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Summary: Remarkable
Review: Although the movie was just a lure to the real book by L. Frank Baum to me when I was only the age of 2, I found now that it is very sad how the movie came to be so much different from the real story! Oz was not a dream to this young girl....Oz is real....or Oz is.. If you know me or have ever been to my house and into my room can you only picture how much I am in love with Oz. Not only the movie but the books mostly for Oz cannot be thought of by the movie. I own at least 150 Oz related books, and must have $1000 worth of Oz memorabilia that I have collected through my life time. If Oz had never been brought into my life, I would be very boring for I would have never taught myself to draw for the occasion. Although I'm just a child,who knows absolutly nothing to the minds of some adults, Oz is for all ages. So as u can see I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS STORY FOR ALL!
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Summary: This volume has the original Denslow illustrations
Review: Books of Wonder has put out this reproduction of the original 1900 edition with the original, delightful illustrations. I first read this Oz book at age 45 and was well entertained by its imaginativeness and gentle philosophy. I intend on reading more Oz books in the series. L. Frank Baum wrote well. He could be philosophical, sly, or just a master of plain, simple narrative. I could have done without about 25 pages (an editor could have helped), but, by and large, the book is a classic and not just for children. The Lion, Scarecrow, and Tinman will live forever!
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Summary: Books of Wonder's "OZ" is a truly magical place!
Review: Most of us have taken a trip down the Yellow Brick Road, whether through the MGM classic or one of countless literary incarnations on the bookshelves. This version, by far, is the best. The reader actually travels to the Emerald City and beyond as its author L. Frank Baum intended. Mr. Baum put up the money himself to publish the first edition of "The Wizard of Oz," because no established company would touch a "modern" American fairy tale. As a result, few books were actually produced, but rarely has an author had such control over his finished product. Here's your chance to own a reproduced copy of his original vision! Books of Wonder has done an outstanding job with the whole Oz series, and the love and care shows on every page. If you ever enjoyed this tale of Dorothy and her friends, order away without reservation.
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Summary: Important reading for readers of all ages
Review: A nightmarish cautionary tale of agrarian revolution--complete with a hideous tin ro-bot!
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Summary: Classic children's story
Review: I liked the reviewer's review earlier about the shoes and road representing the gold and silver standards and how right he was. But not only that, but the story itself is involving and engrossing from beginning to end. The characters are lovable and extremely well-developed for how short this story was. But besides critical viewpoints this story is a creative example of a thinking mind. Baum brought us a rowsing adventure about a young girl swept away by a tornado from her home in Kansas. Just a great story, that, just like Alice In Wonderland will be readable at any age.
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Summary: Why The Book is Better!
Review: I, like most kids, have seen the movie The Wizard of Oz, but I've also read the book.I checked the book out of my school library in the 5th grade (I'm now in the 6th grade.)Even though I read tons and love to read I fully intended not to read the book, because I'd seen the movie. Finding I had nothing to read I read The Wizard of Oz. It was a wonderful book. I read it in a very short period of time. The movie left out action and feeling. You could actually experience to mood and there was more detail to the book. I've also read some of the other Wizard of Oz books too. All of the Wizard of Oz books are great and I highly praise Baum's work!
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Summary: Great Story.
Review: I did not grow up with the Oz books. I first read this story when I was about 11. And I WAS surprised at how DIFFERENT it was from the MGM movie. So many things were changed, added and cut. This story is both delightful and charming. A living scarecrow, a woodman made of tin and a lion that is cowardly all go searching for wisdom, love and courage that they all already have. But in this ORIGINAL story it talks a lot about DEATH, and there are some VIOLENT and SCARY scenes that I am GLAD that MGM either ommited or just didn't put in. Especially since most of those scenes involve my dear Tin Woodman. I am having so much trouble accepting my dear Tin Woodman being once a man of flesh and bone and having a REAL name (Nick Chopper) and being the King of the Winkies and especially not seeming to have a REAL heart. Especially since Denslow's illustrations make him look so positively CUTE!
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Summary: The Wizard of Oz: 100 Years of Magic
Review: It is unfortunate that most people know The Wizard of Oz only by the movie. To be perfectly honest, I found the movie bland compared to the book. For those who have read the book, many don't know that there was thirteen other Oz books written by L. Frank Baum. People who have read the first fourteen probably don't know that five other authors wrote more Oz books after Baum's death, making a total of forty books in the original series. The Wizard of Oz is a wonderful book for anyone no matter what age you are. Just remember to forget every thing you saw in the movie. Most people are surprise when the story doesn't end where the movie ends. When you,re finished the book try the other books in the series. I think you would enjoy them all.
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Summary: Back when people cared about currency issues...
Review: It's amazing how little people know about this book. I've seen only one review note that this story is an economic parable, not just a fable for children, and the reviewer who mentioned it made it sound like this was a wacky, unrealistic modern interpretation of a simple children's tale. Not so! Baum wrote this story as an analogy for the bimetallic standard, an issue that people actually cared about around the turn of the century but now hardly know ever existed, since we don't back our money with anything anymore. But there was a time, and The Wizzard of Oz (short for ounce, as in an ounce of gold, as in the issue of price-ratios) was written during that period, when the hottest issue on the political plate was that of the bimetallic standard--how and if it should be used. Baum, incidentally, was an enthusiastic political participant, was, in fact, probably present during William Jennings Bryan's famous "cross of gold" speech. But no one knows this anymore. The film is much to blame. Replacing the SILVER shoes of the wicked witch of the east(ern financial establishment) with ruby slippers is inexcusable, even if people don't know or care about these issues now. The silver shoes (silver standard) on the yellow brick road (gold standard) is a vital immage. Ah well. Still a good story.
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Summary: Great Radio Theatre adaptation!
Review: It has been 100 years since 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' has been published. At the height of the anniversary comes this lively audio book. I feel that this 'radio theatre' adaptation did the book justice. Monterey Soundworks did a great job of transfering Baum's fantasy world to an audio book, giving listeners a new interpretation to the story, yet retaining some of MGM's inescapable influence. The cast is wonderful, bringing new life to the characters, though the Cowardly Lion and Wicked Witch characterizations sound similar to the MGM Bert Lahr and Margaret Hamilton interpretations. In a world where the Judy Garland movie overshadows the original book, it is virtually impossible to not think of at least some of the MGM characters while listening to this adaptation. The adaptation also includes many adventures in the book that are not found in the MGM film, such as the journey through the Dainty China Country, the Hammerheads, the Field Mice, etc. Other differences are that the color of Munchkin clothing is blue, an indication of that country's favorite color. The Wicked Witch of the West is melted not by setting the Scarecrow on fire, but after tripping Dorothy to get the silver shoes and making Dorothy angry (the 'Ruby Slippers' are an MGM creation). Glinda has a british accent, as does the witch of the North. Listening made me realize just how much more to the original 'Wonderful Wizard' book there is, and that MGM cut out a huge chunk of adventures that kids can now enjoy listening to here. I recommend this audio adaptation to any teacher, parent, or child who enjoys reading (or hearing) the magic of Baum's tale. It will transport you 'Over that Rainbow' to the world as Baum originally wrote it.
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