Product Description
This file has all 15 original Oz books with a linked master table of contents and each individual book has a linked contents page.


1 - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
2 - The Marvelous Land of Oz
3 - Ozma of Oz
4 - Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
5 - The Road to Oz
6 - The Emerald City of Oz
7 - The Patchwork Girl of Oz
8 - Tik-Tok of Oz
9 - The Scarecrow of Oz
10 - Rinkitink In Oz
11 - The Lost Princess of Oz
12 - The Tin Woodman of Oz
13 - The Magic of Oz
14 - Glinda of Oz
15 - Royal Book of Oz ... Read more

Product Description
General Books publication date: 2009Original publication date: 1905Original Publisher: Bobbs-MerrillSubjects: Fiction / Fantasy / GeneralFiction / Fairy Tales, Folklore ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

NO Maxfield Parrish Illustrations!
Publisher's description is incredibly misleading. This edition (ISBN: 1603128336) does NOT contain the original Maxfield Parrish illustrations. In fact, it contains NO llustrations. The reason there is no cover image on the product page is because there is no cover to speak of: just a plain blue cloth cover. Beyond disappointing!

Excellent illustrator;Oz author; nursery rhymes into stories
Maxfield Parrish black and white drawings complement L. Frank (Oz) Baum's expanded versions of the Mother Goose tales.Includes his versions of Sing a Song o' Sixpence, Little Boy Blue, Cat and the Fiddle, Old King Cole, Mistress Mary, Jack Horner, Man in the Moon, the Jolly Miller, Hickory Dickory Dock, Little Bo-Peep, Tommy Tucker, Tom the Piper's Son, Humpty Dumpty, The Woman Who Lived in a Shoe, LIttle Miss Muffet, and others. 1986 introducyion by Patricia Barrett Perkins. 265 pages. ... Read more

Product 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 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-powered Wizard of Oz.

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

Customer Reviews (70)

A Wonderful Classic
"The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" is one of the best well known and beloved modern fairy tales. However, most people have only come to know it thanks to the wonderful film adaptation of the same name. To be sure, the film version is probably one of the best movies of all time, but there is something to be said for reading the book in its own right. The book turns out to be as wonderful and endearing as I had expected, with all the main characters portrayed in greater depth and with even more attention to their human distinctiveness. There are also a few scenes in the book that had not made it to the movie, and it was interesting to read these for the first time. The book is charming and well written, although some people today might have an issue with a few violent scenes that tend to be more graphic than what acceptable in children's books these days. Personally I was not bothered by this one bit, and view the book as good, clean fun.

Timelessclassic for children with adult symbolism
I remember seeing the movie as a child close to 50 years ago.As I revisit this story the symbolism as it relates to the financial turmoil of the times of its writing is extremely interesting when compared to the financial problems the world is experiencing today. Not withstanding this, the 100 year anniversary edition is a beautiful book with enchanted illustrations young and old will enjoy!

Different Perspective as an Adult
"The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank Baum is the first of 15 books in the fictional Oz series and tells the story of Dorothy, a girl from Kansas who was swooped with her dog Toto by a mighty wind to the Land of Oz.On Dorothy's journey to visit the "Terrible Wizard" she is joined by the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodsman and the Cowardly Lion - all of whom are seeking the wizard to grant them brains, heart and courage - respectively.

Throughout their journey, the gang encounters many strange creatures and strange landscapes.They run away from the Kalidahs, ferocious beasts with bodies of bears and head of tigers, save the Scarecrow from being stuck on a pole in a gushing river, talk field mice into carrying the sleeping lion out of the deadly poppy fields, encounter a fragile land where everything is made of breakable China and fight the wolves, bees and other minions the Wicked Witch of the West sends at them.Not to mention making use of the Winged Monkeys.

I have read this book in 4th or 5th grade but this time I read it out loud to my daughter.I don't know if reading it out loud, the years, or possibly both have given me a different perspective on this story.I realized that the story wasn't about the virtues of "home" or the man-behind-the-curtain, but of the qualities each and everyone of us posses regardless of outside influence.After all, the Scarecrow has gotten the gang out of trouble using his wits, the Tin Woodman cries when he hurts even the tiniest creature and the Cowardly Lion fights bravely before facing the Wizard.

I read this eBook on the Nook and the formatting was wonderful, the words sharp and clear.No complaints at all
"The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" has become a classic and both myself and my daughter enjoyed it.If you haven't read the book, treat yourself to a quick read.

THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ by L. Frank Baum
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900) is the first of L. Frank Baum's fourteen Oz books, and is the inspiration for the 1939 film you almost certainly have seen: a tornado picks up young Dorothy and her dog Toto and carries them to Oz, where they meet numerous fantastical characters, including, of course, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion, who are all seeking to correct self-perceived character flaws.

One hates to discuss a book in terms of its succeeding film, but here it can scarcely be helped. Suffice it to say that on the whole, the movie follows the book wherever possible, barring omissions that would not have been possible with thirties special effects, and a tidier ending.

Baum's stated purpose with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was to create "a modernized fairy tale, in which the wonderment and joy are retained and the heartaches and nightmares are left out." He has largely succeeded, although the book features a distinct flatness, particularly when compared with contemporary works that were purposely more clever, like Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. Dorothy is flat - she's a stubborn and determined girl, but Baum doesn't dwell on her personality. The story is also flat - it's imaginative, but it isn't clever simply because it isn't trying to be; it has little ambition to be anything more than a regular old fairy tale, with one episode of deus ex machina after another. The film is better because it adds style and personality to the work. But then, Baum was writing for kids, not for us grown folk, and the book's enduring appeal is a testament to his success with that audience.

Baum's writing is often inconsistent. An obvious example of this is the "heartless" Tin Woodman, who is inconsolable after inadvertently crushing an insect, but later hacks up wild beasts without a qualm. But none of these incidences are unforgivable (they're certainly more forgivable than Baum's many awful puns).

W. W. Denslow's illustrations are iconic, although perhaps not as iconic as the imagery from the film, which is what most people think of nowadays when they think of the Wizard of Oz. But it's hard to imagine this book being illustrated by anyone else.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a fast-reading, simplistic fairy tale worth reading for its own sake and for the sake of its remarkable legacy.

Magical book
Absolutely brilliant ! This book is full of magic , and one takes a real pleasure in reading it.
It must be on every child'sbookshelf.
The present edition's value is increased due to the wonderful original drawings, that trail practically every moment of the story.
All children books must look like this ! ... Read more

Product Description
LARGE PAPERBACK edition. For over a hundred years, L. Frank Baum's classic fairy stories about the land of Oz have been delighting children and parents alike. Now, for the first time, the entire Oz series is available in this single, great-value, edition! This unique '15 books in 1' edition of L. Frank Baum's original "Oz" series contains the following complete works: "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz", "The Marvelous Land of Oz", "Ozma of Oz", "Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz", "The Road to Oz", "The Emerald City of Oz", "The Patchwork Girl Of Oz", "Little Wizard Stories of Oz", "Tik-Tok of Oz", "The Scarecrow Of Oz", "Rinkitink In Oz", "The Lost Princess Of Oz", "The Tin Woodman Of Oz", "The Magic of Oz", and "Glinda Of Oz". From the publisher: we're releasing this large format paperback edition of our complete Oz series in response to our customers, who told us they would like an edition with a larger text size than our standard format. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (42)

Oz books
I was disappointed in this book. All 15 books are squished together with tiny print and no pictures.

All the books in one package
This is nice if you like the Oz books. It contains 15 books in one. I was a little worried that having 15 books it would be too big to read comfortably, but it is a very manageable size. The one down side would be that the print is a little small. they fit two columns of text on a single page, but I had no trouble reading it.

The Original L. Frank Baum's OZ Series
Okay, here goes. First to explain I am a grandmother who had never read the original OZ series. Like so many people I saw the movie dozen's of times and thought I knew the story. While the movie is great it is not the whole story of Dorothy and her friends in the Land Of OZ.

The books are of course a bit below my reading level, bring written for grade school students, but they are a very good read.

I bought the whole series in one book thinking that it would save money. It does save money, but it also has none of the illustrations that the series must have had. I have a good imagination so am not put off by that fact. My only problem with the book is that it is quite heavy. It is not a book to read in bed, because of the weight. Also my eyes had a hard time reading the small print. I guess if the print was larger the book would need wheels to cart it around.

So if you are a grade school student may I say you would do better to read the books one at a time. They are great stories at any age.15 Books in 1: L. Frank Baum's Original "Oz" Series. the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the Marvelous Land of Oz, Ozma of Oz, Dorothy and th [15 BKS IN 1] [Paperback]

Love this book
I can't share enough on how great this book is, to have all 14 books and the short story's in one book is great, i can't put it down.

it took like 20 minutes for me to get use to the two columns but it make the read alot easier

Retraction and disappointment
This is an awesome book! You get all of L. Frank Baum's original stories in one place! The first 15 books on Oz written in their original context - aside from the minor corrections noted by the printers of the book. In my OWN version, I had to go to the Amazon site to find out what corrections were made because the alignment on the printing was off on my book and the first page was cut off, but the rest of the book after the first page where the corrections note was made by the printers was complete. I wish they would compile the books of Ruth Plumly Thompson and the others in the Quasi Seven into a similar collection. It would make finding and buying the books easier.

---

Okay, it's a bit late, but I have to retract my prior review, at least in part and say instead that I am rather disappointed in this book as it seems that on the first page of mine, it was poorly printed since the text is cut off on the page of both sides and I had to look it up for verification on their in book review section here to see what they had printed there as I stated in my previous review. But I found out today that it was also a bad buy considering that it seems someone just picked up the texts that were already in public domain and bundled them together and made scans rather than reprinting them, before applying the two column layout because it is riddled with grammatical and punctuation errors that you get when you scan an image of text into a PDF program and it can't tell what marks you are using be it a comma, period or semi-colon. So yeah, I'm rather disappointed. Unfortunately I have found that once the star rating is given, it can't be changed, and I in my previous naivety gave it five stars. If I could do it over, I would give it two stars due to the fact that all of Baum's Oz stories were included, but that still means there was more that was messed up. ... Read more

Product Description
This special 100th-anniversary edition of L. Frank Baum's classic features eye-catching embossed gold foil on a centennial medallion as well as on the title. Santore's Wizard of Oz is widely acknowledged as the quintessential illustrated version of the tale for the picture book audience. His lush, full-color illustrations grace every page of the faithfully condensed text--no language other than Baum's has been used. This special edition is the perfect one to share with the youngest children. Amazon.com Review
In the 100 years since L. Frank Baum first published his Wonderful Wizard of Oz, countless authors and illustrators have adapted, interpreted, and retold this story of Dorothy and her unusual companions, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion. But for sheer opulence and sumptuous color, award-winning artist Charles Santore's 100th anniversary edition takes the cake. Santore's large, fairy-tale style watercolors feature ominous, shadowy forests, magnificent but deadly poppies, the whimsical, green-tinted landscapes of Oz, and the golden gray fields of Kansas. Each page is awash in color; many of the two-page spreads have no text to distract readers from the illustrations' myriad details--not-yet-blooming poppy buds, the Tin Woodman's watering can head, and the radiant good witch, Glinda, posing on her ruby-encrusted throne. The text is condensed rather than adapted; so virtually every word is Baum's own. Although some scenes have been left out, Baum's classic story rings through, loud and clear. Sharing this lush edition with a favorite child would be the perfect way to celebrate a century of Oz. (Ages 4 to 8) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Did some Christmas shopping for a friend
I got this as a 2010 Christmas present for a friend who loves anything to do with "The Wizard of OZ>" Since I already have this book, and love it, I'm sure he will, too.

so much left out!
I bought this because it had such good reviews, but as a fan of the original book, I was sorely disappointed.So much of the story was left out.I wanted something to share with my nieces to show them how much more there was than the movie.While this book was beautifully illustrated, it was missing so much!

Beautiufl book
I recently purchased the Wizard of Oz book for my 3 year old grandaughter and it was everything I expected it to be and more. The illustrations were wonderful and so true to life, she loves the book and reads it daily. The reviews written in Amazon were a big help in my chosing this particular Wizard of Oz.

Love It!
My children love this book. The pictures are beautiful and the story is told better then the movie. My children and I can not get enough of this story.

The Wizard of Oz
Wonderful picture. A great thing to add to any kids Library. I have enjoy this book with our 6 year old. She like the movie and she wanted a copy of the book. So I keep looking for the Wizard of Oz with lot of colorful picture and this one was right on.

Thanks so much

Racheal Kirkland ... Read more

Product Description
Dorothy thinks she is lost forever when a terrifying tornado crashes through Kansas and whisks her and her dog, Toto, far away to the magical land of Oz. To get home Dorothy must follow the yellow brick road to Emerald City and find the wonderfully mysterious Wizard of Oz. Together with her companions the Tin Woodman, the Scarecrow and the Cowardly Lion whom she meets on the way, Dorothy embarks on a strange and enchanting adventure. With a charming introduction by award-winning Cornelia Funke, "The Wizard of Oz" is one of the twelve wonderful classics being relaunched in "Puffin Classics" in March 2008. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Great read
I bought this book when (I'm ashamed to admit) McD's came out with Wizard of Oz toys. My 5yo wanted to know who all the characters were, and what they "say".She loved the artwork, pouring over each page to find each character.The book is so eloquent, it's not nearly as scary as the movie.Also, because she's just beginning to read I could gloss over scary parts or words.She has loved it!The day we finished it she wanted to start over and read a second time.I highly recommend for reading with your child!

A Must have for any Oz fan!
I bought this book years ago and am looking for another copy as a gift.This edition is the entire MGM script (including the lyrics to the songs) of the 1939 movie and is is wonderfully illustrated with stills from the movie.My family has practically worn out this oversized book and we need another! My husband recently witnessed my daughter's new boyfriend reading along as they watched the movie because he knew we were just fans and he had better catch up! Our families favorite book!

Beautifully Illustrated Heirloom Edition of The Wizard of Oz
Here's a trivia question for you.When Dorothy killed the Wicked Witch of the West by dropping her house on the witch, was the witch wearing (a) ruby slippers?(b)silver shoes?(c)both?

If you answered "both," you have the correct answer.L. Frank Baum's original story (found in this book) has magical silver shoes in it.The movie version of the story, starring Judy Garland as Dorothy, had ruby slippers.Why the change?Well, ruby slippers film much better.So the Wicked Witch of the West wore both types of footwear, depending on whether you are reading the book or watching the movie.

I share that example with you because 9 people out of 10 have seen the movie, but never read the book.When I was a wee lad, I started in the opposite direction and was sorry to see how much of the Oz story was left out in the movie.

Now, you can make up for lost time by reading or rereading the original.I commend it to you for three primary reasons.First, the book version is built around the idea that the different parts of Oz cannot be easily traversed and the ensuing travel complications make for a better plot.Second, there are many more types of imaginative creatures in the book than in the movie.Third, the book has been lovingly enhanced by new illustrations done in turn of the 20th century style by Michael Hague.The illustrations encompass styles from immediately post van Gogh (yes, there are sunflowers) through Art Deco.I especially liked the water colors of gloomy and darkening skies.

If you are like me, you will chortle when you read L. Frank Baum's comment in the beginning that the story was "written solely to please children . . . a modernized fairy tale, in which the wonderment and joy are retained . . ." while the scary parts are left out.If you remember frightening moments, you are thinking about the movie.The book is much more gentle, which makes it more suitable for the youngsters.Yes, there are frightening villains, but they are quickly dispatched rather than being allowed to hang around to menace and frighten children just before bedtime.Still, children must have been braver in those days.This story is still scary enough for most to feel a deathly chill now and then.

Many of the ambiguities and confusing aspects of the movie are clearer and less disconcerting in the book, as well.

I won't go into a fine comparison of the two, because that will just spoil the plot for you.Do let me mention a few chapters that you will not recognize from the movie . . . just to whet your appetite for the book -- Away to the South,Attacked by the Fighting Trees, The Dainty China Country, and The Country of the Quadlings.

After you have finished enjoying the wonderful story and new illustrations, think about some of the lessons of the book.Notice that by teaming up, Dorothy and her friends could combine strengths to overcome individual weaknesses.This is the ultimate group of superheroes.How can you combine your talents with others so that all of you combined can accomplish vastly more than any one of you can individually?

Stay on the Yellow Brick Road with effective allies!

An excellent, new edition to keep for many years.
The imagery of the century-old text is superb, and Michael Hague does it a great service.I've been reading this edition to my five year-old son over the past several nights, and he lingers over each lovingly detailedillustration.I'm surprised The Wizard of Oz doesn't have morehigh-quality editions in print. This volume is a wonderful item to add toyour child's library, or even to libraries of adults who enjoy children'sbooks.Highly recommended.

WONDERFUL!!!!!!
I think that this is a very good book and it also helps me because I have to do a research project on childrens literature and I needed to get pictures of the wizard of Oz and Amazon.com took me right to it!! I was sohappy and also I tried other book websites and could not even find athing!!! ... Read more

Product Description
Classic Book for the Kindle: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a children's novel written by L. Frank Baum and illustrated by W.W. Denslow. It was originally published by the George M. Hill Company in Chicago on May 17, 1900, and has since been reprinted countless times, most often under the name The Wizard of Oz, which is the name of both the 1902 stage play and the extremely popular, highly acclaimed 1939 film version. The story chronicles the adventures of a girl named Dorothy in the Land of Oz. Thanks in part to the 1939 MGM movie, it is one of the best-known stories in American popular culture and has been widely translated. Its initial success, and the success of the popular 1902 Broadway musical Baum adapted from his story, led to Baum writing thirteen more Oz books.

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Product Description
The treasure that captured a nation's imagination

Everyone's favorite farmgirl, Dorothy from Kansas, finds herself on a strange odyssey with three new friends. Readers young and old alike will enjoy this trip down Memory Lane, via the Yellow Brick Road. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

A Wonderful Classic
"The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" is one of the best well known and beloved modern fairy tales. However, most people have only come to know it thanks to the wonderful film adaptation of the same name. To be sure, the film version is probably one of the best movies of all time, but there is something to be said for reading the book in its own right. The book turns out to be as wonderful and endearing as I had expected, with all the main characters portrayed in greater depth and with even more attention to their human distinctiveness. There are also a few scenes in the book that had not made it to the movie, and it was interesting to read these for the first time. The book is charming and well written, although some people today might have an issue with a few violent scenes that tend to be more graphic than what acceptable in children's books these days. Personally I was not bothered by this one bit, and view the book as good, clean fun.

Great Product!
Easy to assemble and colors are great. Only down-side is having to assemble it myself in all my "free" time. =) Knobs unscrew after repetitive use, so one may have to tighten them occasionally.

Reviewing Wizard of Oz
I decided to purchase this book as I found it's a must-read classic for children. I wanted my little sister to experience the same joy I did reading this book before watching the movie. I believe it's necessary to read books before watching the films, as watching the movie spoils the fun and often leaves out the critical areas.
She's absolutely loving it, and I recommend it as a definite read for your children or sisters. :)

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Signet Classics)
It is a humorous story good for children around the ages of 7-10 who have English as their mother tongue.It was interesting to see the original illustrations, however, I would have preferred to buy one with pictures in colour as this one was a little unappealing to the eyes. It is written in old English so your children may enjoy you reading it with them in order to help them catch some of the puns etc.

Standard good book for kids
This is one of the top of the line of books for kids.I have it to my grandkids, and skimmed it.It seemed outstanding. ... Read more

Product Description
Classic Book for the Kindle - The Emerald City of Oz by L. Frank Baum

The Emerald City of Oz is the sixth of L. Frank Baum's fourteen Land of Oz books. It was also adapted into a Canadian animated film in 1987. Originally published on July 20, 1910, it is the story of Dorothy Gale and her Uncle Henry and Aunt Em coming to live in Oz permanently. While Dorothy, Uncle Henry, and Aunt Em are toured through the Quadling Country, the Nome King is assembling allies for an invasion of Oz. This is the first time in the Oz series that Baum made use of double plots for one of the books.

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Customer Reviews (2)

Taking a nice dramatic turn
Aunt Em and Uncle Henry in Oz? You better believe it! For the sixth novel in his Oz series, L. Frank Baum takes Dorothy's caretakers into that magical place she's always describing -- you know, that place they've been thinking is a figment of her imagination? In this book, with the threat of foreclosure of their home hanging over their heads, the elderly couple retreat with their niece to the Emerald City and its surrounds to experience its eye-popping splendor themselves.

That's not the only thing Baum does differently in this book, first published in 1910. The drama is tense as the author runs two storylines side by side: The merry exploration of the Oz countryside by Dorothy, Aunt Em, Uncle Henry, the Wizard and friends, by (saw!)horse and carriage, is contrasted sharply with the evil maneuverings of the Nome King, defeated by Dorothy and Ozma in the third book, and definitely out for revenge. As Dorothy and her pals discover new nooks and crannies and peoples of the Oz kingdom, the Nome King's general, Guph, embarks on his own more sinister journey, recruiting powerful allies in other lands to team up and conquer Queen Ozma. The Nome King's minions dig a tunnel from their land to the heart of the Emerald City, underneath the deadly desert too dangerous to cross. They draw nearer and nearer to their attack, as their victims remain oblivious through most of the book.

In Book 6 we get not only a fuller picture of the utopia that is the Emerald City, but even more description at the beginning of the story of the farm squalor in which Dorothy and her aunt and uncle live, to another effective contrast.

Along the way, Baum offers plenty of social commentary, aimed so lovingly at the children who continued to write to him through the creation of all these books. The author describes how Dorothy has become such a life-changing force, admired by those she encounters in her many travels, though she possesses no special powers: "She had accomplished all these wonders not because she was a fairy or had any magical powers whatever, but because she was a simple, sweet and true little girl who was honest to herself and to all whom she met. In this world in which we live simplicity and kindness are the only magic wands that work wonders." And, in another message that transcends generations, Baum's Lord High Chigglewitz, one of the jigsaw-puzzle-piece Fuddles, tells the bewildered Aunt Em, "Madam, you have perhaps noticed that every person has some peculiarity. Mine is to scatter myself. What your own peculiarity is I will not venture to say; but I shall never find fault with you, whatever you do."

With those sentiments and much more ... a cut above the other Oz books I've read so far.

The Emerald City of Oz
This, in my opinion, was the last of the REALLY great, *must read* Oz books.The rest of them were cute, but nothing nearly as revolutionary.This book contains a really great tour of Oz, given to Aunt Em and Uncle Henry, who, awesomely enough, are now officially residents of the Land of Oz.I noted that (and this is found in all of the Oz books) many things are mentioned, places are visited, people are met, and none of them actually contribute to the plot.This is one of the best and the worst things about the books.It certainly provides all the charm and imagination, but also loses some great plot that could exist, and doesn't really.In this one, the plot could have been more focused on the Nome King and his invasion, but that ended up really rushed.The ingenious solution to end the invasion was great to read about, but ultimately, led to the end of "communication" with Dorothy & the gang.This won't be the last we hear of Oz, but it was indeed the last (minus a few VERY minor mentions) we did hear of Dorothy and many of the characters we have really grown to love. It was a clever way to end the series on Baum's part, but still a very bittersweet moment.

Rating: 4.5/5 ... Read more

Product Description
Classic Book for the Kindle: The Lost Princess of Oz by L. Frank Baum

The Lost Princess of Oz is the eleventh canonical Oz book written by L. Frank Baum. Published on June 5, 1917, it begins with the disappearance of Princess Ozma, the ruler of Oz and covers Dorothy and the Wizard's efforts to find her. The introduction to the book states that its inspiration was a letter a little girl had written to Baum: "I suppose if Ozma ever got hurt or losted, everybody would be sorry."

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Customer Reviews (6)

beautiful
This is the most beautifully crafted story and artwork that I have ever seen for this price.I highly reccommend it for some Christmas Magic!

Interesting
The illustrations are beautiful. I guess I was a little disappointed in the story. A little odd. I bought it for my father who loves Frank L. Baum thinking he could read it to my daughter, however the story is just so odd. Very Lord of the Rings. It's fine if you know what you are buying but if you are expecting something else may disappoint. Try looking at it at the store before you buy it.

Not True Text
This is just a picture book and is not the real text as L. Frank Baum wrote it.It should have been disclosed and the only reason I'm giving two stars is because of the beautiful illustrations.

Stunning Illustrations
Parents need to understand, before they buy or borrow this book, that L. Frank Baum's works are not typical of today's fantasy reading, and this book is no exception.(I speak of those who are surprised that the WIZARD OF OZ books are not very much like the movie.)

Having said that, the illustrations in this book are gorgeous.It is a treat, and a delight, to thumb through the book and only look at the pictures.The story adds to the enjoyment, but to me, the main event here is the artwork.

Christmas
A beautifully illustrated book that embellishes the story by Baum.It will be cherished by readers who love Christmas stories. ... Read more

Product Description
Classic Book for the Kindle: Rinkitink in Oz by L. Frank Baum

Rinkitink in Oz is the tenth book in the Land of Oz series written by L. Frank Baum. Published on June 20, 1916, with full-color and black-and-white illustrations by artist John R. Neill, it is significant that no one from Oz appears in the book until its climax; this is due to Baum having originally written most of the book as an original fantasy novel over ten years earlier, in 1905. Most of the action takes place on three islands — Pingaree, Regos, and Coregos — and within the Nome King's caverns. Since the original ruler of the nomes, Roquat — who later re-named himself Ruggedo, was deposed in 1914's Tik-Tok of Oz, Baum had to cleverly rework the tale to accommodate his selfish but well-intentioned replacement, Kaliko.

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Product Description

This collection was designed for optimal navigation on Kindle and other electronic devices. It is indexed alphabetically, chronologically and by category, making it easier to access individual books, stories and poems. This collection offers lower price, the convenience of a one-time download, and it reduces the clutter in your digital library. All books included in this collection feature a hyperlinked table of contents and footnotes. The collection is complimented by an author biography.

Customer Reviews (3)

Well worth the price
I'm a big fan of Baum's work from way back. At one point even installed all of the individual Oz volumes on my Kindle 2, but the lack of folders began to drive me nuts.

This collection solves that problem neatly: everything in one volume! Or, almost everything.


The good points:

Almost everything by Baum is here, all in one package!

The navigation is nice: After the cover page, the first page starts off with links to lists of the works, in various configurations. There are links that lead to lists of the works in alphabetical and chronological order, then divided by Oz, non-Oz, short stories, and under Pseudonym (the Aunt Jane and Mary Louise series). Then within each book there's an additional hotlinked chapter list. Everything is very easy to navigate.


The bad points:

There are occasional missing linefeeds. For example, the first line of the short story "A Kidnapped Santa Claus" runs right after the "by L. Frank Baum" making a weird sentence until you realize it's supposed to be two lines.

Some of the dates given in the table of contents are off. e.g. Aunt Jane's Nieces at Work, 4th in the Nieces series should be 1909 not 1906. If you want to read the books in order, this can mess you up.

The illustrations aren't included, though this is excusable. It'd probably make the file size about 50 times bigger, and take some serious manual labor to format everything in a way that would do justice to Neill and Frederic Richardson and all the other illustrators that worked with Baum. So it's a drawback, but I didn't really expect the illustrations to be here in the first place.

A handful of works are inexplicably not included. The ones I noticed:
- Dot and Tot of Merryland (1901)
- Queen Zixi of Ix (1905)
- John Dough and the Cherub (1906)
- Little Wizard Stories of Oz (1913; short story collection)
- Aunt Jane's Nieces on the Ranch (1913; 8th in the Nieces series)

The funky thing is that these are all listed in the Baum biography included in this very collection, and are all public domain and readily available on the internet (at e.g. Project Gutenburg) so there's not really much excuse for their absence. I looked for a contact address to suggest their inclusion in an updated edition, but I'm totally coming up dry. MobileReference has a web site, but no way to contact them?


Nevertheless, this is a very rich collection for a nice price. The few books that are missing I can grab individually for myself, still leaving my Kindle's Home screen mostly uncluttered. I highly recommend this book for Oz fans and Baum fans. And if there are some "Mary Louise" fans out there, then you too! :)

Wonderful collection of classic Frank Baum stories
Works of L. Frank Baum. (50+ Works) Includes The Wonderful Wizard of Ozand the Oz Works, The Magical Monarch of Mo and more. Published by MobileReference (mobi)

This is a wonderful edition that combines the OZ tales into one ebook. Every child should either read or be read these stories as they grow up. Even w/o illustrations, I still give this ebook five stars because it is the stories that are the true stars here and a child's mind can work wonders with the imagery that is described in Baum's prose, even without the aid of illustrations.

Oz's charm
Works of L. Frank Baum. (50+ Works) FREE Author's biography and stories in the trial version.

This is a great collection of OZ stories and Non-Oz Works. Incredible find and value. ... Read more

Product Description
The Woggle-Bug Book is presented here in a high quality paperback edition. This popular classic work by L. Frank (Lyman Frank) Baum is in the English language. If you enjoy the works of L. Frank (Lyman Frank) Baum then we highly recommend this publication for your book collection. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

strictly for Baum fanatics
Although the Woggle-Bug comes from Oz, and this book is therefore often listed in the canon of Baum-authored Oz books (bringing the total from 14 to 15), it is much shorter than any of the others and for the most part does not take place in Oz.

But there's another reason many Baum aficionados don't want it to have a place in the canon:there's some crude racial humor in it:Arabs, Chinese, Blacks, etc.Get ready for the N-word, for example.This was quite par for the course in the early 1900s, but Baum fans wish this book would just crawl back into a cave.

The plot is thin as gruel:it concerns the pretentious Woggle-Bug being abruptly transplanted in modern Boston and being seized with a jonesin' for a plaid dress.He follows his dress around from wearer to wearer.Not very interesting.My suspicion is that the author thought up a splendid name for his character but didn't have much else:a title in search of a plot, in other words.

By the way, the copyright on this has long since expired, so you can get the text for free anywhere on the internet.Which leads to the question of why you're buying this:it's text only.There are no pictures.

Delightful, in spite of a few flaws.
Mr. H.M. Wogglebug T.E. (Highly Magnifed, Thoroughly Educated) is a wise and lovable insect with very polite manners (he is NOT one of those "know it all" snobs.) In this story he goes searching for a certain bright plaid dress which he has a tendency to fall in love anyonewho wears. After he succedes he gets in a balloon and travels to an Arabianvillage and then to a jungle where all the animals behave just like humans.Yes, this book does have some outdated steriotypes but Mr. Wogglebug is tooCUTE to ruin anything.In this story he meets a fourtune teller who sayshe has many heart throbs in his future but no more heart throbs after that.In his very next Oz book ("Ozma of Oz") he becomes the dean ofthe Royal College of Art and Athletic Perfection of Oz, and has been thereever since. The height of rudness is making someones life meaningless; andthat is exactly what Baum did to poor Mr. Wogglebug. Sure, his college isfamous for theGreat Pills of Learning invented by the Wizard of Oz, butall of that is all worthless without the love of the children of the world.A child's love is a thing that ALL characters of imagination need like goodair to breath. All that I can do for him is to give just as much love as Ipossibly can and try as hard as I can to make OTHERS love him. ... Read more

Product Description
The complete and unabridged original story of Dorothy and her companions the tin woodman, the scarecrow and the cowardly lion, and her enchanting journey along the yellow brick road in search of the wonderful wizard which gave rise to the famous movie. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Entertaining Stories for Adults and Children
Lyman Frank Baum (1856-1919) is best known today as the author of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," a children's story written in 1900. But following the success of that book, Baum wrote thirteen other Oz stories before his death from a stroke in 1919. Moreover, Baum wrote dozens of other children's tales, plays, and general stories. He was extraordinarily prolific, churning out five books in the year 1907 alone. In addition to this immense body of work, Baum worked as a journalist, a printer, a chicken breeder, an actor, a theater manager, an oil salesman, a playwright, and many other equally esoteric occupations. Despite this litany of accomplishments, it is that one little story about a Kansas girl and her dog that people remember, and even that is due to the 1939 film adaptation with Judy Garland as Dorothy. This Penguin Classics volume compiles three of Baum's Oz stories, "The Wizard of Oz," "The Emerald City of Oz," and "Glinda of Oz." With a dandy introduction by Jack Zipes, a bibliography of pertinent literature about Baum, and explanatory endnotes, this is an excellent introduction to a marvelous trio of stories written by an enormously talented individual.

The introduction outlines the highpoints of Baum's life as well as academic analyses on his Oz stories. According to Zipes, these stories reflect personal aspects of the author's life as well as social aspects of American society. Zipes's own analysis is that Oz represents a matriarchal utopia based on socialist principles. In Oz, women rule as witches and princesses while magic and good deeds serve the denizens without relying on capitalistic tendencies of competition and money. The introduction also refers to academics that saw "The Wizard of Oz" as a thinly veiled allegory concerning the Populist movement of the late 19th century, which was the reason I decided to read the stories. Regardless of academic analysis or cultural insights, these stories turned out to be a fascinating and entertaining read, full of puns, irony, and wacky creatures. I had fun reading these stories.

The first story in the collection, "The Wizard of Oz," should be instantly recognizable to most people. It differs considerably from the film version, however. Dorothy and Toto do meet the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion just as they do in the movie, but there are more adventures in the book version. There are differences too: in the story, the winged monkeys only obey the wicked witch because she can summon them with a magic cap. The witch also holds Dorothy and the Cowardly Lion in bondage for a period of time. I understand why the movie made several changes in the tale, but reading the story is as much if not more fun than seeing the film.

"The Emerald City of Oz," published in 1910, recounts several more adventures of Dorothy in the Land of Oz. Baum used this story to expand this mysterious realm by having Dorothy bring Uncle Henry and Aunt Em to live in Oz permanently after the bank forecloses on the Kansas farm. Young Dorothy then acts as a tour guide for her family, setting out on an exploration of unknown regions of Oz. The author throws in some great puns in this installment, little jokes that surprisingly made me laugh out loud. For example, Dorothy's adventure in Utensia (where she stands trial in a dwelling full of animated cutlery, pots and pans, and utensils), her trip to Bunbury (a town inhabited by living pastries, buns, breads, and rolls), and her meeting with the Fuddles (people who literally fall to pieces when surprised by outsiders; Dorothy and her companions have to put them back together like a puzzle) are amusing to read. The best scene in the story has to be the Flutterbudgets, a town full of people who worry incessantly about nonexistent dangers. All of these explorations take place against the backdrop of an invasion of Oz by the evil Nome King and his evil allies the Growleywogs, the Whimsies, and the Phanfasms. This Oz story is quite amusing and tremendously clever.

"Glinda of Oz," released to the public in 1920 a year after Baum's death reunites nearly every character from the other Oz stories. Dorothy, now a princess of Oz, sets out with her friend and monarch Ozma to stop a war between the Flatheads and the Skeezers. When Dorothy and Ozma get trapped in the fighting, Glinda the Sorceress leads a ragtag group of characters to rescue the two. Along for the trip are the Wizard of Oz, who returned to Oz after the first book and is learning magic, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, and the funniest character, Button Bright, a boy whose sole attribute is his ability to constantly get lost. Glinda and company step into the situation and bring it to a resolution. Arguably the most interesting theme in "Glinda of Oz" is the limitations Baum places on the uses of magic in Oz. There are different types of magic and no one character (The Wizard, Glinda, Ozma) has a grasp on infinite stores of magic. Moreover, magic can only be used to assist people, not to harm them. Ozma and Glinda punish anyone who uses magic as a weapon.

These are great stories whether you pay attention to the social and cultural subtexts or not. Fans of the MGM extravaganza will find much here to expand on their knowledge of Dorothy, Tin Man, Scarecrow, Lion, and Glinda. Moreover, the addition of scads of other characters adds a richness and depth to the fantasy world of Oz beyond the scope of the film. I enjoyed these three stories so much I am considering reading a few of the other Oz stories, and hopefully you will too.

L. Frank Baum makes magic come alive
These stories are sheer genuis and a blessed light in our sometimes dark world.I read them to my children, ages 4 and 6, and we all are transported to a place over the rainbow, where things somehow turn out wonderfully happy.In the Emerald City and Glinda, we enjoyed hearing more adventures of Dorothy's friends.Ozma is indeed a great heroine for her people and for my two bright-eyed children.I could just picture where each land was that Dorothy visited with her aunt and uncle in the Emerald City book.And the eccentric rules each place had were enchanting.

A Wonderful Selecttion from a Wonderful World
Penguin Twentieth-Century Classics presents a nice selection of L. Frank Baum's Oz books with The Wizard of Oz, The Emerald City of Oz, and Glinda of Oz.It is a nice way to visit Oz beginning with the excellent essay, notes and bibliography by Jack Zipes to set the reader on the right foot along the Yellow Brick Road.After that the stories themselves will delight the reader in their own way with the versatile imagination of the author and will hopefully lead the unintiated to read more about Oz and to the more seasoned explorers it will bring back the joy felt when first going to this wonderful, wonderful land.A nice package.

Great
Anything by L. Frank Baum is going to be a good book for a person of any age to read. Oz is a fairy land that is full of imagination for any girl or boy. This is one of the best Oz books I've seen. ... Read more

Product Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Product Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Product Description
A beloved classic comes to life with this beautifully illustrated annotated edition on the 100th anniversary of Oz. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is the quintessential American fairy tale, but also one of the most controversial children's books ever published. Michael Patrick Hearn, the world's leading Oz scholar, provides a spellbinding annotated edition that illuminates all of Oz's numerous contemporary references, provides fascinating character sources, and explains the actual meaning of the word "Oz." A facsimile of the rare 1900 first edition appears with the original drawings by W. W. Denslow--scrupulously reproduced to mimic their correct colors, using a different color for each region of Oz--as well as twenty-five previously unpublished illustrations. In addition, Hearn provides an extensive bibliography, compiling Baum's published work, every notable Oz edition, and the stage and motion-picture productions from 1939's The Wizard of Oz to the 1974 Broadway smash The Wiz. The result is a classic to rival Baum's own, and a book no family's library can do without. 90 black-and-white, 56 color, and two-color illustrations throughout.Amazon.com Review
An updated version of the definitive guide, The Annotated Wizard of Oz provides a facsimile color version of the first edition of L. Frank Baum's children's classic along with extensive notes and a thorough history of the immense Oz project. In his excellent introduction, Michael Patrick Hearn describes the author's early life and interests and the development of his collaboration with W.W. Denslow, the original illustrator for his books.

An energetic and excitable fellow, Baum's devotion to make-believe began in his early 20s, when he joined a small touring theatrical troupe on the East Coast. Later attempts to run a general store and a newspaper in South Dakota (then the Wild West) failed miserably. Although few of his business ventures or artistic efforts had met with success, in 1897 Baum's "Father Goose" rhymes (designed and illustrated by Denslow) became a surprise bestseller, and Baum was able to buy his family a summer cottage on Lake Michigan, christened "The Sign of the Goose," for which he made most of the furniture (goose-themed, of course) and stenciled the walls with a frieze of green geese.

The idea for The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, "a modern fairy tale," as he considered it, soon followed, and the book appeared in May 1900. The 10,000-copy first printing sold out in two weeks, and about 90,000 sold within the first year. Hearn goes on to describe the many books that followed, as well as the 1902 musical extravaganza The Wizard of Oz and Baum's subsequent, ill-starred attempts to depict the world of Oz on film. (He died long before the 1939 MGM musical made his fairy tale known around the globe.) In 1907, he told a reporter for the Grand Rapids Herald why he preferred young readers:

To write fairy stories for children, to amuse them, to divert restless children, sick children, to keep them out of mischief on rainy days, seems of greater importance than to write grown-up novels. Few of the popular novels last the year out, responding as they do to a certain psychological demand, characteristic of the time; whereas, a child's book is, comparatively speaking, the same always, since children are always the same kind of folks with the same needs to be satisfied.

Customer Reviews (41)

worth its weight in gold
"The Annotated Wizard of Oz" (Centennial Edition) is a huge book that is just as fascinating as it is educational. If you enjoy classic books, "The Wizard of Oz" or just American literary history than this book is most assuredly for you.

The book is hard cover (10" x 9" and 2 1/2 inches thick) and is well over 500 pages long. Of course it includes the original text is by Mr. L. Frank Baum with all of the original pictures by the original illustrator for the 1900 classic, W. W. Denslow. The book is edited by Michael Patrick Hearn and includes a brief preface by Martin Gardner. To celebrate the 100th anniversary of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" "The Annotated Wizard of Oz"was published in 2000 by W. W. Norton & Company. There is also an annotated edition from the 1970's, too, however the 2000 edition is the definitive one to get.

The cover of the book is like a bright and colorful present. It's almost 3-D. It is a beautiful evergreen and dark golden brown and the pictures just pop out in all different directions.

I like to think of this book as 4 mini books in one. It's a wealth of information that everyone will appreciate because it truly has something for everyone. I do take exception with the editor who stated that this book is for adults; this would make a wonderful gift for a child which would start a lifetime of appreciate of Mr. Baum's work.

As a child I was given "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" and ever since then I have been a huge fan of it. It was really one of the very first books that got me interested in reading because the story was so imaginative and timeless. I still have that book which I hold dear.

There is a very elaborate introduction which is more than 100 pages long. It describes the background of how the book was first written, as well as the biography of Mr. Baum. It also details the impact that the book had on society, as well as the countless other Oz books, plays, projects and movies, including Judy Garland's 1939 classic.

The introduction features tons and tons of otherwise unpublished and scarcely seen photos, such as the "Father Goose" comic strip. These include early pictures of L. Frank Baum as a child, rarely (if ever) seen promotional pictures and posters put out by the original publisher and even some unusual and unique drawings by W. W. Denslow, which predate "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz."

This has the original publication of L. Frank Baum's "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" right after the introduction. The story was so magical because it reminded me of my childhood. L. Frank Baum had such a way about his writing because he was able to speak to young and old readers alike. The story is both universal and transcends all times and places. I always loved how it ended because it was so simple and of course, ended happily ever after.

The original text is so effortless, yet so complex because instead of writing about things that could scare children, the book is very plot-driven. Something is constantly happening. This is the type of story that you can be proud to share with your child and grandchildren.

The original text also includes all of the first-edition chapters, table of contents and the introduction that was first included. And the original full-page color plates (as well as the color title page) are also printed, too. These are so beautifully illustrated and really articulate this story perfectly. My favorite is the seventh one of Dorothy on the yellow brick road with the Cowardly Lion and the Tin Woodman and Scarecrow and Toto.

Mr. L. Frank Baum' vision is actually much different from the '39 movie. I love the movie (it's my very favorite movie, in fact), but the book is not as rushed or hurried. It also describes many things that never took place in the movie, such as the last several chapters.

Interspersed throughout the text are annotations on nearly every other page, about nearly every page. The editor of this book painstakingly went over every single syllable, word, phrase, line, paragraph and page to come up with the cumulative analysis of this classic story that is famous around the world.

We hear from tons of literary scholars in the annotations, including everyone from L. Frank Baum himself to Salmon Rushdie to the author of the Russian version of "The Wizard of Oz" just to name a few. It is fascinating how such a simple story could be broken down into something that is truly complex and incredibly detailed and descriptive and thought-out.

There are also many rare and also unseen pictures throughout the text/annotations. Such as letters and inscriptions that L. Frank Baum wrote and even some early drawings by W. W. Denslow.

After the story ends there is a brief appendix about W. W. Denslow which includes more rarely seen drawings, as well as the story "Adventures of the Scarecrow and the Tin Man and the Little Girl" by Thos. H. Russell.

There are large, full-page, color Oz maps on each of the inside cover pages, on both sides of the book too. And there's a meticulously described bibliography that literally lists every single published work of L. Frank Baum, and much, more besides that.

For whatever reason, it seems like the "Wizard of Oz" seems to be a cottage industry that attracts many greedy and money-motivated people to spit out anything as long as they can get a few shekels for it. But "The Annotated Wizard of Oz" is surely the exception. Although it is not cheap, it is well worth the investment because the stories and pictures, as well as the wealth of information are truly invaluable.

a must have for wizard of oz fans
This book is a must have if you are a Wizard of Oz fan. The art work alone is worth the price of the book,the history is also great background information for all fans. I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves the Wizard of Oz.

Wonderful edition
I love the book it is a wonderful experience to breeze through this book and get more out of it than just the text

The Ultimate Oz book
For the die-hard Oz fan, this book has everything you could ever want. The original illustrations, plus extra sketches. The story, plus footnotes that contain every piece of relevant information pertaining to the story and its creation. An extensive biography of L. Frank Baum, plus photographs. Also there is some additional information about stories relating to the Wizard of Oz. Of course, Oz is the all time greatest fantasy story. I read the whole series when I was a kid, and I have been a resident of Oz ever since.

Nice binding, lots of good information
I purchased this book for my mother as a Christmas gift. Growing up in hard times, the OZ series was her only out. The book came in a very nice tooled leather like binding and was loaded with tidbits of information concerning the writer and the story line. My mother thoroughly enjoyed this book. ... Read more

Product Description
Designed for school districts, educators, and students seeking to maximize performance on standardized tests, Webster's paperbacks take advantage of the fact that classics are frequently assigned readings in English courses. By using a running thesaurus at the bottom of each page, this edition of Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz by L. Frank Baum was edited for students who are actively building their vocabularies in anticipation of taking PSAT¿, SAT¿, AP¿ (Advanced Placement¿), GRE¿, LSAT¿, GMAT¿ or similar examinations.
PSAT¿ is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination Board and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation neither of which sponsors or endorses this book; SAT¿ is a registered trademark of the College Board which neither sponsors nor endorses this book; GRE¿, AP¿ and Advanced Placement¿ are registered trademarks of the Educational Testing Service which neither sponsors nor endorses this book, GMAT¿ is a registered trademark of the Graduate Management Admissions Council which is neither affiliated with this book nor endorses this book, LSAT¿ is a registered trademark of the Law School Admissions Council which neither sponsors nor endorses this product. All rights reserved. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

This is another delightful volume in Baum's series about Oz
Baum wrote a number of books about Oz. He called himself the "Royal Historian of Oz." He wrote that he would have liked to compose other books, in addition to those on Oz, but "dear children" have flooded him with letters clamoring for more and more Oz books, so he is complying with their requests. This volume written in 1908 and still interesting today contains twenty tales. He tells about Princess Ozma, Jim the cab-horse, the nine piglets, Eureka the kitten, and Dorothy and the humbug wizard, of course. He promises to write about Dorothy's dog in his next book.

His books are written in simple English with occasional near hard words that children should learn. His descriptions are vivid and are the kind that children delight in reading. For example, Baum describes a train "puffed and groaned and moved slowly away from the track." Another examplle is Dorothy explaining why she called her cat Eureka. "I named my kitten that because I found it," she explained. "Uncle Henry says 'Eureka' means 'I have found it.'" Another example is when a boy tried to get the horse to move, "Dorothy thought he just wiggled one of his drooping ears, but that was all."

One of the weaker Oz books
Up until our heros get to Oz, this is a fine book. It is nice to see the Wizard again. Jim, Zeb, and Eureka are interesting additions to the series. The underground lands of the Mangaboos, the Valley of Voe, the Braided Man, the Gargoyles, and the Dragonettes are all interesting places with interesting problems for our heros.

Sadly, it falls apart when the character reach a dead end and must employ a Deus ex Machina (i.e. Ozma's magic mirror and the Nome King's wishing belt) to get themselves out of the jam and to Oz. (One problem, grasped immediately by my 5 y.o. is why Dorothy doesn't signal to Ozma, who checks in on her daily at a set time, much earlier and avoid a great deal of hardship and danger.)

Having reached Oz, Zeb is somewhat lost in the re-introduction of old characters and a large dump of expository dialog between Ozma and the Wizard. Jim suddenly becomes a jerk, a troubling change in his characterization, and is pitted against the Sawhorse and the Hungry Tiger. Eureka likewise and inexplicably becomes a more sinister character, apparently deciding to kill and eat Ozma's pet piglet (although meat and fish are in ample supply when offered to Jim), prevented from doing so only by an accident. This leads to a nonsensical trial - although again the problem could have been readily solved by looking for the piglet with Ozma's mirror, or using the Nome King's belt to wish the piglet to appear, or by the piglet having called for help as it was searched for. (It may be that the piglets lose their voice in Oz even though they could speak while underground, although that does not seem to have been established.)

At least for my daughter, the sudden change in characterization of Jim and Eureka was troubling, the trial and the threat of the Woodsman killing Eureka if she was guilty, and the revlation that she was almost guilty, led to an unsatisfactory end to a previously enjoyable book.

Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz...or not.
Not the greatest of the Oz books.True, we get the return of the Wizard, but it lacks the excitement and intrigue of the other books.It's not until the gang reaches Emerald City that the book gets really exciting.I did like the idea behind the Kingdom of the Vegetables, but the way it came out, and the journey before it and after just fell really really flat.The new characters, Jim and Zeb, also added absolutely nothing to the plot that we didn't already . But still, it's L. Frank Baum, so I can't rate it all that badly.Not to mention, the reunion of the Wizard with the rest of Emerald City was just amazing to read, because after the Wizard of Oz, who would have thought we'd ever see that reunion, right?Awesome!

No illustrations!
We ordered this to read to our 5-year old. When we received it and discovered it had no illustrations we sent it back. The original O'Neill illustrations are so wonderful in the other ones.

Another good yarn
This is another good yarn for the kiddos.Baum's storytelling holds up well and his little lessons are timeless (e.g. the dragonettes insisting beauty is the eye of the beholder) in this unique take on a center-of-the earth story.The science is a bit poor in this book as we see earthquakes swallowing people whole, California being beset by gaping quakes every half hour, gravity lessening at the earth's core, and so forth.Nonetheless, this is easy to look past when the audience is small children as opposed to teenagers.

All said and told, this was the least interesting story so far in my opinion, but fine for my young son and fine enough for me to continue purchasing the series. ... Read more