What Is the Story of The Wizard of Oz?

What Is the Story Of?

by Kirsten Anderson, Who H.Q., Robert Squier (Illustrator)

Who HQ brings you the stories behind the most beloved characters of our time.

We're off to see the Wizard...along with Dorothy, Toto, and all of her friends as they make their way onto the What Is the Story of? list.

When L. Frank Baum wrote about the adventures of a young farm girl named Dorothy and her pet dog in the magical Land of Oz in 1900, he wanted to create a beautiful story based on the America he knew and treasured. But he had no idea his book would become a bestseller and grow into the cultural phenomenon that it is today. After the iconic 1939 film, numerous sequels, retellings, and musicals, it's easy to see why The Wizard of Oz has been called "America's greatest and best-loved homegrown fairytale." From Baum's first book through Wicked, the story of The Wizard of Oz is as fascinating as the tale itself.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Childrens, Media Tie In, Middle Grade, Juvenile

112 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 15, 2019

Reviews

[Hunter Lisiecki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books tells us the start of how The Wizard is Oz has started!

[Megan Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book have a lot of great facts. I liked learning about the history behind the book. Learning how they made the movie was also very interesting.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meet author L. Frank Baum and his very bizarre career that lead to his Oz Success.
Enjoy the trip down the Yellow Brick Road with the 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz.
Enjoy the theatrical journey of The Wizard of Oz, The Wiz and Wicked.

This new take on the Who was series gives a great insight into the tales of Oz.

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really nice overview and good stories and details. Doesn't cover everything, of course, but hits the highlights in a very accessible way.

[Kryssy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how much info we get. We learn about why frank made a whimsical story and what it was based on, we get comparisons over the various media adaptations, and we get a full list of all the books and different adaptations

Knowing how many people know the story of the wizard of oz, it’s crazy how many adaptations failed. Especially with the success and the upcoming movie of wicked, i can see why publishers hired another writer

- Writer of the book was born during an epidemic and lost his older siblings and cousins
- Family got a printing press where he and his brother made family newspapers
- Moved to NY to be an actor. Then moved to PA to work at a paper
- More career options. Wife’s siblings write about cyclones in the dakota’s that lift up houses
- Write nursery rhyme books. Later influenced by Alice in wonderland
- Summary of the Wizard of oz. Details were changed to make it more whimsical and simplified for the movie
- Oz is rectangle shaped
- Turned into a musical with changes
- Write a sequel book and turned it into a musical as well but didn’t do well
- Continued writing oz books because he needed the money
- Opened a production studio and made 3 films that all failed
- Publisher wanted to world to stay alive after frank died so they found a new writer
- A movie was made and failed. Until Snow White came out which showed other production companies what can be done
- Shirley temple was under contract with another studio
- Judy garland’s name isn’t even judy. Or garland
- The roles of scarecrow and tin man actually went to the opposite actors. Eventually they switched
- Tin man was recast because actor was allergic to the aluminum powder
- Actors were hurt and extremely hot during filming
- Not a big hit at time of release
- All black cast version. Made a commercial to get people’s attention. Eventually sold out shows
- Adapted the musical into a movie. Again, things were changed to fit the age of the cast
- In wicked, the witch didn’t actually die!!
- Props go for CRAZY money
- Recognizable lines

[Jessica Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like while it's still ~unclear per say~ where Judy Garland's drug addiction and alcoholism really started, this book definitely puts zero blame on the MGM studios which is absurd cause we know they reportedly gave "pep pills" to several of their young stars. That's my only critique about this book, but other than that it does a great job of giving L Frank Baum's life story before, during, and after The Wizard of Oz, it also talks about The Wiz and Wicked, which I love!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

From The Wiz and all the way to Wicked, I failed to realize just how impactful The Wizard of Oz has been since it was first written as a Children’s book in 1900. As with many dreamers who die too early, Frank Baum wasn’t able to see just how far reaching his story would become. I love this new series from “Who HQ” and am excited to see it take off with my students.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book begins very strangely with the musical Wicked. It discusses L. Frank Baum and his books much less than the work of authors after him. My favorite part compares the original Oz book to the Judy Garland movie. I enjoyed the black and white drawings throughout, but I wanted more color photos like the ones in the timeline.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a big fan of the Oz books and the Judy Garland movie and the book "Wicked," I thought I knew a lot. This wonderful book showed me how much more I have to learn and experience. In particular, now I need to see the movie, "The Wiz" and the Broadway show, "Wicked." If you are an Oz fan, I recommend this lovely little book.

[JoAnne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic read full of information on The Wizard of Oz, it’s author, and the different versions of the story that have come out. My 7 year old is a HUGE fan, and she enjoyed this, especially discovering that the author lived in the same town we live in.

[Raven Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

It starts at the end and works its way back. The life and times of a man named Baum and how an over hundred year old book is still in our sights. A few bumps in the flow of the text and images for this adult reader, but kids will enjoy this introduction to the world of Oz and beyond.

[Chelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being from Kansas, people associate this movie with your state almost more than anything else. I learned a lot about the author, the story and other stories he wrote, and all of the musicals and movies that were made about it. Interesting read.

[Shahd Rdawi · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much fan to know all of The Wizard of Oz’s world since 1900 :)

[Mitzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the book series & this one didn’t disappoint. I thought I knew everything about the book & movie Wizard of Oz. I was wrong!

[Brooke Irwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great overview of all the history of Oz!

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read with interesting...often depressing facts.

[Molly K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, quick read if you're a Wizard of Oz fan.

[Jen]

Read this to my students during our nonfiction study to expose them to other parts of the Who is/Who Was series. Great read for young children and a lot of information.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute kid version tale of Baum, the books, and subsequent movies and shows.

[Victoria B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty thorough (covered pretty much the same info as the PBS special I watched on Baum).

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again this series has produced an easy read full of interesting information. It explains the origins of the story and all the twists and turns made over the years. An interesting read

[Riley Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really good book telling you all about how the classic tale the wizard of oz came to be.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book shared the facts about L. Frank Baum and his writings. It also shares the history of the movie The Wizard of oz, the musical The Wiz, and the Broadway musical Wicked.

[Marcy Liberatore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute, quick read. Learn something new about Oz, too!

[Monica Lit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book contains a lot of historical details and information about this book and how the different musicals and plays came to be.

[Aimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed section about the making of the 1939 movie.

[Milan W.O. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved reading this before wicked. Came out ! What r u a team Glinda and Alpheba

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful book.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mini-encyclopedia on The Wizard of Oz. History, people and the stories. A quick read. Yet feel very well informed afterwards.