However, I still love this one all the same. It has the charm, the humor, the wit. This is a warm hug.
A lot of new characters, some are my new favorites. I do see similar qualities in some that are in the original characters we know and love. However, I still love this one all the same. It has the charm, the humor, the wit. This is a warm hug.
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