Editorial Review

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the publication of L. FrankBaum's Read more

Reviews (87)

The BEST pop-up book!!!!!!!!
5 stars is just not enough to rate this book. I'd give it 10 stars.
Sabuda--GENIUS !
After seeing a TV segment on Mr. Sabuda, I purchased this book, and there is only one word,..WOW !Well, maybe two words,..also GENIUS ! His work is just amazing, and more for adults because of the ability needed to appreciate.
simply fabulous
my mom got me this book for christmas last year.now i don't collect pop-ups nor am i young enough to still be receiving such gifts, but i was thrilled when i saw what robert sabuda had done with one of my favorite books.it's amazing how meticulous and detailed each and every one of the illustrations is.he really brings to life what i remember reading dozens of times over.not only are is his work artistically impressive, it remains true to the original work.now whenever i have to buy a book for cousin or niece or nephew i buy them this book, so that they can remain as enthralled as i am. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Pop-Ups    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 1-2    4. Children: Grades 3-4    5. Classics    6. Fantasy fiction    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    9. Specimens    10. Toy and movable books    11. Childhood and youth    12. Clark, William    13. Juvenile Fiction / Classics    14. Juvenile literature    15. Pop-up & lift-the-flap books   

Reviews (12)

The Magic of Oz
I'm working my way through these books.They are charming little tales, perfect for bedtime stories or enjoying on a day off.The only disadvantage with this particular collection is that it is not a hardbound book.The pages are nearly as thin as those in a bible, but the binding is good.If you get this, I suggest getting a sturdy fabric cover or just wrapping it with a brown bag like when you were in school.

A Marvelous Book
I received the book this morning.All the OZ books in one!A Marvelous idea.I got hooked on these books because of the books Wicked and Son of a Witch.I decided I had to read more.
excellent collection
i am very pleased with my new book, "15 Books in 1: L. Frank Baum's Original "Oz" Series". it is an laborate collection that fits well on my shelf and will provide me with hours of story telling with my children and others. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/All Ages    2. Classics    3. Fairy Tales & Folklore - Anthologies    4. Classic fiction    5. Fantasy   

Editorial Review

For many of us, the adventures of Dorothy in Oz will forever be associated not with Judy Garland singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" but with W. W. Denslow's exceedingly odd line drawings for the original editions of Baum's Oz series. The Viennese artist Lisbeth Zwerger, however, goes a long way toward providing a new and refreshed set of images for the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, and the humbug wizard. These illustrations are often cockeyed, with occasional realistic details thrown in, like a crow with a corncob in its beak in the first portrait of the Scarecrow. The characters have a poignance and oddity that escaped the makers of the Oz movie. ... Read more

Reviews (86)

Wonderful "Wizard of Oz"
I was a reasonably big fan of the "Wizard of Oz" when I was a kid. I'd seen the Judy Garland film, the "Return to Oz" film, my parents had taken me to a theatre production, and there used to be a cartoon series about Dorothy and her friends that I quite liked. Here in Australia, though, you don't see an awful lot of the Wizard of Oz books, and I missed out on all that as a kid. I managed to find a copy just recently of the the original story, and I really liked it. It's really a shame I couldn't find it earlier.
For Before or After "Wicked" (The Broadway Play)
The Wizard of Oz--Still a classic, though some of us may have escaped our youth without actually reading the book. The play "Wicked" whets one's appetite for the original story, and this little classic is well done...Quick and easy to read, good type face and good leading between the lines (something we didn't worry about in our youth).There may be other, better illustrated editions, but this one gets the job done and gets it done very nicely if you want to re-read or remember something we should remember from our youth--the book, not the movie!!Suggest reading it after seeing "Wicked"...That allows more creative license in the play, thus more enjoyment and capitivation with that story rather than continually comparing it to the original Oz.
After All These Years
I have to admit, until this year I didn't care much for the Wizard of Oz. It was my wife's favorite movie (and she even has checks with Oz scenes onthem), but it never was "fantasy" enough for me. I had been an avid modern fantasy/sci-fi reader until this year when I started reading classics like the Hobbit, the Chronicles of Narnia, and ultimately I picked up the Wizard of Oz.
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Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Classics    3. Fantasy fiction    4. Literature: Classics    5. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    6. Classic fiction   

Reviews (19)

a great addition to your "OZ" collection
If you enjoy all of Frank Baum's crazy books, you will love this quirky book.it is a great addition to your collection!
Patchwork Girl leaves you in stitches
This book marks Baum's return to the world of Oz after trying to quit his fabled story land in an attempt to muse upon new subjects--thankfully, it was an unsuccessful attempt, and he came back with delightful vengeance in this remarkable story. "The Patchwork Girl of Oz" is one of Baum's longer Oz books, and it is also very plot-driven, somewhat of an exception for him. Luckily, this plot--the quest of the Munchkin boy Ojo to save his Uncle from a magic spell--does not come at the expense of Baum's usual humor and story-telling style. This book is very funny, mostly due to the introduction of the Patchwork girl herself, who, of course, quickly became an instant favorite with fans of Oz. There are other new characters who are just as delightful, and I'm thinking here of the Woozy. I highly recommend this book, not only to fans of Oz, but to lovers of fantasy.

Probably the Oz book which made the largest impression on me as a child.
The Patchwork Girl of Oz is one of the most interesting and memorable of the books in the Oz series. The characters featured include Ojo the Unlucky, the Shaggy Man (always one of my favorites), and the delightful introduction of the Patchwork Girl. Scraps is one of the best characters in the series, and there is something delightfully resonant about this colorful rebel who has far too many brains for her station in life.
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Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    4. Classics    5. Fantasy    6. General    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    9. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (39)

A TIMELESS CLASSIC FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES
THE WIZARD OF OZ WAS FIRST PUBLISHED IN 1900, YET STILL RETAINS ALL OF IT'S CHARM AND EXCITEMENT AFTER ALL THESE YEARS. THE ADVENTURES OF DOROTHY AND HER FRIENDS ARE FILLED WITH MAGIC. THE BOOK IS SO MUCH DIFFERENT THEN THE MOVIE, AND MUCH MORE EXCITING. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND IT CHILDREN AND ADULTS ALIKE.

The Wizard Of Oz
Although the service was great (hence the four stars)and I do not wish to return the item that was sent because it is a beautiful book It is not the one i ordered --- I ordered the one in the picture that comes up The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz - I recived one by Frank Baum but it is Titled The Wizard Of Oz and is a childrens version much smaller than the version I ordered. my other question is Is the price different on the one I received than I the one I really ordered and that shows up in my Lib

The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz
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Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Classics    4. Fantasy    5. Fantasy fiction    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Fairy tales, folk tales, fables, magical tales & traditional stories    8. Juvenile Fiction / Classics   

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Literature - Classics / Contemporary    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 2-3    4. Children: Grades 4-6    5. Classics    6. Fantasy fiction    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (2)

Wizard of Oz Book and Charm
This classic is enhanced by a very beautiful charm. Makes a great gift

Wonderul Oz Book!
It is the classic Baum story(unabridged) with a beautiful cover illustration and an incredible charm comes with it. It is a pair of Ruby Slippers on a gold chain! Wonderful! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Classics    4. Fantasy    5. Fantasy fiction    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    8. Classic fiction    9. Juvenile Fiction / Classics   

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Reviews (19)

The Emerald City of Oz (Books of Wonder)
The sixth book in the series The Emerald City of Oz (Books of Wonder) by L. Frank Baum is one of the best so far and covers the adventures of Dorothy and her numerous friends in the land of oz. This time Dorothy moves to Oz for good with her aunt and uncle after they have lost all their money and been evicted from their farm. Here we get once more to meet old friends such as the tinman, jack pumpkin, the cowardly lion and the splendid princess ozma. The story centers on the evil nome king and his insideous plan for revenge and also contains crazy little stories about paper people and a land filled with cake like people. I love it and so will you.
Still my favorite Oz book
I just read The Emerald City of Oz to my little boy, who's almost five (see my earlier review of the book from 2000 which I wrote when he was about a week old!), and he and I both enjoyed it immensely. We're reading all the Oz books in order, and are now on our eighth (Tik-Tok of Oz). My son is a huge Oz fan.
One of my favorite Oz books
In this sixth Oz book, Baum makes an effort to close down the series and tie up all the various loose ends. Dorothy, driven by financial disaster, brings Aunty Em and Uncle Henry to Oz to live out the rest of their lives in peace with Ozma in the palace. At the same time, Roquat the Red (the old foe of the girls) decides to lay waste to Oz once and for all to retrieve his magic belt.
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Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children's stories, American    3. Children: Preschool    4. Classics    5. Fantasy    6. Juvenile Science Fiction / Fantasy    7. Classic fiction    8. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (8)

Two...count 'em Two...Tin Men!
This book, for some reason, was one of the hardest for me to lay my hands on as a child. As an avid Oz, this was pure torture. I had always loved the Tin Woodman, so I was desperate to read a book dedicated to him. Finally, on my 11th birthday, I was given the book by a friend of mine...and, after all the anticipation, I am happy to report that the story did not disappoint. I was immediately captivated by the cover of the book, for--what was this--TWO tin men? That was all the encouragement I needed to immediately abandon reality and plunge into this book. Well, after reading this tale again as an adult, The Tin Woodman of Oz stands up as one of Baum's best. In a somewhat rare turn for the author, he gazes back upon a past book of Oz to explore the history of one of his all-time favorite characters--and he does his usual marvelous job. My favorite scene is the adventure with the giantess, Yoop, but this adventure really starts to thump like the heart of our favorite tin man when our heroes meet none other than the Tin Soldier. This is probably the darkest of all of the Oz books; after all, Baum describes the building of a man from the discarded parts of another! But it's always Baum's charming style that wins over and, somehow, he can handle what seems to be a macabre subject matter in a delightful fashion. As a boy, it was a great pleasure to read a book that starred an all male trio (very unusual for Baum) and I'm sure this contributed to making this Oz adventure one of my favorites of the series.

The Tin Woodman of Oz: A Faithful Story of the Astonishing Adventure Undertaken by the Tin Woodman, Assisted by Woot the Wandere
The Tin Woodman of Oz: A Faithful Story of the Astonishing Adventure Undertaken by the Tin Woodman, Assisted by Woot the Wanderer, the Scarecrow of Oz, and Polychrome, the Rainbow's Daughter by L. Frank Baum is the 12th book in the series and tells the story of when the Tin woodman searches for his lost love Nimmie Amee. In this marvelous tale we get to meet all our favorite charachters from the previous tales like Ozma, Dorothy and get to meet some new and not all together pleasent folks like Mrs Joop and the nice Woot, the pig professor. The story line is not the best developed of the oz books but I still loved it and I think that Baum has created a series on par with the lord of rings and the narnia stories.

A so-so Ozian effort
Following "The Lost Princess of Oz," one of the best Oz books by L. Frank Baum (in my opinion) was not an easy task, and "The Tin Woodsman of Oz" didn't quite measure up. When a child called Woot the Wanderer (a bizarre mixture of Button-Bright and Ojo the unlucky) meets up with the Tin Woodsman and Scarecrow, the Woodsman gets to thinking about Nimee Amee, the Munchkin girl he was engaged to ages ago before the Wicked Witch enchanted his axe, resulting in the mishaps that led to him being tin. Realizing he's still technically engaged to her, he, the Scarecrow and Woot set off to find Nimee Amee and make her Empress of the Winkies (the Tin Woodsman himself being Emperor).Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Classics    4. Fantasy    5. Fantasy fiction    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Readers - Chapter Books    8. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    9. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (13)

A rainbow of characters
L. Frank Baum returns to Oz with a splash in this book, inviting Oz fans to the royal birthday party of Ozma and treating them to a "who's who" in the world of faerie--why even old Santa Claus makes an appearance! As a child, I was just pleased to have Toto back in Oz (his first return since "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz"), and one of my favorite illustrations in the whole book shows the little black fellow getting a friendly pat on the head from the Cowardly Lion as the two old friends reunite. There are some new characters in this book of course, including the delightful trio of Button Bright, Polychrome, and the Shaggy Man. I'm inclined to think that these were three of Baum's favorites, for while he often created characters that never made significant appearances in later books (Eureka the kitten, Billina the hen, Woot the Wanderer, etc), these three all played leading roles in future Oz installments. Character is definitely the focus in this book, and like much of Baum's work, "The Road to Oz" does not have a definite plot. Still, for any fan of Oz, it provides such wonderful escape that this party is one that you won't want to miss. The illustrations in "The Road to Oz" demonstrate the talents of John R. Neill at their peek, and this edition of the book is printed on colored pages to mirror the rainbow shades of the Land of Oz--at first this ploy seems a bit distracting, but by the end of the book one realizes that Oz is just that colorful.

a grand evocation of a child's birthday party
As noted by some other reviewers Road to Oz doesn't conform to the usual requirements of a fairy tale such as a quest or continual action adventure. However, I believe Baum was aiming at something different here, namely, evoking the wonder, anticipation and shared excitement that young children feel at a birthday party (the point of the book is the celebration of Ozma's birthday). The first edition of the book was even printed with paper of different colors like the colored paper used for decorations. In these terms, Road to Oz is perhaps one of the best written of the Oz series with very few false notes or awkward characters. The characters of Button Bright, Polychrome, the Shaggy Man and Johnny DoIt are particularly good. Actually there is a quite a bit of action and adventure before Dorothy and her companions arrive in Oz.The transformations of Button-Bright and the Shaggy Man into fox and donkey respectively, while straight out of Classical myth, have an unusual twist: their motivation stems not from malice or the Gods' sport, but rather from the transformer's inability of seeing more than one standard of beauty. Once in Oz, Baum handles the pageantry and socializing in deft fashion for a children's story. In short, an essential part of the Oz series.

Road to Oz, The (Books of Wonder)
This being the fifth book in the story is quite splendid and I thought that whilst it is not as strong as the others it still deserves 5 stars. Baum tells the story of Dorothy meeting the Shaggy man, a stupid little boy called Button-Bright and the beautifull but insecure Polychromethe Rainbow's Daughter. In this story we also get to meet "olde" favorites such as the tinman, the scarecrow, billina, the hungry tiger, ozma the princess and many other wonderfull charachters. I love the illustrations and Baum is quite an accomplished author that knows how to tell a compelling and exciting story from start to finish. Highly recommended indeed. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Classics    4. Fantastic fiction    5. Fantasy    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Juvenile Literature    8. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    9. Classic fiction    10. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (5)

Made for older toddlers
I did not realize this coloring book would have as much written text in it as it did.I bought it for my nephew's 3rd birthday, and it was somewhat advanced for him.

Wonderful abridged story
Much more than a coloring book, this is a wonderfully abridged edition of The Wizard of Oz with the terrific original illustrations. Great for reading aloud to younger kids. And I enjoy coloring the picture myself. I also recommend the Alice in Wonderland coloring book by the same publisher - my three-year-old will sit and listen to all 40-plus pages! An excellent product at a great price.

The perfect color book for the true Oz aficionado
Granted, the drawings W. W. Denslow did for the first editions of L. Frank Baum's "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," are not as famous as what John Tenniel did for "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," but these are a lot more fun to color.The illustrations alone would have been enough to justify picking up this reasonably priced coloring book, but there is an abridged version of Baum's story as well.This is good because for those who grew up on the classical movie and never got around to reading the original story (and how many hands would you need to count those who did not grow up that way?), the differences can be rather startling.The story is especially adapted for young readers, with large type, and the pictures can be colored in which crayons, colored pencils, or even, I suppose, markers.My advice, however, would be to pick up a couple of these because it is not nice to give a child a present like this and then fight with them over it so that you can color in the Cowardly Lion yourself."The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Coloring Book" is just such a neat idea.Hopefully they can do this for the other dozen Oz books that Baum wrote. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Activity Books - Coloring Books    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    3. Classic fiction    4. Colouring & painting    5. Juvenile Nonfiction / Activity Books   

Reviews (1)

A "must" for Oz fans
In The Rundelstone Of Oz, author Eloise McGraw demonstrates the kind of writing skills that have marked her as a three time Newbery honoree. The latest entry into the legendary fantasy world of Oz first created by L. Frank Baum, The Rundelstone Of Oz is a welcome addition that will become as classic an entertainment as any in the Oz series. Superbly illustrated by Eric Shanower in the "Oz Tradition", The Rundelstone Of Oz is a "must" for Oz fans, as well as a highly recommended acquisition for school and community library collections. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children: Grades 3-4    2. Fantasy    3. Fantasy fiction    4. Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic    5. Children's 9-12    6. Fiction    7. Juvenile fiction    8. Marionettes    9. Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic   

Reviews (18)

Perhaps the Funniest of the Oz series...
I seem to say that every Oz book is my favorite, and I suppose that speaks to the strength of the series. What I really enjoyed about this book as a child is that I had actually read "Ozma of Oz" (second in the series) before this one. So I had no idea that this story would tell us how Ozma arrived on the scene. What a fantastic surprise! Once again, Baum shows us why he is the master of fantasy, with this sequel. In many ways, I enjoy this book much more than "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz." The scene when the unforgettable character, Jack Pumpkinhead, enters the court of the Scarecrow will split your belly as if you were the straw man himself. It's a scene of intelligently-written laughs, and I always use this chapter of the book as a model with my creative writing students to demonstrate how to craft humor. Of course, as someone who enjoys puns (especially bad ones), I also relish every line of the Wogglebug in this book. With "The Marvelous Land of Oz", I think Baum established that he was a force to be reckoned with, and I highly recommend this book to all young readers.

Why "Marvelous Land of Oz" is the best Oz book.
I have always had a silly fetish with Glinda ever since reading the Wizard of Oz, and reading the Land of Oz made it worse.The subsequent books of the series have disappointed me.Ever since, whenever I have assessed another fantasy work, the Land of Oz has always been the yardstick.I know this sounds silly, but I've fallen for anything that has a sorceress in it, lol!He-man, Prydain, Lord of the Rings, Narnia, you name it.If it had a witch in it, I was curious.I came across a Tanith Lee novel that had a "white witch" in it and found it to be disgusting and disturbing, like slash.(That copy is now ashes.)And when I heard about the Harry Potter controversy, I knew instinctively that the critics were bashing a perfectly legitimate fantasy series, and so I had to read them.
Magical gender
What is wonderful about this book, is that the main character, Tip, the young boy protagonist, is actually a girl, transformed in infancy into a boy, by magic.All children should have an opportunity to exercise their imaginations in this way.The book goes to show how little difference there really is between the spirit of male and female.All the OZ books do this, in an innocent and joyous way, but this one does it the best. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Classics    5. Fairy tales    6. Fantasy    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    9. Classic fiction    10. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (9)

One of the best of the Series
I teach creative writing to children and have used this book as an excellent model for the fantasy genre. It has all the great elements of a fantasy story--strange and enchanted happenings, magical creatures, faeries, and a wonderful quest. Many of Baum's books are not so plot-driven; this, like "The Patchwork Girl of Oz" is an exception, and the story works marvelously. Fans of the Oz series will know that this book is a re-telling of "Ozma of Oz," but there are enough new characters, settings, and details to make it a fresh and rewarding tale. Certainly, old favorites such as Tik-Tok, the Nome King, Polychrome, and the Shaggy Man are at their best in this tale (one of the most delightful scenes is when Shaggy "breaks the law"), while new additions Private Files and Quox the Dragon bring much humor and whimsy. Young children will certainly enjoy the test of the three maidens towards the end of the book. This books has a very cohesive direction (not always the case with Baum) and I especially enjoyed how each chapter title is alliterative (I suppose that's the English Lit in me!). And, as usual, the John R. Neil's illustrations are wonderful; my favorite illustration is that of the greedy Nome King strutting out of his kingdom, his countless pockets filled with jewels.

Tik-Tok of Oz (Books of Wonder)by L. Frank Baum
Tik-Tok of Oz (Books of Wonder) by L. Frank Baum being the 8th book in the oz series written by Baum is the zaniest and funniest oz book to date and also the strangest. Here we are on a wild, fun and odd journey with Betsy Bobbin, Tik-tok, the shaggyman and many other wonderfull charachters. Yes it is true that we also read nothing about Dorothy, ozma or the the olde tyme charachters such as the cowardly lion, the tin man but the story is very well written and the plot is fabolous with strong charachter devlopment and fabulous illustrations as always. I am especially fond of the festy and adventurous Betsy Bobbin and I can not wait to read more exciting oz stories.

One of Baum's funniest works
Growing up, reading the Oz books, I found "Tik-Tok of Oz" to be one of my favorites. Rediscovering them now, as an adult, I find it still delights me more than most.Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Fantasy    4. Fantasy fiction    5. Legends, Myths, & Fables - General    6. Classic fiction    7. Juvenile Fiction / Legends, Myths, Fables / General   

Reviews (13)

The Wiz is back
While not quite as compelling or dramatic as other installments in the Oz series, "Dororthy and the Wizard in Oz" is a pleasant follow up to "Ozma of Oz" (the strongest of all the early Oz entries). Baum doesn't try to accomplish too much in this tale--his main intent seems to get that humbug of a wizard back to Oz. Along the way there are some amusing adventures, populated with wonderful new creatures and characters. As a child, I especially enjoyed the scene (and illustration) in which the Wizard slices the vegetable king cleanly in half, though the escape from the gargoyles is also quite engaging. I think girls will love this book for the return of Dorothy and for the rascal, Eureka the kitten, while the boys will love the Wizard's dastardly sword and slights-of-hand that he performs throughout the book.

Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
My 9 year old daughter is very much enjoying all the books in the series.This one is no exception.

Dorothy and the Wizard in Ozby L. Frank Baum
Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz by L. Frank Baum is the fourth book in the oz series and deals with the adventures of dorothy, her relative zeb, the talking horse Jim and the the very strange kitten Heureka. In this story we get to meet the vegetable people, the return of the wizard of oz and princess ozma, the cowardly lion and many other beloved charachters from the former books. The illustrations are splendid and the adventures are filled with exciting encounters and astounding discriptions. This series just gets better and better and I can not wait to read the next book in this splendid series. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Classics    5. Fantasy    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Juvenile Literature    8. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    9. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (3)

The Wizard Of Dreams
The Wizard of Oz. Is probably the most beloved story in the world. However, allot of people seem to forget there's of the wonderful series. This is notably because of the musical. However, you really can't blame that. Better Than Harry Potter In My Opinion
It's been a while since I last read a book in the Oz series but I just couldn't get enough of them as a child. I can't think of a more underrated series of books than those set in the wonderful land of Oz. There is so much more to Oz than the movie that we have all seen. Don't make a huge mistake and think that since you've seen the movie that you know what the books are about because I guarantee that you have no idea. These fantastic books are filled with adventure, danger and excitement and each unique book seems better than the last. This set is a great way to introduce yourself or your child to Oz. I promise you that once you start reading the Oz books, your bookshelf will soon be lined many, many more of Frank L. Baum's masterpieces. Harry Potter may be all the rage with kids these days but as someone who has read both the Harry Potter books and just about every Oz book there is I honestly believe that there is no doubt which series is better. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the Harry Potter books a great deal but they fail to compare to these absolutely delightful works of art.

The Oz Book Set - a great buy!
Each time I read the story of the little girl named Dorothy and her dog Toto being swept off to the land of oz, I fall in love.These books are great for younger readers because they are easy to understand and are even better for the adult who is young at heart.Through the words of L.Frank Baum I get transported into the wonderful land of oz, which is full of excitement, friendship and good times.Not only is this boxed set at a great price it is also a beautiful collection.The covers and drawings are all original and all truly reflect the amazing story it accompanies.If you haven't yet read an Oz book, you are missing out.Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 3-4    3. Classics    4. Juvenile Fiction    5. Juvenile Fiction / Classics   

Reviews (7)

Baum at his best, flexing his magical muscles...
The enchantment of this book begins with the cover; even as a child I was intrigued by this artwork, which seemed to suggest mystery, magic, and mischief. Well, the story behind the cover really delivers; truly, this book demonstrates just how L. Frank Baum was mastering his craft at this stage of his life. Sadly, this was the second-to-last book he was to pen before passing away. In "Magic" Baum falls back on a wide and familiar cast of characters including Dorothy, the Cowardly Lion, and the Wizard--as well as perennial villain of The Nome King (who, delightfully, just seems impervious to reform). Baum seems to have taken this approach in many of his later books, bringing in as many characters as he could; this approach works with marvelous success. For a kid, it's like getting to go to a birthday party with all of your favorite people; and "Magic" is one heck of a party. In this book, Baum really explores magic and how it is enacted in the Land of Oz; a departure, in a way, because generally the Oz books are about queer creatures and magical objects, and not about the use of magic itself. The parallel adventures of the separate groups of characters in this book help make it one of the most suspenseful in the series and it all ties together quite neatly. John R. Neil's illustrations are wonderful, as is this particular edition of the book. I say "Magic" is a book that all fantasy lovers should read--don't let this tale slip into the oblivion of time. If your children are Harry Potter fans (especially the younger set), then introduce them to the Oz series--and this book in particular.

The Magic of Oz (Books of Wonder)by L. Frank Baum
The Magic of Oz (Books of Wonder) by L. Frank Baum is the next to last book in the oz series written by Baum. This time Ruggedo the ex-nome king once more is stirring up more trouble then ever before and he is assisted by Kiki Aru whom has learned a remarkable magic word. In this story we once more meet our favorite oz charachters like the cowardly lion, dorothy, ozma, and many others. The Magic of Oz is filled with exciting adventures, wonderfull thrills and has grand illustrations that capture the spirit and essence of the magical world of oz. I can not wait to read the last of Baums oz books and then continue with the rest of the oz books written by other authors.

Pyrzqxgl
The only thing that I had remembered about reading this book as a child were the magic word "Pyrzqxgl" and the constantly changing flower that the glass cat finds. Happily for me, Baum has filled the book with a sea of these charming little details that are a large part of what still make the Oz novels so wonderful to read for kids and bigger kids.
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Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 3-4    3. Fantasy    4. Fantasy fiction    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Legends, Myths, & Fables - General    7. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    8. Juvenile Fiction / Legends, Myths, Fables / General   

Editorial Review

An updated version of the definitive guide, Read more

Reviews (23)

there's no book like this one
Fantastic source of background material, biography, illustrations.Everything you will ever want or need to know in one BIG volume.Beautiful gift.

With are off to see the Wizard in a Wonderful Volume !
The first word in the Wonderful Wizard of Oz is "Dorothy"; the
A labor of love
Although I had seen "The Wizard of Oz" 1939 classic movie more than a dozen times, I had somehow managed to make it through 41 years on this fine planet without reading the original L. Frank Baum "Wonderful Wizard of Oz" book.However, after reading "Wicked" by Gregory Maguire, which completely re-imagines Baum's creation, I became very curious to go back to the original and actually read it.The library had a number of choices available, but when I saw the gorgeous Centennial Edition "Annotated Wizard of Oz," I knew this was the one for me.And I was not disappointed!
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Subjects:  1. 19th Century American Novel And Short Story    2. American - General    3. Classics    4. Fantasy - General    5. Fantasy fiction    6. Fiction    7. Juvenile Literature    8. Literature - Classics / Criticism    9. Literature: Classics    10. Oz (Imaginary place)    11. Wizards    12. Children's literature studies: general    13. Classic fiction    14. English    15. Fiction / Classics    16. USA   

Reviews (12)

All good things...
...come to an end, so perhaps it's fitting that the last Oz book to be penned by L. Frank Baum was about Glinda, the good witch. This book always left me a little sad as a kid, thinking that it was the last of the original series. Baum seemed to really find his stride with in the last few books of the series, with such excellent installments at "The Lost Princess of Oz", "The Tin Woodman of Oz", "The Magic of Oz" and--of course--this one. Baum shows a lot of ingenuity in this book and the sinking of the city underwater reminds me of a work of science fiction--but of course, Baum has showed glimmers of this before, with the introduction of such characters as the robotic Tik-Tok. In many ways, Baum just seemed a bit ahead of his time, which is why, I suppose, his books remain so timeLESS.

The last and one of the best
The last by the original author of the series, this shows how peacekeeping ambassadors (Ozma and Dorothy) can become involved in a dispute and detained, their mission pushed aside by evil dictators. The Su-Dic and Queen Coo-eh-oh are vain, evil adversaries, causing a "war" between two of Ozma's populations. When Ozma and Dorothy try to reason with both parties they are rejected by one group, and taken prisoner by the other. Glinda and an entourage from the Emerald City must rescue the group, aided by three enchanted fish, who must first endure the odd cabin of Reera the Red, the Yookoohoo.
Glinda of Oz (Books of Wonder)by L. Frank Baum
Glinda of Oz (Books of Wonder) by L. Frank Baum is the last in the oz series that was written by Baum and is a splendid tale where we meet most of ourbeloved charachters like Ozma, Dorothy, Glinda, Jack Pumpkin, The Glass Cat and many other memorable ones. The story centers around Dorothy's and Ozmas attempt to avert a war between two tribes called the Flatheads and the Skeezers. The story takes many zany and crazy turns is a fitting conclusion to Baums oz series and I can not wait to read the rest of the oz books written by the other authors like Plumly Thompson and others. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Classics    4. Fantasy    5. Fantasy fiction    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Readers - Intermediate    8. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    9. Fiction    10. Juvenile Fiction / Readers / Intermediate   

Reviews (33)

Ozma
Of all the Oz books I have read,which is all of them, my favorite is Ozma of OZ.

Ozma is Awesome
This has always been my absolute favorite book of the Oz series. It makes a great read aloud to young children, but I think older kids will like it too, due to some fascinating concepts such as the Wheelers, the Princess with 28 heads, and the Giant with the hammer. In this book, L. Frank Baum also introduces some of his best characters in the entire Oz series: Tik-Tok, the Nome King, and Billina the Hen, who is a delightfully mischievious character (as a child, I was always disap