The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

by L. Frank Baum

Hailed as “America’s greatest and best-loved homegrown fairytale” by the Library of Congress, L. Frank Baum’s classic story has been enjoyed by generations of young readers since its publication in 1900. One of the most-read children’s books, it is a staple of American literature and the inspiration for the beloved 1939 Academy Award-winning movie (widely acclaimed as one of the greatest films of all time), as well as stage plays and musicals.

When a tornado strikes the Kansas prairie, young orphan Dorothy Gale and her little dog Toto are blown away to Oz, a magical place filled with witches, munchkins, winged monkeys, and other unusual inhabitants. Lost and afraid, all Dorothy wants is to return to her Uncle Henry and Auntie Em. But to do so, the Good Witch of the North tells her, she must follow the Yellow Brick Road that leads to the Emerald City. There, she will find the fearsome Wizard of Oz who can help her find her way home.

Along the way, Dorothy encounters three unforgettable characters—the Scarecrow, the Tinman, and the Cowardly Lion—who join her in her quest. Their journey to the Emerald City, fraught with peril and adventure, teaches them the true meaning of friendship and reminds us all that there is no place like home.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Interactive reimagines the novel’s iconic imagery and highlights phrases from the original book in a unique and delightful style that will enchant readers of all ages. Sure to become a collector’s item, this deluxe illustrated edition contains specially commissioned artwork and nine exclusive interactive features,

A cyclone map that opens up to reveal the Land of Oz
A pop-up Yellow Brick Road
Oz glasses that provide a different look at the world
Fighting trees with branches that move
Dorothy’s silver shoes that can be clicked together

This marvelous edition will enchant young and adult readers and is a thoughtful gift for any occasion.

Genres: Classics, Fantasy, Fiction, Childrens, Chapter Books

172 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 30, 2022

About the author

also 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).

Reviews

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

C’était relativement court mais vraiment sympa comme lecture, depuis que j’ai vu Wicked j’avais envie de découvrir l’univers du Magicien d’Oz et je suis pas déçue. Il y a plein de bonne leçon notamment sur la confiance en soi et le fait qu’on ne se voit pas tel que l’on est réellement (bcp des personnages partent en quête pour acquérir une qualité dont ils pensent manquer mais dont en réalité ils font preuve tout au long du chemin). Il y a des personnages attachants (Toto <3) et l’univers fantastique est assez cool !

[Joyce Koelliker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gosh, I absolutely ADORED this book! I loved it so much more than the movie; it was very different from the movie and I preferred it so much more, even though I have always enjoyed the movie. I think what made it so much better than the movie was the quality of the storytelling.... The storytelling was so charming. It felt so reminiscent of the stories my grandma would tell me at bedtime, it felt so comfortable and soothing. I loved the evidence of seeing the wisdom of the Scarecrow, the heart of the Tin Woodsman, and the courage of the Lion all along, even while they were in search of these things. They had it within them all along, just as Dorothy had the power to return home all along. It made me think about how much more important the journey is than the destination, and what a treasure we find in the people we share the journey with. Read this book!

Classic Literature #5/15

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A timeless classic! L. Frank Baum uses vivid world-building to depict Dorothy’s journey through the magical land of Oz. Themes of friendship, courage, and self-discovery are paired with the perfect blend of adventure, fantasy, and moral lessons. The 1939 film adaptation is fantastic, but the novel offers a deeper exploration of the characters in the world of Oz. There are more adventures, characters, and a slightly different tone with notable differences in plot and character development.

[Morgan (lostinthepages) · Rating 5 out of 5]

We loved this one as a read loud for my kids 7,5 and 3! The three year old didn’t listen too well, but the big two loved it! We enjoyed seeing the MANY differences between the book and movie. The book is definitely way better. There were so many more adventures and such good lessons learned along the way. Definitely recommend this one as a family read aloud!

[ave · Rating 3 out of 5]

The wizard was always the villain!! idc!!

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice introduction to the Wizard of Oz for my little boy of five years old. He kept demanding to know if the Tin-Man was a robot. Like in Star Wars.

[Jayden Wetzel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finally finished The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and honestly, I’m glad I stuck with it. It’s definitely a classic and you can see why it’s lasted so long. Some parts were slower for me, but overall it was creative, fun, and honestly way more wild than the movie version I grew up seeing

I liked the sense of adventure and all the different characters they meet along the way. The world-building is super imaginative and it’s kind of refreshing reading something that simple and straightforward. It’s not super deep or anything but there’s something cool about a story that just lets you escape for a bit

It’s not a perfect five-star for me,some chapters felt a little dragged out,but overall it was a really enjoyable read, and I’m glad I finally got through it. Good classic to check off the list

[Toby Sutton-Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I received this as a birthday present, I was quite excited to get stuck in, especially as it was this edition with the beautiful illustrations. Like the majority of people I'd seen the film (and Wicked) first, so I was expecting something a little different. I was pleasantly surprised! Baum clearly has quite a strong authorial voice, and this novel is absolutely charming, with each little twist and turn in the journey having something special in particular. I'll definitely be buying and reading more of the Oz novels, when I've cleared my dangerously high piles of books I have TBR...

[Pages Bursting Hearts · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had gorgeous illustrations, which gave it the 4 stars. Otherwise, it may be a 3 or 3.5 star book. I grew up watching the movie like it was an event, always looking forward to when it aired every year. Unfortunately this was a situation in which I preferred the movie. I haven't seen it since I was a child, though, so I wonder how I'd feel about it now. It was neat to spot the differences, but I guess I felt the story dragged on near the end.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a reason this story has stood the test of time as a classic, it is familiar but also leaves you wanting to know more, having grown up on the 1939 movie and the Broadway Musical Wicked it was very interesting to compare and contrast all three stories, seeing where the ideas came from was interesting and I loved every second of it!

[Dandy Kuma · Rating 4 out of 5]

First time I’ve ever read the book and that old adage that is often said “the book was better” seems to hold true here. The movie captured the themes very well but certain aspects were just a tiny bit more subtle in the book.

Also I was very surprised to notice that the book reads like a Dungeons and dragons adventure usually plays out.

[BreeAdoresReading · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a great classic book that never goes out of style. I enjoyed it as a child and I enjoyed reading it as an adult. I wanted to read the book again because of a project I'm working on and the book accomplished exactly what I needed it to do. I highly recommend this ageless, delightful book to every child and every adult still young at heart! 🙂

[Scott Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really fun version of L. Frank Baum's Wizard of Oz. I read this book 5 yes old daughter and she was a very big fan. The illustrations were really cute and kept my 5 year old engaged. I even think I learned a think or two about the original book version versus the movie.

[Laura Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this with my daughter and we both enjoyed it! It’s a little different than the movie, which didn’t matter to her because she’s never seen it, but I found myself comparing. Still liked it very much though!

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging story. Refreshing to read the original. I was surprised how bleakly it starts. Could feel the black and white life of Kansas. Worth exploring the original. Short enough read. Was a book club assignment, and worth it.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kids absolutely loved this story! I had never actually read the book before, only watched the movie as a kid, and I greatly enjoyed it, too! There was lots of adventure and nothing overly scary. I'm so glad we read this classic!

[Max · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm in shock with how many things they cut for the og movie. This book is so easy and so good and all the new things you learn are shocking when you compare to the movie. You think you know the story but you don't, even Glinda is totally different. Wow 👏🏻👏🏻

[Castle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely delightful read. Remembering the film from my childhood with Judy Andrews, the comparison was only partially there. Truly enjoyed the thoughts in the original story.

[Sonbal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

A classic.

[Beatriz Piza · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I had read this book earlier in life. I’m sure I will re-read it every time I need a reminder that my brains and heart and courage are all within me, I just need to believe it ���

[Jonelle Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple writing and nothing goes into depth, but I loved reading this aloud to the kids! It is so much more than the movie!

[Megan Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

The illustrations make reading this classic even more special! Definitely a great version of this timeless tale.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful read with my two kids (4 & 5yr olds)

[Cori Hofmeister · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing like the movie.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations. Read it for my first time with my 8 year-old. My goodness, is it darker than I expected!

[acourtofbooksandkindles · Rating 4 out of 5]

🎧 3.75☆

[Han · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ya know, it's much better than the movie. We love to see it.

[Desarae Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always loved the wizard of oz movie and now I can say I love the book too! Obviously, there are differences and the story is a little different, but I loved the book so much!

[Sanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

ngl, gillar filmen mer men detta var ändå fantastiskt