Review: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, L. Frank Baum

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, L. Frank Baum cover
When a cyclone unexpectedly hits Aunt Em and Uncle Henry's house. Dorothy and her dog Toto have no time to make it to the shelter - the updraft of the powerful storm carries girl, dog and house for miles and miles. Landing in Oz, a kingdom bordered by deserts, a marooned Dorothy is baffled by how to get home. Taking the advice of the Witch of the North she decides to follow the yellow brick road to the Emerald City in the hope that the ruler, Oz, will be able to send her home.

Lyman Frank Baum was an American author, actor, and independent filmmaker best known as the creator, along with illustrator W. W. Denslow, of one of the most popular books in American children's literature, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, better known today as simply The Wizard of Oz. He wrote thirteen sequels, nine other fantasy novels, and a plethora of other works (55 novels in total, 82 short stories, over 200 poems, an unknown number of scripts, and many miscellaneous writings), and made numerous attempts to bring his works to the stage and screen.

I love reading children books but never read this one. I did see movies and plays based on this story and was curious about the book so when I found a copy in the bargain bucket I got it.
The first fifty pages are a pleasure. The story is well paces and pulls you into action in one go. Characters are formed with just a few words and surroundings are simple but still telling enough to be able to envision them.
The book keeps its pace and tells a great adventure. It is a real pleasure to read. There are many encouraging messages in the book for young people who are doubting themselves. It is all brought in a positive way. It is easy to connect with all of the characters and cheer them on while they have their big adventure.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Author: L. Frank Baum
Publisher: Hesperus Press
Pages: 144
Format: paperback
ISBN-10: 1843913909
ISBN-13: 9781843913900
Series: Oz #1
Hesperus Press: Paperback
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

4 stars

Previous
Next Post »

3 reacties

Write reacties
18 February, 2014 delete

I read this one a couple years ago. It's so strange to compare the source material to the movie I grew up watching. Different, but both great in their own ways.

Reply
avatar
Jen G.
AUTHOR
19 February, 2014 delete

I have always meant to read this just to compare it to the 1930s Judy Garland movie that is so sentimental to me.

Reply
avatar
Melinda
AUTHOR
21 February, 2014 delete

I never read this as a child either. I should do so now, because I am reading children's fiction now and then.. since last year.

Reply
avatar