Customer Reviews (1)

You're the Best Friends Anybody Ever Had! - Dorothy, from MGM's Wizard of Oz
I love this book, and recommend the hard-back edition if you can find it!It is nostalgic, collectible fun for the true Oz fan.Photos are all black and white, but large, rare stills you don't often see.It gives a basic, but thorough description of the story line, the filming process of the movie, the casting, production trends, music, and what makes this movie a classic."Super Cute!"I'm into cute, and would purchase this book for any little one who loves the movie as much as I do.Fun gift for an older senior, who doesn't want to focus on the words so much as read something sweet, that is easy and informative.A terrific basic read on a timeless film-classic, and a worthwhile collectible. ... Read more

Book Description

Swartz reminds us in that various stage and screen dramatizations of Baum's story preceded and influenced the 1939 film. This richly illustrated book contains many rare photographs, film stills, sketches, theater programs, and movie advertisements from the different productions.

Piecing together the Chicago and Broadway stage productions (1902-3) from contemporary reviews, surviving script pages, and published song lyrics, Swartz shows how Baum and his many collaborators worked to transform the book into a popular theatrical attraction -- often requiring significant alterations to the original story.

Customer Reviews (6)

Acting Oz, the Early Years
Older fans of The Wizard of Ozwill definitely appreciate this book. So will students of the American theatre in the early 20th century and those wanting to know about silent filmmaking outside the major Hollywood studios. The more general reader will find an often fascinating look at American popular culture, how L. Frank Baum's stories were changed to attract older audiences (without losing the children), early special effects, music of the time, etc. But the detail is often more than we wished to know, things like cast changes over the Broadway play's long run. At times, the book sounds more like a doctoral thesis than the coffee table book it appears to be. There are lots of pictures, both color and B&W. I just wish it had been better written and edited. While there's plenty about the actors playing the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman, other fun items like the actor in a cow costume who replaced Toto on stage and the chorus girls playing everything from Munchkins to the field of poppies are more briefly mentioned. Describing the play's booking schedules and how the movies were distributed was probably easier for the author but much less for this reader. I felt there could have been a good article for a magazine like Smithsonian or American Heritage here but not a full-length book treatment.

Before MGM's Musical Oz, there was . . . Oz on Stage & Film
After a few years I finally have this book, and it was an absolute pleasure in reading about the many editions of "the Wizard of Oz and others" that I knew about but never really could find any info about.In this book, Mark Evan Swartz gives a detailed synopsis of L. Frank Baum's original story on 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' book, his first draft for the Musical (which closely followed his book but with a few little changes), the 1902 Musical Stage Productions of "the Wizard of Oz" - along with the many changes it went through in later years and countries for tours, along with the other "Oz" Musicals on Stage (like "the Woggle-Bug", based on L. Frank Baum's 2nd Oz book 'the Marvelous Land of Oz" and "the Tik-Tok Man of Oz", based on the 3rd 'Ozma of Oz' book), the 1908 "Fairy-Logue and Radio Plays", the 1910 Selig film of "the Wonderful Wizard of Oz" (which was the first film and debut of - what most people would believe - the Witch of the West, named Momba), the 1925 "Larry Semon in the Wizard of Oz" movie, the 1933 animated short "Wizard of Oz" and finally the 1939 "MGM's the Wizard of Oz", while also mentioning the remakes of the Musical MGM, along with mentioning "the Wiz".It also tells us about a few other Oz films that aren't very well-known today.
The colourful pictures are in the middle of the book (like a Movie Novel) and the black-and-white pictures/photographs are throughout the book.However, it forgets to mention a few things:
* the name for the Good Witch of the North in the Stage Musical was Locasta (found in 'Annotated Wizard of Oz').
* the synopsis for performances such as "the Woggle-Bug" and "the Tik-Tok Man of Oz" Stage shows, the 1910 films of "Dorothy and the Scarecrow in Oz", "the Land of Oz" and "John Dough and the Cherub" (I'm sure that if the '1910 Wizard' can be found, then maybe the 2 '1910 Oz' films + 'John Dough' and hopefully the '1908 Fairy-Logue and Radio Plays' can be found/restored soon and put on DVD too), a 1931 "the Scarecrow of Oz" short and the 1933 "Wizard of Oz" animated short.
I love having this book and I agree that those of you who wish to know a lot about 'Oz on stage and Screen' should have this book.
Thanks to this book, it helped me to realize why, compared to the previous 'Wizard of Oz' films of 1910 and 1925, why the MGM Musical is very popular with the older people, seeing how it was the first film based on the Original L. Frank Baum Story (Remember, when compared to the previous versions) to be feature-length with colour and taking up many parts of the story; it even helped me to point out/remember a few more bits of MGM that was from the book, but I still prefer the more closely-followed-animated-adaptaions (of 1982, 1987 and maybe 1991 and 1973-4).

yes, but no
Everything you've ever wanted to know about Baum's Oz career, written, alas, by a perfectly dreadful stylist who can't synthesize information, can't shape a thought, and, basically, can't write.

The photos are nifty, though.

What a Surprise!
Prior to reading this wonderful book, I was somewhat of a newbie to the works of L. Frank Baum.I was familiar with the Wizard of Oz movie, but had never bothered to read the book from whence it came.Reading Mark Evan Swartz's "Oz Before the Rainbow" opened my eyes to Baum's additional works as well as the 1903 stage extravaganza based on "The Wizard of Oz".

Before the 1939 Judy Garland film, the 1903 stage adaptation was THE definitive version of Baum's first book.David Montgomery and Fred Stone were the definitive Tin Man and Scarecrow.In fact, the play made the team of Montgomery and Stone household names for several years after the play's successful run.While the storyline of the musical did differ from Baum's original work, you'll be surprised to find out how much of it translated over to the '39 movie.

Several adjustments were made to the story in order to get it to the stage, rendering the story vaguely recognizible, but way off from Baum's originial work.While wary of the many differences, Baum and songwriting partner Paul Tietjens composed several tunes for the show -- none of which carried over to the film versions.But through extensive research, Swartz provides the words to many of these forgotton melodies -- a real find for any Oz fan.

There are also many other interesting revelations concerning the 1903 play as well as the other film versions that followed.For instance, did you know Oliver Hardy (of Laurel & Hardy fame) played a part in one of the early versions of Oz?

This is a great book for any fan of the Oz books or movies.It's all beautifully arranged between text, documents and pictures.It'll make a wonderful addition to your Oz colletion and make you want to discover more about Oz prior to 1939.Highly recommended reading!

Impressively Researched and Finely Focused
Oz Before the Rainbow (L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz on Stage and Screen to 1939) is an amazingly well researched and thorough piece of work by archivist Mark Evan Swartz.This piercing view is directed at the 1902-3 stage version and the three subsequent incorporations of the story into the silent movies, often rather loosely incorporated in odd and often surprising ways for those familiar only with the book.All of these versions of Baum's first book have fallen out of public consciousness, pushed aside, as it were, by the memorable 1939 film verion (the version that remained the truest to the spirit and not just some of the ideas of the book).Concepts from the previous incarnations do leak into the 1939 movie and it is fascinating to watch this evolution.This is a tremondous piece of research that is a must for fans of Oz. ... Read more

Book Description
The Historian's Wizard of Oz synthesizes four decades of scholarly interpretations of L. Frank Baum's classic children's novel as an allegory of the Gilded Age political economy and a comment on the gold standard. The heart of the book is an annotated version of The Wizard of Oz that highlights the possible political and monetary symbolism in the book by relating characters, settings, and incidents in it to the historical events and figures of the 1890s, the decade in which Baum wrote his story. Dighe simultaneously values the leading political interpretations of Oz as useful and creative teaching tools, and consolidates them in a sympathetic fashion; yet he rejects the commonly held, and by now well-debunked, view that those interpretations reflect Baum's likely motivations in writing the book. The result is a unique way for readers to acquaint themselves with a classic of children's literature that is a bit different and darker than the better-known film version. Students of history and economics will find two great stories: the dramatic rise and fall of monetary populism and William Jennings Bryan and the original rendering of a childhood story that they know and love. This study draws on several worthy versions of the Oz-as-Populist-parable thesis, but it also separates the reading of Baum's book in this manner from Baum's original intentions. Despite an incongruence with Baum's intent, reading the story as a parable continues to provide a remarkable window into the historical events of the 1890s and, thus, constitutes a tremendous teaching tool for historians, economists, and political scientists. Dighe also includes a primer on gold, silver, and the American monetary system, as well as a brief history of the Populist movement. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent Classroom Source
Ranjit S. Dighe's coverage of Baum's Wizard of Oz as an allegory is well designed as a teaching source for Populism.
I found his chapter on the historical background of this period very helpful in understanding this complicated period. More importantly, the chapter that includes the original story with annotations that identify the symbolism is exactly what a researcher is looking for. References to Littlefield's interpretation and Bryan's "Cross of Gold" speech makes this book a complete source for introducing this parable to history or economic students. ... Read more

Book Description
Rediscover this wonderful world of Oz, along with the fantastic and familiar characters that inhabit it, in this fresh adaptation of L. Frank Baum's classic by David Chauvel, featuring the breathtaking artwork of Enrique Fernandez. Originally published in France and winner of the prestigious 2005 Grand Prix de La Ville De Lyon Award for Illustration, this all-new adaptation of The Wizard of Oz is presented here for the first time in English. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

wonderful story
great french comic. each frame is so well painted its absolutely gorgerous, for the amount of work your getting for the price your paying, its absolutely a GREAT DEAL. the arts are beautiful.

Fantastic!
I have not completed the whole comic, but I love everything about it so far. The graphics style, characters, story, colors everything. One of my favorite comic books.

The wonderful, wonderful wizard of oz!!!!
simply stated, this is a beautiful book.Enrique Fernandez breathes new life into this classic tale.If you love fantatic and very original work- this book will not dissapoint...just take a look at the cover, the interior illustrations only get better! ... Read more

Book Description
FOLLOW THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD...All the excitement of the world's most beloved film unfolds in three-dimensional splendor as you join Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion---and Toto, too---on their journey to Oz.Over 50 photos from the classic movie are engineered into unforgettable scenes like the Twister, Munchkinland, the Haunted Forest and Emerald City.And the CD includes favorite songs from the original soundtrack, so you can click your heels to the beat while getting swept up in the amazing detail of this collectible book! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

A glorious look at the wonderful movie of "The Wizard of Oz"
Since this is "The Wizard of Oz: The Official 50th Anniversary Pictorial History" of the beloved 1939 film, it is not surprising that John Fricke, Jay Scarfone, and William Stillman have put together the book that tops the "must have" list for fans of the film (after, of course, L. Frank Baum's original novel, which just had its centennial edition come out in 1903.After an introduction by Jack Haley, Jr., the volume's prologue, "The Marvelous Land of Oz," begins with the story of how Baum came up with the name for Oz and looks at the history of his stories prior to the movie.Also included in this prologue are stills from some of the vaudeville and silent movie versions (the 1925 film had Oliver Hardy as the Tin Woodman), the original book covers for the 42 Oz stories, and Technicolor test shots of the movie cast, which includes Judy Garland wearing a blond wig as Dorothy.By the time you finish this prologue you will know that this book is going to be everything that you would want as the table of contents indicates:

Part One - The Oz Diary: Creating a Classic: (1) Acquisition and Casting contrasts the signing of the cast with W.W. Denslow's first pictures of the characters; (2) Scripts, Songs, and Staff focuses on early drafts of the scripts and ideas for song more so than what actually ended up in the movie; (3) Wardrobe and Markup details the evolution of the look of each character with corresponding photographs; (4) The Thorpe "Era" is about Richard Thorpe's short tenure as the film's director, when Gale Sondergaard is the Wicked Witch and Dorothy is a blond; (5) There'll Be Some Changes Made is short but sweet and is about the changes George Cukor made as a stop gap under Victor Fleming was signed to direct the film; (6) "The Wizard" Comes to Life is a lengthy chapter covering the making of the film with its various legendary stories; and (7) Post-Production and Previews, which details what was cut (including "Over the Rainbow" at one point), when and why.

Part Two - The Oz Diary Continued: Promotion and Reception: (8) The Oz Campaign contains everything from Judy Garland telling Frank Morgan "Anybody can be a wizard at Jelly-Making" for a newspaper ad for Certo (never heard of it either)to a two-page full-color spread in "Life" and a special "Wizard of Oz" ad for the Sunday comics; (9) Hollywood Party is about the movie's gala premier; (10) "Capitol" Times in Manhattan is about the show at Loew's Capitol Theater In New York City that showed the movie along with a life performances by Garland and Mickey Rooney.This chapter also shows some of the first product tie-ins for the movie; and (11) From Coast to Coast is a brief look at promotion of the film across the nation and includes what might be the first editorial cartoon that used the Oz characters to comment on a real situation (Hitler is the Wicked Witch of the West and Mussolini is a winged monkey, while Dorothy is European civilization, the Scarecrow is Poland, the Lion is Britain, and the Tin Woodman is France).

Part Three - Raves and Accolades looks at (12) The Reviews, which includes a look at foreign books and domestic record versions; and (13) The Twelfth Annual Academy Awards, where the film won Best Song for "Over the Rainbow," Best Original Score for Herbert Stothart's underscoring and adaptation of the Arlen/Harburg songs, and Garland for best performance of a juvenile during the past year.

Part Four - Oz and Ends, includes brief looks at (14) Original Ozzy Merchandising; (15) Oz Abroad; and (16) Theatrical Reissue.

Part Five - Television Perennial covers how most of us first saw the movie, including (17) Guest Hosts on CBS (I always liked Dick Van Dyke); and (18) NBC Interlude/CBS Comeback.

Part Six - The Legend is another set of brief chapters on (19) Reunions and Reminiscences; (20) Merchandising; and (21) Icon, which ends the book on a perfect grade note with editorial cartoons on the death of Garland in 1959, Jack Haley in 1979, Margaret Hamilton in 1985, and Ray Bolger in 1987.

This volume includes more than 400 illustrations, half in color and many never before published, including over seventy makeup and costume portraits, behind-the-scenes and production photos, and not only stills but script pages from the musical numbers and segments that were filmed but cut from the release print (including "The Jitterbug," Bolger's extended solo dance to "If I Only Had a Brain," and the "triumphal return" sequence).The photographs of all the movie posters, toys, and other items associated with "The Wizard of Oz" can be found throughout the book instead of being collected all at the end of the book corresponding with when the movie came out.The last three parts could essentially be individual chapters to avoid the sense that you are racing through the end of the volume, but that is a minor complaint all things considered.

Oz-some book!
If you only buy 1 Oz book for your collection, make it this one! In Oz circles, this book is known as "The Green Book" and it is a virtual encyclopedia of Oz information. The research and work that went into the writing of this book is truly astounding!

The rare photographs will amaze you (including Judy Garland in her blond wig and Buddy Ebsen as the Tin Man).

This book is full of little-known trivia. After reading this book, you can wow your friends with your new-found Oz knowledge!

A Look Back At a Movie Classic!
There have been a few books that have given us all a look into the making of MGM's movie version of "The Wizard Of Oz!"? But The John Fricke,Jay Scarfone manuscript surpasses all of the other books.Because it's filled with wonderful photos and info that takes us beyound the making of the film and gives us a look into the continuing popularity of the Oz characters.Using rare photos,extensive research and interviews from the people.Who were involved with the project.Messers Scarfone And Fricke.Show us the early stages of the making of the film.From the many drafts of the script..to the problems with the changes in cast,storylines,music,mishaps with props and special effects.To the promotions of the film on radio(NBC Radio's "MaxwellHouse Coffeetime")and at stage shows to the many other interpretations of the story that appeared on tv,in the movies,on radio, in the theater and at parades and theme parks.The book even gives some more biographical info about the cast and crew and some more insight into the man.Who created this legendary tale:Mr.Lyman Frank Baum.For the fans of this classic story.Who want to know the full extent of it's geniss? This is the one book to have.Kevin S.Butler.

A Look Back At a Movie Classic!
There have been a few books that have given us all a look into the making of MGM's movie version of "The Wizard Of Oz!"? But The Jay Scarfone,John Fricke manuscript surpasses all of the other books.Because it's filled with wonderful photos and info that takes us beyound the making of the film and gives us a look into the continuing popularity of the Oz characters.Using rare photos,extensive research and interviews from the people.Who were involved with the project.Messers Scarfone And Fricke.Show us the early stages of the making of the film.From the many drafts of the script..to the problems with the changes in cast,storylines,music,mishaps with props and special effects.To the promotions of the film on radio(NBC Radio's "MaxwellHouse Coffeetime")and at stage shows to the many other interpretations of the story that appeared on tv,in the movies,on radio, in the theater and at parades and theme parks.The book even gives some more biographical info about the cast and crew and some more insight into the man.Who created this legendary tale:Mr.Lyman Frank Baum.For the fans of this classic story.Who want to know the full extent of it's geniss? This is the one book to have.Kevin S.Butler.

Pictorial History That Still Works For The 63rd Anniversary
There are many, many books out there about the making of everyone's favorite film, "The Wizard of Oz".There aren't any I've seen that I wouldn't recommend, but if you are looking for pictures, pictures, and more pictures, this beautiful coffee table size book is a great place to start.Pictures, both in color and black and white, of every aspect of the making of the movie fill this attractive volume from cover to cover, and the text, by Oz authority John Fricke is all-encompassing.Although released for the 50th Anniversary of the film's 1939 release, it is still relevant 13 years later, and a great book for the collector or casual researcher.It has yet to be topped. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Oz As It Should Be
Eric Shanower manages to capture the magic of Baum's creation, and to keep the simplicity, yet the stories are also fresh and interesting. Shanower gives us new characters to read about. This book is about the forest of Burzee (written of first in Baum's non-Oz "Adventures of Santa Claus," a very good book) and the wood-nymphs who live there, focusing on one who is thrown out for kissing a mortal. This wood-numph joins up with the trolls, becomes their queen, and plans an attack on Burzee. The writing on occasion gets a little too melodramatic, to the point of being silly - but this is, after all, a comic book.

The fourth and best volume in a great series
In this, the fourth volume of a five volume series of graphic novels, "founded on and continuing the famous Oz stories of L. Frank Baum," Eric Shanower tells us the story of Nelanthe, one of the wood-nymphs of theForest of Burzee. Burzee with its wood-nymphs is one of the most magicalplaces ever imagined by L. Frank Baum. And Eric Shanower exceeds all hisother work to bring this forest to us in all its primordial majesty. Hisartwork also breathes life into the underground kingdom of the trolls asthe trolls and the wood-nymphs go into battle over Nelanthe. When Dorothyand the Scarecrow are drawn into the drama, they help save the day with thehelp of the Wooden Sawhorse. Oz doesn't get any better than this! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Graphic novel written & illustrated by Eric Shanower
Introduction by Harlan Ellison.Graphic novel (quality paper, comic book format, colored illustrations).

A Very Good Oz Read
Shanower continues in the tradition of Oz writers with a classic adventure story. A woman who guards an apple tree (which keeps the magic of Oz alive - if the apples are eaten, the magic dies) is having trouble protecting it from a man who wants to steal the apples. It is classic Oz, presented in comic book-style, meaning there is less than no subtext. There is only a problem when Shanower tries to work a moral into this magical if not original tale, something that Baum swore never to do.Yet, it is still good, and a nice addition to an Oz lovers book collection.

The first volume of an enchantingly great series
Eric Shanower is the best contemporary narrator of Oz and a worthy heir to authorship in the body of works started and defined by L. Frank Baum and John R. Neil. In this series of graphic novels Shanower is at his best!Others have done Oz comics with more edge and in a more contemporary style,but none have been truer to the spirit of Oz. His color illustrations bringthe land and its characters to life as no other illustrator has ever done. This volume introduces the Ozophile to four new enchanting inhabitants ofthis magical land who are truly memorable: Valynn (the Guardian of theEnchanted Apples), Bortag (the love-struck but inept Magician), Drox(Bortag's friend the flying swordfish), and the Evil Witch of the South.How these four interact with other well-known inhabitants of Oz makes foran enchanting story.A special added treat is an introductory essay on theimportance of Oz by the master fantasist Harlan Ellison. Get it today;you'll love it for the rest of your life. ... Read more

Book Description

"I believe that God wants to teach us how to dream again. I believe too that he wants to fulfill our dreams. It might not be in the way we anticipate, but if we are open to his heart, this great adventure will change us. It's a risky business to dream, for dreaming leaves us open to disappointment. But I think that when we stop dreaming, a part of us dies. So I say it's time to dream again, knowing that with God, nothing is impossible! Perhaps like Dorothy and Toto we might be in for the ride of our lives!"

Customer Reviews (6)

Great service!
I recieved the book ahead of the time that it was scheduled in the exactcondition that it was listed in. Great job!

I don't remember what my dreams were....
My husband sent me on a 2 day get-away...from our young kids. I didn't know how much I needed it. I read this book I got at the WOF conference front to back in two days and I just couldn't put it down! It is truly inspiring. I don't even remember what I used to dream about as a child or an adult. Mommy-brain has just washed it all away. I highly recommend reading this. Oh and if you can hear it in your head with her adorable, Scottish accent - it really makes it a hoot.

OUTSTANDING !!!!
I really enjoyed this book and the points it made with references to, The Wizard of Oz. It really inspired me and I can't wait to read her other works.

Enlarging one's borders to the benefit of a lost and waiting world.
Author and speaker Sheila Walsh offers Christian women the chance to dream. Weaving her own story throughout, Walsh's winsomeness and self-depreciating style will win over even the most hardened, dream-forsaken Christ follower. Very skillfully she intersperses the story of Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz into the opening of each chapter. She gently urges her audience to recall those earlier moments of life when their hearts were naïve and still tender enough to dream big. Then she woos readers into her confidence by presenting compelling biblical arguments for taking their hearts (and dreams) out of cold storage and allowing them to flourish once again.

Walsh describes her own introduction to Christianity as a girl and how as a young adult she tried to live up to the "perfect Christian woman" model, which eventually landed her in a psychiatric hospital for depression. Her story is gritty and utterly relatable, which will resonate with fellow Christian women as they face their own "unattainable" standards that frequently imprison and enslave them.

Walsh challenges women to dream big by first understanding their freedom and standing as children of God. She discusses the importance of learning to accept one's uniqueness and celebrating it (as God does), and also handily walks Christians through the ABC's of letting forgiveness do its perfect work in order to be fitted to receive the desires of one's heart. Likewise, Walsh provides excellent narratives from other women who have overcome shame and defeat, and are now living in peace with themselves, others and God.

Once Walsh has primed her readers from the inside out for the journey to Oz, she takes them by the hand and gently urges women to see that change is part of life and that pain is not necessarily a bad thing if it is the agent that compels inner maturation. Through disappointment, women can emerge stronger and, honed by God's grace, more holy. Walsh does an especially nice job of depicting the body of Christ as an entity where love is the unifying element, where women live out their tenets of faith through active service and acceptance of others. Jesus wanted His followers to live out His dream, which was "that we would love one another and through our love other people would know that God is alive and well."

Walsh continues to explore this theme of unifying love, further stating that Christ prayed for believers to give themselves in sacrifice for a bigger purpose knowing that only through God's enabling grace could they achieve even a small measure of success at it. And when Christians choose to love through God's grace and mercy, "a watching world pays attention." Perhaps one of the most valuable lessons she offers in this text is not merely personal transformation via learning to dream and believe God for great things; it is the vision she incites for enlarging one's borders to the benefit of a lost and waiting world.

--- Reviewed by Michele Howe

God Has a Dream Foe Your Life
This book is for anyone who had a dream and thought it would not come true. It is encouraging, inspiring, and humerous, which you need when you feel your dreams are gone. I love Shelia Walsh! I first readLiving Fearlessly, after that she had my heart and confidence. You will encouraged and dreaming again. ... Read more

Amazon.com
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.Book Description
Join the wonderful world of Oz. Here is the original book that started the wonderful series and inspired the famous movie, in which Dorothy Gale is whisked from Kansas to the magical land of Oz where--with a Scarecrow, a Tin Woodman, and a Cowardly Lion--she sets off to find the illusive Wizard.
And don't forget these enchanting books of Oz:
Book 1: THE WIZARD OF OZ
Book 2: THE LAND OF OZ
Book 3: OZMA OF OZ
Book 4: DOROTHY AND THE WIZARD IN OZ
Book 5: THE ROAD TO OZ
Book 6: THE EMERALD CITY OF OZ
Book 7: THE PATCHWORK GIRL OF OZ
Book 8: TIK-TOK OF OZ
Book 9: THE SCARECROW OF OZ
Book 10: RINKITINK IN OZ
Book 11: THE LOST PRINCESS OF OZ
Book 12: THE TIN WOODMAN OF OZ
Book 13: THE MAGIC OF OZ
Book 14: GLINDA OF OZ ... Read more

Customer Reviews (93)

There's no place like home
I read this book recently after reading Maguire's Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. I was very familiar with the movie The Wizard of Oz (Two-Disc Special Edition) but had never got around to reading the book, and I have to say, I really enjoyed it.
Read it by yourself or with your child, you will be surprised how different it is from the movie we all know.

The Great Adventure
This book was a great adventure!! You meet a lot of imaginary creatures and go through the woods through a town made of china and its good for children or adults!!!!!! So if you want your child to read more often give him/her the wizard of oz it will be imposible for your child to stop reading it!!!!!!!!!So if you want to read read read than read the wizard of oz!!!!!!!!!!!ITS GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

the fairy tale of the wizard of oz
THE WIZARD OF OZ

The Wizard of Oz is about a girl, Dorothy, who's house was carried up in a cyclone with her and her dog Toto still in it. It turns out she landed in the Land of Oz. She meets some munchkins and a nice witch who tells her to go down the yellow brick road to meet the Great Oz who can get her back to Kansas where she lives. On her journey, she meets bad creatures, and friends who also need to get to Oz. They have some difficulties along the way. Will Dorothy ever get back to Kansas to meet her Aunt Em again?
This book has a clear message that you should keep trying, even if it's hard. Dorothy and her friends keep trying to get to Oz and anywhere else they need to be, even though the challenge is difficult.
This is a great fairy tale. I loved this book! So if you're looking for an exciting fairy tale, read The Wizard Of Oz!

A "not so" wonderful wizard of Oz
The reason I read this book was because of all the high praise I hear about it. Don't get me wrong the book was wonderfully written for a 5 year old. There were some parts I enjoyed but most parts left me bored and wondering when it will end.Most of you have seen the movie, some of you have seen it many many times. What i'm getting at here is that book was actully worse than the movie. The book has a bunch of different and wierd parts that the movie didn't have.After awhile dorothy get annoying when see keeps complaining that see wants to go home and she seems not to care about anyone exept for her dog toto.
To any child or,parent looking for a book for a child, this book is for you. But to the teenagers and adults that don't enjoy children's books, this book isn't for you. It may seem that i've been harsh on the book but there is some good parts too. Its also a classic so it wouldn't hurt to read this book.

A "not so" wonderful wizard of Oz
The reason I read this book was because of all the high praise I hear about it. Don't get me wrong the book was wonderfully written for a 5 year old. There were some parts I enjoyed but most parts left me bored and wondering when it will end.
To any child or,parent looking for a book for a child, this book is for you. But to the teenagers and adults that don't enjoy children's books, this book isn't for you. ... Read more

Book Description

One of the true classics of American literature, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz has stirred the imagination of young and old alike for over four generations. Originally published in 1900, it was the first truly American fairy tale, as Baum crafted a wonderful fantasy out of such familiar items as a cornfield scarecrow, a mechanical woodman, and a humbug wizard who used old–fashioned hokum to express that universal theme, "There's no place like home."

Follow the adventures of young Dorothy Gale and her dog, Toto, as their Kansas house is swept away by a cyclone and they find themselves in a strange land called Oz. Here she meets the Munchkins and joins the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion on an unforgettable journey to the Emerald City, where lives the all–powerful Wizard of Oz.

This lavishly produced facsimile of the rare first edition contains all 24 of W.W. Denslow's original colour plates, the colourful pictorial binding, and the 130 two–colour illustrations that help make The Wonderful Wizard of Oz so special and enduring.

Ages 9+

Customer Reviews (31)

Great Book
I read all of the Wizard of Oz books when I was a child and loved them. So, I bought this book to read to my two daughters, ages 5 and 8, at bedtime because I thought that it would be appealing to both of them. To my delight, my 12 yr old son has been joining us when I read because he's enjoying it as well. I've already bought the next book in the series for when we've finished this one.

Wonderful Book Such A Great Read
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Books of Wonder)
I had not read this book but of course had seen the movie. I bought it for work as we did Twisted fairy Tales for our Halloween Event this year so I wanted to see what the storyline was like. I loved it defiantly recommend it as something you must read at least once in Life

Wizard of Oz
I love this book! I like it even better than the movie! I am glad I bought it to keep. It came really fast and was in good condition. The artwork in this book was a little different than another one I had read, but I still like it alot.

The wonderful wizard of oz
I must first say that I first read this book as an adult after many years of watching the movie.While I am glad that I finally read the book I have to say that for me the movie was much better.

An Ageless Classic For All Ages
As a child, I had the movie based off of this book memorized.The movie was a classic favorite of mine, this during a time when the Wizard of Oz was broadcasted yearly, when there were only 4 or 5 channels on the television (at least that we were able to get reception on) and when the battle between VHS and Beta was still abound.And at this age, during this era -- it never really occured to me that all this wonder was based off of a book even older than the movie.

Finally, many years later, I've read this book as an adult, and find myself in even more awe that I was as a child mezmorized by the movie.The characters are all much more developed, and so adorable and innocent, you can't help but love them.The differences between the movie and the book are very facinating.I found it interesting how things where switched around, reused, edited, and added.

A must read for everyone, children and adults alike.We've all seen the movie, now it's time to read the book and hear the story as it was in its orginal splendor. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Enthusiastically recommended
Edited by Nancy Tystad Koupal (editor of the award-winning journal "South Dakota History"), Baum's Road to Oz is a literary tour de force of early writings by celebrated children's author L. Frank Baum, best known for his fantastic imaginary land of Oz. Baum's Road to Oz includes a sampling of Baum's baseball poems, newspaper editorials, and animal fairy tales, and especially apprises Baum's controversial opinions on topics ranging from women's suffrage to spiritualism and the occult to tolerance, contentment, and dishonest trade practices. Koupal and other literary disseminators Mark I. West and Michael Patrick Hearn lend their own insights into Baum's early works, in this enthusiastically recommended volume for college libraries and serious-minded students, scholars, and fans of L. Frank Baum's classics. ... Read more

Book Description
In The Wisdom of Oz, psychotherapist Gita Dorothy Morena expands upon the metaphors of America's most beloved fairy tale, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Morena, great-granddaughter of L. Frank Baum, offers unique insight into Oz as she describes the story's influence on her life and her work as a Jungian Sandplay therapist. In this publication, timed to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Morena celebrates her great-grandfather's literary gift to the world and explores passageways to psychological healing through the archetypes of Oz. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A Useful Book Involving Fantasy and Reality
I collect everything Oz, and a friend gave me a copy of this book years ago.At first, I didn't think much of it, as it is a psychological approach to working with the subconscious.But like the author, I too have a large collection of figurines which I enjoy displaying.I have found myself frequently referring to this book over time. I think it's a terrific book for someone who likes to collect figurines, as well as for counselors of any type.The author walks the reader through some of the experiences she has had with her own patients, and how her collection enhanced the power of their emotions and dreams through sand-play.This is an especially great tool for anyone who works with kids, or for adults who are wanting to connect to their archetypal child-within!It is simply written with several photos included to illustrate how sand-play is done.As a healer, you will find options to use for your own collection of knick-knacks and toys.We are all looking for a little inspiration in our lives, and sand-play and sharing our collections is one way to share and connect with others.

Brilliantly insightful interpretation of the classic Oz tale
This book came to me at a crossroads in my own life, at a time when I was experiencing my own personal journey to find the metaphorical `home', which paralleled Dorothy's journey in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.I was so moved by Gita Morena's brilliantly insightful interpretation of the Oz story that I contacted her, and traveled across the country twice to attend meditation retreats that she led.The wisdom she brings to the interpretation of the Oz story is profound, inspirational and life-enhancing.

As great-granddaughter of Oz author L. Frank Baum, Dr. Morena brings a unique perspective to the interpretation of the Oz story in her masterfully written book.She begins by sharing her family history and setting the stage by showing how Baum's tale addressed numerous social, cultural and political issues in late 19th century America, when it was written.Dr. Morena is also a PhD Jungian psychologist who embraces Eastern philosophy, and it is this perspective that enables her to bring clarity to the true meaning of Dorothy's journey.

At some point in most every life, the proverbial `cyclone' hits out of the blue in the form of a major and unexpected upheaval.For those who allow their path to unfold, this `cyclone' represents the beginning of a sacred journey towards our true `home', which, as Dorothy learned, is the undiscovered or untapped resources we all possess, and the very "essence of who we are".Each character in Oz actually symbolizes an aspect of ourselves that must be acknowledged, developed and integrated into the whole.The Scarecrow represents wisdom, the Tin Woodman represents compassion, the Cowardly Lion represents courage, and Toto represents the intuitive or instinctual energy we each possess.Even the Wicked Witch represents the "shadow" or dark and repressed side of ourselves that we may not want to face, but must be addressed in order to find `home'.Dorothy's journey has several distinct phases and contains many challenges, paralleling our human journey along our own yellow brick road in life.We must also learn as Dorothy did that there really are no magical "Wizards" who can rescue us and send us home - we must do this for ourselves.In her book, Dr. Morena also shares her own very personal journey, which parallels Dorothy's.It is through facing the challenges in life's journey that we develop our own wisdom, compassion, courage and intuition, and find our own way `home'.As Dorothy realizes at the end of the story, she already has everything she needs inside of her.

The Oz characters and the journey along the yellow brick road touch a deep chord in many readers, and have become powerful metaphorical symbols in our culture.Dr. Morena illustrates this point using examples from the "sandplay" portion of her psychotherapy practice.Clients are guided to create scenes in a type of sandbox, choosing several of thousands of small figures available.As with art, music or poetry, these scenes help express important aspects of the inner self and the personal journey that a person may not be able to express in words.Time after time Dr. Morena's clients are drawn to use Oz characters or to create a yellow brick road in the sand, thus demonstrating how these characters do represent aspects of ourselves that must be acknowledged, developed, and/or integrated into the self.It is quite fascinating.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in a deeper look at this classic tale, and how its symbolic imagery can illuminate aspects of every human journey.

YES!
I am forever a student.In this book Gita relates the world of Oz to the field of psychology, something I have never seen.Exploring her family heritage she gives ample backround in explianing that we are all traveling in our own yellow brick road.Truly exceptional, Gita has a way with words. This is definatly a book for the eager to learn and open-minded.If you are such, it is a must read...

Misled on the Yellow Brick Road
I found that Morena has misled her readers into thinking that this is a book about OZ; especially since she is a relative of the creator.But it really talks about her interest in play/sandbox therapy.I am not interested in that so I felt disappointed with the book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

no better way to find out about your favorite oz people!!!!
I must say this is my favorite who's who i have ever read! i like it because it has an entry for each of the oz characters ever written about and it says a paragraph about the character then it says what book and page # it's from and, last but not least, it says the initials of the author who wrote about it. i think if you want to be a know-it-all about oz (and i mean that in a good way, i must admit)then this is the book to get. the unfortunate thing is that it is out of print, buti can assure you that you will be able to buy it used.

"The Happiest Who's Who Ever Written"
The above phrase was Reilly & Lee's advertising slogan for this book when it was published in the 1950's, and it's still true today.This is one of the best books ever written about Oz, and represents a herculean effort on Jack Snow's part.It contains listings describing nearly every character who appeared in the first 39 Oz books (from "Wizard" through "Hidden Valley") and stating on which page of which book each character first appeared.It also contains brief biographical sketches of all the authors and illustrators of the first 39 Oz books and short blurbs describing the plots of those books.It is illustrated with pictures taken from all of the books (except, if I remember correctly, "Wizard," since Reilly & Lee were not publishing that book at the time and did not have the rights to the Denslow illustrations).This book is simply a joy to browse through, especially since if one has not read all the books it covers it offers tantalizing hints about them...

"The Happiest Who's Who Ever Written"
The above phrase was Reilly and Lee's adviertising slogan for this book when it was published in the 1950's, and it's still true today.This is one of the best books ever written about Oz, and represents a herculeaneffort on Jack Snow's part.It contains listings describing nearly everycharacter who appeared in the first 39 Oz books (from "Wizard"through "Hidden Valley") and stating on which page of which bookeach character first appeared.It also contains brief biographicalsketches of all the authors and illustrators of the first 39 Oz books andshort blurbs describing the plots of those books.It is illustrated withpictures taken from all the books (except, if I remember correctly,"Wizard," since Reilly and Lee were not publishing that book atthe time and did not have the rights to the Denslow illustrations).Thisbook is simply a joy to browse through, especially since if one has notread all the books it covers it offers tantalizing hints about them... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Sad state of Oz
There have been so many books on the Wizard of Oz.So many of them good and some not so good.This book falls in the uncategorized section.

The Wizard of Oz is a fairy tale.To think that political and social subjects are within the scope of the story is to believe there is a Santa Clause.If something should be written then it would have to be racism within Munchinville, as its whole society was created with stature in mind (but that is neither here nor there).

Much of the story is a fantasy--a bedtime story for kids.I'm sure the author sat down and thought, "Hmm...how can I put forth a story that would be a skillfully covert political statement in a children's story?"Exactly.

So...the Wizard of Oz is just a story...not a statement, a case study, a historical treatment, an X-File...

My rating is 1. ... Read more

Book Description
An anthology of writing inspired by The Wizard of Oz—the book or the movie. Each story, essay, or poem is no more than 99 words. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Rubies in the Land of Oz...
Okay so I am biased.I was lucky enough to be one of the mini authors in this delightful anthology containing an assortment of poems, short stories and quirkly little pieces that never go over the 99 word mark.Written partly as a dedication to the classic novel "The Wizard of Oz" this collection of easy to read shortlets (a great way to describe each piece)is wonderfully reminisent of an age long since past.Occasionally sentimental but never syrupy, this little book is pleasure to read, and it will have you giggling and crying in the same breath.
Yellow Bricks and Ruby Slippers might not be the best seller of the century but it is a wonderful little page turner that allows you momentarily to be nostalgic and enter a timeless world full of Munchkins, witches, dogs and little girls whose friends are scarecrows, cowardly lions and tin men who want a heart...If you are a "Wizard of Oz" fan this book will pique your funny bone and remind you that you too can click your heels and know that there is no place like home. ... Read more

Amazon.com
One hundred years ago, a little girl named Dorothy and her Kansas housewere picked up by a tornado and whisked away to a land somewhere over therainbow. This land was called Oz, and it has been the inspirational startingpoint for generations of children, writers, artists, and dreamers ever since. Inthis celebration of L. Frank Baum's extensive Oz series, thirty beloved picturebook authors and illustrators pay homage to the wondrous Emerald City and itsmarvelous inhabitants. Brief personal essays are accompanied by remarkableillustrations by the likes of Peter Sís, Tomie dePaola, William Joyce,Kay Chorao, Jules Feiffer, Trina Schart Hyman, and Maurice Sendak. RobinMcKinley was thrilled to find stories that featured "Girls Who Did Things." AnnM. Martin loved Frank Baum's poetic dedications in his books. Due to the fall ofthe Iron Curtain, Oz disappeared from young Peter Sís's life in Moraviafor many years--eventually he discovered the communists had deemed it"ideologically incorrect." Madeleine L'Engle, Paul O. Zelinsky, Lloyd Alexander,Natalie Babbitt, and others describe their early encounters and laterconnections to Baum's imaginary world of tin men, flying monkeys, witches, andhen heroines. This collection of essays and illustrations is truly a labor oflove--a perfect gift for any fan of Oz. (Ages 10 and older) --EmilieCoulterBook Description
Can it really be one hundred years ago that a little girl from Kansas rode a tornado to a wondrous land called Oz? The adventures of Dorothy and her friends have enthralled generations of readers over the last century. Now, in Oz: The Hundredth Anniversary Celebration, thirty beloved children's book authors and artists pay tribute to the enchanted land that has done so much to nourish our imaginations, to make us laugh, and to inspire us.

In words and images, these great storytellers and illustrators pay homage to an American classic. From a joyous vision of skipping down the Yellow Brick Road alongside Toto...to moving memories of turning to Oz as a source of comfort during wartime...to warm tales of parents and children shoring the pleasure of discovering a magical world together, these reflections celebrate all that is most special about Oz.

Oz has proved to be an image of hope in the most difficult of circumstances, and the vivid words of L. Frank Baum have entranced even the most reluctant of young readers. Appropriately then, in addition to offering tributes to Dorothy, the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, Cowardly Lion, and their friends, Oz: The Hundredth Anniversary Celebration honors reading itself Proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), which brings diverse literacy activities and free, new books to three and a half million children every year. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Gorgeous Gift Book
This book has art and stories from some of my most favorte children's book creators--people like Madeleine L'Engle, Eric Carle, Paul Zelinsky, Chris Van Allsburg. All of them show how Oz entered their imagination and influenced them. You can really see how passionate about it they are--plus they donated their work (to support Reading Is Fundamental). It's a great gift for anyone who likes Oz. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Cat Marsala, the hard-working Chicago reporter, returns in this ninthentry in D'Amato's series. This time she's got plenty of company--what seems likethe entire cast of characters from the magical world of Oz created by L. FrankBaum. In a pleasant diversion that reads more like an homage to Baum than amystery novel, Cat tracks down the unknown assailant who disrupted the annualGrant Park Oz Festival by killing its security chief and attempting to murderthe reporter herself. Or is it Cat's young nephew, whose father (Cat's brother Barry) is the director of the event, who is the target of the killer? Torn between family loyalty and her duty to tell the police exactly what she witnessed between the dead man and her brother, Cat unwittingly lands Barry right in the prime suspect seat. So it's up to her to get him out of it by finding the real killer and, not so incidentally, treating the reader to a guided tour of the marvelous mind of one of the most beloved children's authors of all time. Oz fans will have a field day; others may be drawn to the world of the Emerald City for the first time and discover that as long as Baum's books endure, it will never be too late to have a happy childhood. --Jane AdamsBook Description
The story begins at a big centennial festival celebrating Oz books inChicago's Grant Park. Investigative reporter Cat Marsala rediscovers thewonderful world of Oz when she takes her six-year-old nephew Jeremy tothe festival. There, Cat and Jeremy witness a murder. Cat grabs him andruns -- with someone far more evil than the Wicked Witch in pursuit.Download Description
When she agrees to accompany her nephew Jeremy to Chicago's centennial Oz festival, savvy Chicago journalist Cat Marsala is eager to rediscover her childhood passion for L. Frank Baum and all of the joys and surprises that lurk along the Yellow Brick Road. But the festival's magical spell is abruptly broken when Cat witnesses a harrowing scuffle that yields, once the confusion clears, the brutally stabbed corpse of the chief security guard. Cat knows she's not in Kansas anymore. When gunshots ring out, it's clear that someone decidedly more evil than the Wicked Witch is in deadly pursuit. Worst of all, the mounting evidence all points to Cat's brother as the murderer.Hard Road combines the author's vintage cleverness and skill with timeless insights into the allure of the Oz books. Long celebrated for her knack for laying out "red herrings in a tantalizing puzzle" (Chicago Sun-Times), Barbara D'Amato proves that Cats really do have nine lives, and her son, novelist Brian D'amato, adds an illuminating Afterword on Baum's life and works. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Welcome to the land of Oz
This was an enjoyable mystery. The realistic Chicago and Oz Festival were a great setting. I'm a fan of the Wizard of Oz movie, but was not familiar with L. Frank Baum's books, so the information on those books was very interesting. I liked the book, including the afterward by the author's son.

If I Only had a Cat
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Barbara D'Amato's Hard
Luck several years ago, & was pleased to find that she
had published another installment to her Cat Marsala
series, Hard Road.Set in Chicago, the mystery
revolves around a Wizard of Oz festival.The story is
full of suspense, color & drama.As usual, the author
has gone to great lengths to research & provide a
plethora of factually accurate details.This book
also features a substantial epilogue, The Wooden
Gargoyles: Evil in Oz by Brian D'Amato, & Twenty
Questions in Oz: An Oz Quiz.Oz fans will not go
wrong with the purchase of this stunning book.

Oz in Chicago--but watch out for the Tin Woodsman
Cat Marsala thinks she's just entertaining her young nephew with a visit to the Chicago Oz festival but before the night is through, she witnesses two murders, gets herself and her nephew shot at, and escapes through the tunnels that run underneath Chicago.

When her evidence gets the police convinced that her brother is the killer, Cat decides to investigate herself. Yet if it isn't her brother, who could it be. She saw the victim run toward her brother with no evidence of blood anywhere.

The strength of Hard Road is in its descriptions of Chicago and its little peeks into the Oz legend (I also enjoyed the Oz essay at the end although it had nothing to do with the mystery). Its weaknesses are in the lack of character development and fairly linear plot.

HARD ROAD is well written--I certainly kept turning the pages and enjoyed the book.

ozzification
despite a colorful premise- a festival celebrating the centennial of the wizard of oz- a surprisingly lackluster whodunit. author's usual vivid sense of place and some interesting tidbits of ozinalia; but thin on the whole,an anemic effort.

NOT CATS HOTTEST CASE.....
I enjoy Cat Marsala mysteries, and was excited to pick this title up. It started out with some drama but soon lost its way, and became boring. I didn't care for the way Cats family treated her, nor was there anything going on romantically, which is something I like to catch up on. I think it could have been developed further, I would have liked to have known what the lieutenants reaction was at the end, and seen Cats family eating some crow. I guess I am not into Oz either, Brian D'Amatos notes (?) at the end were probably the biggest mystery. ... Read more

Book Description
Does The Wizard of Oz touch a spiritual chord in each one of us because it has a certain Zen to it? Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, is clearly a Zen Master. She sets Dorothy on the Yellow Brick Road to spiritual enlightenment. When Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion let go of their conscious yearning and free their minds to function spontaneously and inharmony with the cosmos, brains, heart, and courage flow easily and effortlessly. Ultimately, Dorothy attains satori, the Zen experience of "awakening." She finds her true Self, her higher consciousness, her ultimate Oneness with the cosmos--and her home. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

Oz From a Different Angle
This little book is a gem.The Oz story is viewed through the lense
of Zen, yielding yet another perspective on a tale that continues to find
new interpretations.The beautiful illustrations elegantly fit the tone
and style of the book.The Zen interpretation rarely feels forced or trite
but seems perfectly fitting.A quick read, this is a thought
provoking look at a familiar story.

Buddhas and Tao and Void, O-Mu!
Um, I like it.And I'm a Zen Buddhist and and Oz fan.So on a cute-scale I give it a higher rating than the actual writing.The pics are fun, the approach is fun...And after all those years of wondering, why did MGM have to make Oz all about a DREAM?! (Some of us hate that.) But I love the Dream, because there are no mistakes in the MGM film, from the metaphorical perspective.(Well, actually, those actors had a helluva time; a nightmare.)The problem with this book is that it's not linear.It doesn't correspond to the run of events in the film.And that drove me winged-monkey-bananas.I suppose that approach could be similar to the Buddhist Bardos??But I wanted some order.Some editing.I had to keep reading and re-reading in order to figure out where we were in the Tao of Oz - or zen, or what have you?Well, I would have liked some more insight on The Good Witch Glinda's role in things, too!That could have been worked on.So I took that personally and my feelings were hurt.Because we really want to know what makes Glinda tick!That was too vague.You know how the movie ends, Glinda bops back in with her bubble, and is all like, in her extra-terrestrial voice, "You always had the power with you".(See my review on Gangaji's Diamond in Your Pocket.)Fans are so let down by that part of the film!Why put Dorothy through all that junk when she could have just clicked her heels 3 times?And we don't get that answer in this book, so I felt gyped.Also? I felt as if I were being preached to.So I actually gave my first copy of this book away!But I still DO appreciate someone's insights; so I bought it again!Finally?!My feeling is, when a writer writes everything in "we" terms and not in first person?I'm assumming he's talking about that blackberry in his pocket, and not me.Because-b-coz-b-coz I'm perfect!Ok?(And that's my Dream, so I'm stickin' to it.)

Philosophy, Courage a Brain and a Heart!
I got this book as a gift from someone with a serious jones for the Wizard of Oz.At first, I just liked it because it reminded me of my friend and tossed it in a corner.Then one day I got around to reading it.Now, it stays where I can pick it up and open to read a simple passage in the moment.It is a fun and brilliant way to explore a different philosophy, or at least question how you choose to do things.I can't imagine many people in this culture being unaware of the examples and characters.Now when the Wizard of Oz comes on, I tend to filter it through this!

To the Young at Heart.
On one of my recent journeys through the Land of Oz, the Ozarks, I visited with my friend Roger S. Baum, the great-grandson of L. Frank Baum-the author of the "Wizard of Oz". I asked him what he thought about the theory of his great-grandfather being a Zen Master. He admitted he really didn't know. That he hadn't read "The Zen of Oz". That it has been his experience that such things were only done by people that saw an opportunity to make money off Great Grandfather's work. After I explained the gist of Joey Green's premise I did notice a slow smile take over Roger's face. He was intrigued. Though he would not corroborate Joey's claims he did state that Great Grandfather would probably not turn over in his grave if he knew about "The Zen of Oz". The one caveat Roger then mentioned was that first and foremost the Oz Series is a collection of fantasies for the young at heart. Meant to be taken with sincerity but not too seriously. The rest of our conversation was private.

As for me, I find "The Zen of Oz" quite clever and entertaining. It has added to my enjoyment of the classic movie. I see the movie in a whole new light. Almost as though I am seeing it for the first time. We are Dorothy. Prodigal sons and daughters venturing out into the world on our own only to find out that there is no place like home. That the Wizard can't really give us anything we don't already have. That there is an inner spark of the Divine within each of us. That the Yellow Brick Road is an inner path that leads to the great beyond and that each of us must make the journey for ourselves. To realize that no matter where we are we are already over the rainbow for we make the rainbow. That life is a great mystery and that we are the greatest mystery of all. That life is full of wonder and joy, as well as pain and sorrow. That as Pierre Teilhard de Chardin said, "We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience."

A personal thought that I would like to add to "The Zen of Oz." Totality, "Toto", is a synergetic organic unity greater than one but less than two. The whole of ultimate reality is greater than the sum of its parts. We are not alone. Though there is more than one of us there is not a second. We are family and there is no place like home. And dogs, and cats like Slimmy,really are man's best friend.

are you kidding me?
An interesting idea behind the book... finding the spiritual connections and philosophy behind the story of the wizard of oz. The writing style of the book is poor, redundant, and not terribly smooth (inconsistent pronoun usage, repetitive sentence structure, etc.) The book has its glimmers of insight, but in general, I think it looks way too much into the Wizard of Oz- and that means a lot coming from someone who usually gives new-age, self-help, and spiritual books more credit than they probably deserve sometimes. The very basic connections between the Yellow Brick Road and intuition or following the true self, and the basic metaphors of each the scarecrow, lion, and tin man are backed by literary evidence and are argued logically... and I think these basic connections are compelling. Prevelant is the idea that each of the characters, whether his/her search is for brains, courage, a heart, or home, actually possesses these qualities already... it's just a matter of discovering this truth. Green also goes into the philosophy of love, intelligence, courage, and one's personal "home" or the self, and that too is interesting (but at times can be a stretch when relating it back to the story). The book sometimes takes great dives into detail, jumping to conclusions that are based 100% on speculation ... of the author, and not at all on a logical connection. An example you ask? Well, the Lion, while being primped at the Wash & Brush Up Co. in Emerald City, the author observes, gestures "with a decidedly limp wrist, possibly insinuating that his sexual orientation is a `fate I don't deserve.'" The author continues to discuss the lion's inability to come out of the closet to come to terms with his true self, assuming that his limp wrist gesture and interest in fine fabrics means the he is gay. Frankly, I think the lion was just acting like a wealthy king. He also suggests Ms. Gulch is a "victim of her own repressed sexuality." To come to this conclusion would require pure speculation based upon [standards], and though the idea has good intentions, it actually weakens his overarching statement. The idea of the book was obviously very interesting to me, but ... the book has left me disappointed and unsatisfied. The kernels of truth in the book are cluttered by details that are not fully developed. But the pictures are cool, I guess. ... Read more

Book Description

For seven years, bad luck has followed Ivy around like a dog on a leash. Her father disappeared, her mother is a washed–up beauty–pageant winner, and now Viola and her mother have moved into a raqmshackle house on Gumm Street. Ivy's new neighbors–bookish Pru, stuck–up Cat, and wannabe adventurer Franny–are worse than unfriendly. But then a mysterious pair of ruby red slippers turn up, and the four girls are swept away...not to OZ, but to the jaw–droppingly strange lands of SPOZ, and SPUDZ, and OOZE, pursued by the fashionably mad Cha–Cha Staccato, who bears a frightening resemblance to a certain wicked witch....

Ages: 8 –12

Customer Reviews (10)

Really really enjoyable
I was searching for a gift for my niece when the cover of this book caught my eye.I picked it up and, well, couldn't put it down.The story, which uses The Wonderful Wizard of Oz as a springboard, is about four girls who live on the same street but are in no way friends, although they are thrown together in a fight against the wicked witch Cha Cha Staccato, who will do anything to lay her hands on a certain pair of silver slippers....The four girls end up in Spoz, then in Spudz, then in Ooze, before their adventures finally bring them back to Gumm Street -- yes, as friends.And with a little something extra besides.

The story moves quickly, with surprises coming at you in every chapter, and is both engaging and humorous in the telling.There area number of details for adults to pick up on as well:there are also ruby slippers involved in the story as well as silver; the ruby slippers were worn in the movie by Judy Garland; Judy Garland's real name was Frances Gumm and one of the girls is actually named Franny, while all four of them live on Gumm Street.And so on.

It's a lot of fun to read with an eight-year-old -- although most of them, I find, can't wait for their bedtime chapter and finish it on their own!

The Best Book In the World (Atlanta, GA)
The Secret Order of the Gumm Street Girls is a fantastic book! When I borrowed it from my local library I couldn't put it down. It shows a lot of imagination, friendship, and teamwork. The sequel is yet to be another good one. After I read it, I started to love reading. This book is perfect for anyone who likes books.

The Secret Order of the Gumm Street Girls
when my mom got the book I thought it was going to be really boring but every time I read it it got so interesting that I couldn't put it down.My mom makes me read 30 min each night so I can get smarter and I'm in love with this book I'm so excited for the second one to come out I hope I'll be the first one to read it.I hope my younger sister will read it it is so,so,so,so good and I hope who ever reads it nex will love it she is a great author I wish I can meet her that is how much I love her book I'm trying to find other books she as written.

She couldn't put it down!
My eldest daughter is seven and we were having a really hard time getting her over the hump of only wanting to read the thin paperback chapter books.This book was the solution because it still had little line drawings every few pages so she didn't "feel" as if she was reading a larger hardback book.This was the transition to other, more substantial, books.And, as she said, "it was the best book EVER Mama!!"(What more endorsement do you need??)

waiting for the Gumm II!~
I read this book to my 5 and 8 year olds, they still ask about it and we are awaiting the sequel! anyone know when that might be out? ... Read more

Amazon.com
The Wizard of Oz bears the remarkable distinction of being a perennial favorite in both book and movie form, the former for a solid century. Since the first Wizard of Oz book appeared just as the American merchandising machine was swinging into full gear, the characters of Oz have also been immortalized in a century's worth of memorabilia. In 100 Years of Oz, John Fricke takes the reader through the remarkable history of L. Frank Baum's creation, lavishly illustrating the progression with pieces from Willard Carroll's Oz collection. This collection is in itself a stunning monument to one man's obsession, albeit a charming one. Once you get past the sheer enormity of the accumulation, though, the individual pieces themselves are well worth a look. They range from the expected, such as dolls and comic books, to themed peanut butter and "hangers from the Merrie Land of Oz." Posters, ads, and jacket covers from the many stage, film, and book versions of the Oz series from all over the world are also included and make for more lovely eye candy. 100 Years of Oz is the perfect gift for hardcore Wizard aficionados, but it also gives the casual fan plenty to ogle, as well as a new appreciation of just how enduring this classic series has been. --Ali DavisBook Description
Since its publication in 1900, The Wizard of Oz has remained in print, spawning 39 sequels, five silent movies, innumerable stage productions, a radio series, countless animated cartoons, and arguably the greatest MGM musical of all time. Conventions of Oz fans, held thrice yearly, draw upwards of 75,000 visitors.

For these fans-and anyone who ever dreamed of visiting Oz-Willard Carroll draws from his private collection of more than 10,000 museum quality pieces to offer a rare glimpse of Baum's beloved creations and their influence on popular culture.

Divided by decade, this book traces a century of Oz lithography, photography, sheet music, book jackets, stationery, manuscripts, costumes, film props, animation cells, newspaper rotogravure, greeting cards, Halloween masks, theater programs, contracts, maps advertising fliers, gams, toys, puzzles, dolls, and other memorabilia gathered from every corner of the world. With brilliant new photography, original artwork, drawings, sketches, blueprints, and stage and movie stills, 100 Years of Oz is a joyous and unique passport over the rainbow. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Oz-some book!

This book is a 7 course meal for the eyes and mind! You will love the photographs of the rare Oz treasures, which are organized by decade.

This book is one of my favorite Oz reference books! John Fricke is truly the leading Oz expert!!

Now THIS has EVERYTHING to do with 'Oz'!
When I first saw this book years ago on "the Inernational Wizard of Oz Club", I wasn't really keen to get it (I guess the front cover looked a little too dull for me), but after seeing it in a bookstore and actually looking through it, I then knew I had to get this book, because (unlike the small "All Things Oz" collection), this book includes things OTHER than Baum's Book and MGM's Wizard, such as an unknown song from the 1904 Musical (not mentioned in "Oz: Before the Rainbow"), the Silent Films, 'Journey Back to Oz', 'The Wiz', both the Rankin Bass & Disney versions of 'Return to Oz', the 4 1987 CANADIAN-Animated Cinar Films (YES!! The mystery of their animation origin is written here!!), "the Wizard of Oz - Animated Series", "Oz Kids", the Asian "Space Adventures of Oz" TV series, "On Ice" Productions . . . it not only has all of this but also INCLUDES the most important and best of all, "The Dreamer of Oz"!! other language editions of the Oz books,and we also get a few 'Baum's Non-Oz' stuff, like his "Last Egyptian" Film and "Queen Zixi of Ix" book (plus a "Denslow's Picture Books for Children",) games/items/figurines, a few design sketches for MGM's Oz props/Emerald Cityand lots of other things that have to do with 'Oz' too - even though we don't get like 1-full page on info on every particular item, we still get some good information and lots of pictures too.Just like "All Things Oz", this book has lots of written information, pictures in the background/inserts and quotes from "the Wonderful Wizard of Oz" (and I'm glad to say that it doesn't have so many mistakes as "All Things Oz" does).But we also get a glimpse at some not-so pleasant Oz stuff, like the "Oz Comics for Adults" and a horrific Winged Monkey Creature Features model.
The Chapters of this book go by 10 Years (e.g. 1900's, 1910's, 1930's, 1940's, 1980's, 1990's, 2000's, etc.).
This was a pleasant surprise to find on a bookshelf (along with many other Oz books) and it was an absolute pleasure for me to buy it.
Also, what you see is a slip-on cover.The actual front cover is (an Italian poster of MGM's) Dorothy looking at the Crystal Ball and seeing the Wicked Witch of the West flying on her broomstick.
Trust me, get this book, and you'll love it - maybe even more than "All Things Oz"!

5 STARS, AS BRIGHT AS THAT YELLOW BRICK ROAD!
Lions and tigers an bears? Oh my! Add Munchkins and Winged Monkeys and a Horse of a Different Color to the list. This is Oz Country, andthings simply don't get better than this. To celebrate the centennial of the publication of L. Frank Baum's novel (and the 60th anniversary of the classic MGM flick), preeminent Oz historian John Fricke has written a glorious homage of all things fun and fantastical. Not only does the book offer a fascinating chronicle of the Ozian phenomenon, but the illustrations, culled from Willard Carroll's priceless collection of more than 10,000 museum-quality pieces, are breathtaking. Oh Auntie Em, there's no place like home . . . provided you're snuggled up in front a fire with this gem.

The best pictorial of "Oz" past and present
With Willard Carroll's Oz collection as a backdrop, John Fricke has cataloged the fabric of Frank Baum's stories of Oz.I am certain that Frank Baum could not have been aware this fabric would become a great tapestry upon which the world could identify what it meant to be human.Oz has permeated our society with its influence. It is found in our languages, our politics, human behavior, and is probably used more often as a simile than any other imagery in our language.

From the opening pages of this book to the last, the book is a compelling journey through Oz.The collection of Mr. Carroll's Oz memorabilia is so large that it is like trying to comprehend the distance between stars or that a few people actually have a billion dollars.This colligation of Oz collectibles somehow unites every civilization, geographic location, and human condition.It is one of the few things that have true universality.

After reading John Fricke's take on Oz, of course, based on Willard Carroll's collection, I am left wondering how history would be different were it not for Frank Baum's Oz?

The pictures are glorious, the layout intelligent and thoughtful-I will never see Oz in quite the same way again.John Fricke's writing is stellar. Willard Carroll's collection ---what can I say, WOW!100 years of Oz is entertaining, educative and provides a new look at Frank Baum's Oz through the other end of the spyglass.This is a visit to a museum with a very knowledgeable guide through an unforgettable exhibit. Thanks for the tour. I'll be back again.

This book is a must for all collectors.

Fabulous!
"100 Years of Oz" is a delight for everyone who has ever fallen in love with "The Wizard of Oz" (which includes just about everyone.) The success of the book lays in John Fricke's capabilities as a writer. His words are consise, thoughtful, and honest. The photographs,likewise, catch the eye like flashes of brilliant light. It is not easy totake one of America's most chershed series of books, its favorite film, and100 years of mechandising and condense it all into one volume. Thankfully,Mr. Fricke has done that- impeccably. Buy this book today. I highlyrecommend it to everyone as an example of first class research. Above all,it is a time capsule of memories. Fricke will long be heralded as"Oz"'s best friend. Congratulations to all who made this booksuch a beautiful addition to my library. ... Read more