Everyone who met him agreed that L. Frank Baum was a born storyteller, but when The Wizard of Oz was published in 1900, its phenomenal success still surprised him. This American fairy tale was a radical departure from the religious and moral tales that were the standard fare of children's literature at the turn of the century. It became so popular that avid readers urged Baum to write thirteen more books in the best-selling Oz series. After Dorothy and her dog, Toto, are whisked away from Kansas by a cyclone, they embark on a remarkable odyssey accompanied by the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodsman, and the Cowardly Lion. As they travel through enchanted lands toward the Emerald City, they find perils and colorful opponents including the wonderfully evil Wicked Witch. The story and characters of The Wizard of Oz are beloved by generations of readers and moviegoers.
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"I know I read this when I was a kid, but I don't have any memory of it. Had fun reading it again. This is so different from the 1939 movie version. I actually like this better. Since there are 14 Oz books, I may have to read them all! " — Sara (4 out of 5 stars)
"I know I read this when I was a kid, but I don't have any memory of it. Had fun reading it again. This is so different from the 1939 movie version. I actually like this better. Since there are 14 Oz books, I may have to read them all! "
" yeah, the movie was infinatley better any of the thousands of movie adaptations. but the musical still rains supreme! "
" I loved it! Different then the movie, which was fun. Quick and easy read. I'm reading another one by this author. "
" Read with Franny in May, 2011. "
" Read this during an internet outage - was a very quick and easy (but engaging) read. I now feel like I have the story of Oz from all perspectives...haha. "
" a little slow, but otherwise ok "
" I felt I should read this after two books I recently read referenced this story. I think the book moves a lot more quickly through scenes, whereas the movie develops fewer details. Both are great in their own way. "
" A old classic, but a newbie everytime I chose to read over and over again. Fantastic Author! "
" Never before and never since has anyone tried this hard to get to Kansas. "
" Wonderful read. It was different enough from the classic movie that I still didn't know how it would go. It was a lovely, quick read. "
" Slightly more entertaining that the movie. What made them change the color of the shoes and the witches? "
" I read this as a child. It was one of my very favorite books and it has influenced me in many ways. I can't wait to read it with my daughter! "
" great book, anybody that loves fantasy will read this book with JOY! "
Lyman Frank Baum (1856–1919), born in Chittenango, New York, was a journalist, dramatist, and writer best known for his fantasies about the land of Oz, the first being The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The success of this book led to his writing thirteen sequels. He wrote about sixty books in all, mostly for children.
John McDonough, one of AudioFile magazine’s Golden Voices, has narrated dozens of audiobooks, and won eleven Earphones Awards. He is known for his narrations of children’s books, including Robert McCloskey’s Centerburg Tales and Albert Marrin’s Commander-in-Chief Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War. Outside of his audiobook work, he has starred in a revival of Captain Kangaroo on the Fox Network.
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