Product Description
Retells that portion of "The Wizard of Oz" in which the Wizard gives the Scarecrow his desired brains, the Tin Woodman a heart, and the Lion courage. ... Read more

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Glinda, the Good Witch of the South, grants Dorothy and each of her friends their greatest wish. ... Read more

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33 books by L. Frank Baum in one collection, with active table of contents, including the Wizard of Oz series:

American Fairy Tales
Aunt Jane's Nieces Abroad
Aunt Jane's Nieces and Uncle John
Aunt Jane's Nieces at Millville
Aunt Jane's Nieces at Work
Aunt Jane's Nieces in Society
Aunt Jane's Nieces in the Red Cross
Aunt Jane's Nieces on Vacation
Aunt Jane's Nieces Out West
Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
The Emerald City of Oz
The Enchanted Island of Yew
Glinda of Oz
A Kidnapped Santa Claus
The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus
The Magic of Oz
The Marvelous Land of Oz
Mary Louise
Mary Louise and the Liberty Girls
Mary Louise in the Country
Mary Louise Solves a Mystery
The Master Key
Mother Goose in Prose
Ozma of Oz
The Patchwork Girl of Oz
Rinkitink in Oz
The Road to Oz
The Scarecrow of Oz
The Sea Fairies
Sky Island
Tik-Tok of Oz
The Tin Woodman of Oz
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Complete?Not even close...
I'm not sure what they mean by "complete."The following books are missing:

The Lost Princess of Oz
John Dough and the Cherub
The Magical Monarch of Mo
Queen Zixi of Ix
Father Goose, His Book
Father Goose's Year Book
Animal Fairy Tales
Twinkle & Chubbins
Policeman Bluejay
Aunt Jane's Nieces Abroad
Aunt Janes Nieces on the Ranch
Annabel
The Daring Twins
Annabel
The Daring Twins
Phoebe Daring
Our Landlady
Tamawaca Folks
The Fate of a Crown
Daughters of Destiny
The Last Egyptian
The Uplift of Lucifer
The Flying Girl
The Flying Girl and Her Chum
The Boy Fortune Hunters in Alaska
The Boy Fortune Hunters in Panama
The Boy Fortune Hunters in Egypt
The Boy Fortune Hunters in China
The Boy Fortune Hunters in Yucatan
The Boy Fortune Hunters in the South Seas
Queer Visitors from the Marvelous Land of Oz
The Woggle-Bug Book
Little Wizard Stories of Oz

...and numerous works of short fiction and nonfiction.It doesn't even contain the complete Baum Oz series, let alone the complete works of the author.FALSE ADVERTISING

... Read more

Product Description
Fleeing his evil-tempered guardian, the witch Mombi, a boy named Tip has met up with the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the erudite H.M. Woggle-bug, T.E. Together with the Sawhorse and the scarecrow-like Jack Pumpkinhead, two objects Tip brought to life with Mombi's magic powder, they have attempted to retake the Emerald City from General Jinjur and her all-female revolutionary army. However, they soon find themselves trapped in the Emerald City's castle. Even if they can escape, they must still find a way to stop Jinjur and her new ally...Mombi! Biowulf, Dragon Arms, and Junction 17 creator David Hutchison follows up Oz: The Manga, his best-selling, acclaimed adaptation of L. Frank Baum's timeless classic, The Wizard of Oz, with a spectacular re-imagining of the next chapter in the Oz saga! Collects Land of Oz: Return to the Emerald City #1-4. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Return To Oz-The Manga
The sequal to Antarctic Press' series of Oz-The Manga was this comic broken up into two parts, Land Of Oz-The Manga. This is another adaptation of the 2nd Oz book by L. Frank Baum. The first half is just called Land Of Oz-The Manga, while the other is Land Of Oz-The Manga: Return To The Emerald City. The story was very much the same from the original Marvelous Land Of Oz novel, although for some reason instead of the regular guardian of the Emerald City gate it has Tik-Tok(who is called "Tick-Tock")who doesn't even show up until the third novel. The character designs are also slightly redone in traditional manga-style. Tip looks like he/she's out of a steampunk anime, Jinjur is at first wearing a proper military uniform and then later on she's gussied up like a Disney Princess, Mombi appears more like a Munchkin considering she's from Gillikin, Jellia is even shorter than average, and Wogglebug is very distinguished. Tin Man is back with shiny nickel-plating, and Scarecrow is very sharp in his new royal duds. If David Hutchison's work on the previous manga satisfied you, then you'll love this one too. ... Read more

Product Description
"There's a cyclone coming!" Uncle Henry shouts. But it is too late for his niece. Snatched away from her home in Kansas, Dorothy finds herself in the land of Oz. There she meets a Scarecrow, a Tin Woodman, and a Lion, and together they set off down the yellow brick road to seek the Wizard of Oz. For nearly 100 years, children have been entranced by the wonderful world of Oz. In this Young classics edition, children can enjoy the imaginary land of Oz and also learn about real life on the Kansas prairies 100 years ago. Photography and background information help to set the scene, and bring Dorothy and her friends to life for a new generation of children. ... Read more

Product Description
Here is A Christmas Treasury for all ages. Included are Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry, The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum, and other delightful poetry and fiction. Beautifully illustrated, this book will become part of your family's Christmas tradition for years to come ... Read more

Product Description

Princess Ozma is missing! When Dorothy awakens one morning to discover that the beloved ruler of the Land of Oz has disappeared, all of the Emerald City's most celebrated citizens join in the search for the lost princess.

But Ozma isn't all that's gone missing. The magical treasures of Oz have disappeared, too, including the Magic Picture, the Wizard's black bag, and even Glinda's Great Book of Records. With no clues to guide them, Ozma's friends separate into four search parties and spread out across their vast country in a desperate quest for their absent ruler.

Deep in the Winkle Country, Dorothy's search party is soon Joined by Cayke the Cookie Cook, who has lost a magic gold dishpan, and the amazing Frogman, a man-sized frog who walks on his hind legs. Together with these new allies, Ozma's friends learn that their valued possessions aren't missing but have been stolen by a mysterious villain. If their new foe is powerful enough to steal Princess Ozma and all of their magical treasures, how will they defeat him with no magic of their own?

In this 1917 addition to the Oz series, L. Frank Baum delights readers of all ages with a spellbinding mystery that involves nearly every one of the amazing cast of characters that populate America's favorite fairyland. This handsome new edition--featuring all twelve of Oz artist John R. Neill's beautiful color plates and nearly one hundred black-and-white drawings--is the perfect way to join Dorothy and her friends on this exciting journey through the endlessly intriguing Land of Oz.

Customer Reviews (14)

My very favorite Oz book as a child
As a little girl, I read this book **at least** 20 times!I just loved the teddy bear land, the evil magician, the human-size frog, and the search for the jeweled cookie pan.(And of course, the search for missing Ozma captured my imagination!)John R. Neill's gorgeous original art nouveau illustrations bring the fairytale to life.

The Lost Princess of Oz is one of the least well-known books in the series, but it is one of the best.

Highly, highly recommended! If you want your little girl to love reading, share this book with her.

All your favorite characters in one book!
Ah, this is one of the most tantalizing installments in the Oz series. Not only does it feature perhaps the best title of all of L. Frank Baum's Oz books, it has one of the biggest casts of characters at work. When Ozma disappears, all her friends go and search for her--as a result, we get to read about many of our old favorites from the Land of Oz, including Dorothy, the Patchwork Girl, the Cowardly Lion, the Hungry Tiger, the Scarecrow, et al. The other aspect of this book that separates it from the other Oz titles is that it involves a true mystery--one that keeps the reader turning the pages, to discover just what has become of Ozma. This book is a lot of fun and I quite enjoyed the illustrations, especially the one that shows our band of rescuers gazing upon themselves in the Magic Picture. If you are looking to revisit the world of Oz, this book will be one of the most satisfying for you.

The strange journey of Cayke the Cookie Cook and the Frogman.
When Cayke the Cookie Cook discovers that her diamond-studded dishpan has gone missing, she and the Frogman journey out of the land of the Yips to search for it in the great wide world of Oz. Although neither of them had ever heard of the Emerald City and its sweet girl ruler, Ozma, their paths soon cross with Ozma's friends. It becomes apparent that whoever has stolen the diamond-studden dishpan has also stolen Ozma and the rest of the magic in Oz!

The biggest issue in this book, as already noted, is that Baum sends a huge group of characters to look for Ozma. Betsy and Trot particularly get lost next to Dorothy and Button-Bright. The little interaction we get from the characters is not really enough to give us more than a scrap of action or interaction.

On the other hand, there are a lot of terrific elements in the book. I like the Lavender and Pink bear characters very much (stuffed with curled hair!), and the reformation of Ugu the Shoemaker is a classic Oz moment.

The Lost Princess of Oz was the 11th book in the series, and written in 1917. It may not be the best book in the Oz books, but I honestly cannot bring myself to give any of the Baum books less than four stars. The Oz books are all pretty self-contained, so you do not need to read them in order. However, if you or your child is new to the series I would not begin with The Lost Princess since there are so many characters from earlier works.

Fabulous
My son and I have been reading the Oz Series for the past few months.Everynight before he goes to bed we read at least one chapter.All the books to this point in the series have been a pleasure to read and my son has throughly enjoyed them all.My son and I agree that this one of our favorits.Wonderful how Mr. Baum was able to include most of the charaters from his previous books as well as introducing a few new ones as well. The action starts from the beginning and keeps going at a wonderful pace to the end.

The Lost Princess of Oz (Books of Wonder)by L. Frank Baum
The Lost Princess of Oz (Books of Wonder) by L. Frank Baum is the 11th book in the oz series and tells the story of when ozma is missing from oz and the subsequent hunt to find her. Here is an all-star cast from the "olde" oz books and we get to follow Dorothy, Trot, Betsy Bobbin, Hank, the hungry lion and new friends like the frogman. The story is quite exciting and the plot is awesome with many twists and turns and the hunt for the lost ozma is thrilling and filled with marvelous adventures and I must say that it is one of the best book in the series so far. The illustrations are stupendous and the illustartor truly captures the spirit and essence of oz. I love this series and will read all of the oz books written by Baum and can not wait for the next book in the series. ... Read more

Product Description
For generations L. Frank Baum's Land of Oz books have captured and enthralled millions of readers. These stories are as delightful today as they were the day they were written. In The Tin Woodman of Oz, join the Tin Woodman, the Scarecrow, Woot, and Polychrom as they journey to Munchkin Country to find Nimmie Amee. In the Magic of Oz, Dorothy and her friends stop an illegal wizard from transforming people into animals. And in Glinda of Oz, Dorothy and Ozma travel to stop a war between the Flatheads and Skeezers. ... Read more

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A biography of the author of "The Wizard of Oz", who invented a new kind of fairy tale, uniquely modern and American. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

the man behind the curtain
Like many people (too many people, perhaps) I grew up with The Wizard of Oz only in movie form.For many years I didn't even KNOW it was based on a book, and I certainly didn't know anything about its creator, L.F. Baum.Though I knew there were other books written by him in the Oz series, I had no idea, until reading this biography, that there were over TEN other books in the Oz series alone.I guess ya' learn something new every day...

L.F. Baum had a pleasant childhood peppered with some unhappy experiences and generally was in poor health.Like many creative people (especially in the early 20th century) he was considered a dreamer and would probably come to no good, squandering his life and his money away on frivolous things.Time has proven this to be fortunately incorrect.

One of the first males to be deeply involved with the women's' suffrage movement, he started his own newspaper as a young child, borrowing news from other papers and news sources and creating poems and puzzles for his readers.He went on to work newspapers most of his life, on and off, doing a wide variety of jobs, including selling axle grease.All during this time he continued to tell stories and write.Indeed, he was one of the first authors to write stories geared specifically to children, and could even be considered the father of the modern children's book.

"L. Frank Baum" is packed with details of this little known man and shows a tremendous amount of effort and attention on the part of the author.Anyone above, say, 5th grade could easily use this book alone as the sole source on his life and times.However, it should be noted that the writing is rather dense with information and could be considered uninteresting reading-for-pleasure material for students who are merely curious about his life.Though richly illustrated with photographs, posters and book excerpts from Baum's life and books, a good deal of these illustrations are very teeny-tiny, making the details difficult to see.They would be more effective if enlarged even by 25%.

There is an excellent chapter on "Oz and the Censors", which is offset by a whole chapter just about a months' vacation.This sort of disjointed discussion of Baum's life and overemphasis on certain details shows up every now and then, causing the reader to sometimes say, "huh?" or forcing one to reread for greater clarity.

As far as school-aged children go, I would fancy that this book would serve more as a resource for paper writing than for sheer enjoyment due to the volume of facts and the dryness of the text.Still, it's an excellent book, meticulously researched, and it sheds some very much-needed light on the man whose book was the basis for one of the best-known movies in 20th century America.When we all listen to admire Ms. Garland singing "Over the Rainbow", or cackle like the Wicked Witch of the West, or laugh at the antics of the Cowardly Lion, we should stop and remember the kind, gentle man who gave the filmmaking world the idea for these characters.

Fair
Well, definitely informative and helpful. Well-written. Text is accompanied by wonderful photos, but some of the info. is not always correct (just minor parts). It is not balanced either, sometimes they spenda chapter on a decade, other times a chapter for a five-week vacation...

A Superb Book!
Wonderful! It brought me into those little places in Baums life that made me feel like is friend. I love the photos (sometimes I think Groucho Marx copied Baum, hehe) and the text is excellent. If you love Oz, you just HAVE to read this book. ... Read more

Product Description
When Scraps, the Patchwork Girl of Oz, gets into trouble with some of the Emerald City's citizens, she decides that she is unappreciated and runs away from home. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

"Nothing Is Ever Lost & Wonders Never Cease"
Fifty - two years after Oz author and illustrator John R. Neill's death, The Runaway In Oz at last saw print for the first time in 1995. Neill had authored and illustrated one classic in the Oz chronicle, 1940's The Wonder City Of Oz, though his two books that followed, The Scalawagons In Oz (1941) and Lucky Bucky In Oz (1942), both suffered from weak plots, convoluted storytelling, and poor editing.In the early nineties, artist and writer Eric Shanower, in conjunction with Neill's family, rescued, edited, and illustrated The Runaway In Oz, and by doing so not only gave the world another fabulous Oz title, but salvaged Neill's reputation as the author of only a single great entry in the Oz series.

Everything about The Runaway In Oz is perfect.Neill wisely choose to limit his cast to a half - dozen characters, thus allowing his narrative to revolve primarily around the group's interrelationships, though there is also rip - roaring action aplenty. Neill not only chose the popular Scraps the Patchwork Girl as his protagonist, but also allowed Professor Wooglebug and Jack Pumpkinhead, two woefully under - utilized reader favorites, the honor of playing major roles in an Oz tale. Neill's own creation, headstrong style guru Jenny Jump, one of the most distinctive of all Oz heroines, is also on hand as a key player in the drama. Neill and Shanower respectfully honor established Oz history, and their attention to detail, old and new, is remarkable. The Wooglebug's `dream castle' is literally a product of his intensely directed desires, and when tenderhearted Jack Pumpkinhead weeps, he logically sheds pumpkinseed tears. Oz devotees will be thrilled to see Jack's whimsical Shoe Orchestra from The Wonder City In Oz back for another extended series of concerts, and, as in the three earlier Neill books, every illustration of Jenny Jump reveals her with a new outre hairstyle, some that look back on twenties Dada and others that presciently look forward to seventies Punk and eighties New Wave. Readers will also learn that the Little Wizard has returned Jenny's temper to her with the understanding that she promise not `lose it' again. The Patchwork Girl's obnoxious but previously acceptable poetry spouting habit becomes an active element of the story, as Scraps suddenly finds herself in a repulsive world in which everyone she meets seems to be an enthusiastic and compulsive rhymer.

In fact, The Runaway In Oz revolves around all aspects of Scraps' antisocial behavior. As the novel begins, Jellia Jamb, the Tin Woodman, and Jenny Jump have all grown impatient with the boisterous Patchwork Girl's thoughtlessness; feeling rejected and unappreciated, Scraps decides to run away from the Emerald City and from Oz itself.Though Scraps never gets beyond the borders of the kingdom despite her best efforts, she manages to accidentally unknot the Wooglebug's `Castle in the Air' from its moorings, infuriate a mountaintop - dwelling witch that controls all of the world's weather, and strand herself on a shooting star high in the heavens above Oz.Along the way, Scraps makes several interesting new friends and traveling companions, including "talented and gifted" boy scholar Alexample, the leafy Popla the Power Plant, and the Twinkler, an older man imprisoned on the star and forced to polish its lights for eternity.

Meanwhile, Jenny Jump and Jack Pumpkinhead, who are eventually joined by the fretful, castle - searching Wooglebug, have set out in search of Scraps; Jenny feels guilty for having told Scraps that "no one wants to be bothered" by her "tantrums," and though Jack Pumpkinhead's motives are less clear, his behavior appears to have something to do with romantic attachment as well as human concern. The Professor, Jack, and Jenny find themselves lost for days in an enchanted orchard, where they are attacked by an army of thorn carrying quince apples, who are in revolt against being sold at market like common fruits and vegetables. By the time the two parties meet, almost everyone is furious at Scraps except Jack, and the Wooglebug is enraged at everyone.

The Runaway In Oz is great fun throughout. The narrative is smooth, streamlined, and grounded, less manic and explosive than The Wonder City In Oz, but no less hilarious. Neill's real forte as an Oz author was characterization, something Shanower seemed to fully appreciate when editing the manuscript. In fact, the depiction of Scraps here may be the best of any of the Oz titles, since her irritating qualities, always recognized by readers but only rarely by other Oz characters, are realistically acknowledged and addressed head on. The Runaway In Oz portrays Scraps as immature, callous, irresponsible, willful, and vain while simultaneously revealing her foresight, courage, intelligence, determination, concern for others, and eventual common sense and humility.If Jack Pumpkinhead is slightly more downtrodden than usual and the Wooglebug more uppity, longtime Oz fans know there are precedents for their behavior in earlier titles.

Shanower's illustrations are extremely detailed, clear, and timelessly perfect. Alexample, though an Oz citizen and apparent native, bears no resemblance to Woot the Wanderer, Ojo the Lucky, or Button Bright. Instead, he is a clean - cut, eyeglass - wearing young boy in fifties - style clothing; only his thick, black hair hints at romanticism. Jenny Jump was already a modern gal in Neill's earlier titles and illustrations, and continues to be one here. Shanower's Professor Wooglebug, a wonderful balance of erudition, pomposity, enthusiasm, and frustration, surpasses even Neill's. Shanower's weather witch is not even a fourth cousin to traditional hag Old Mombi, but a tough, capable, mature woman in worker's overalls. Popla the Power Plant is a shrub whose beautiful woman's face is hidden within her branches, the female counterpart of the European Green Man of history, architecture, and folklore. From its cover to its double-page drawings and lovely illustrated blue end papers, this edition joyously reflects Shanower's commitment that The Runaway In Oz be every bit as beautiful as the early Baum/Neill books.Highly recommended.

Oz Book 36A
I first heard of "The Runaway in Oz" when I read Martin Gardner's introduction to the Dover edition of "The Marvelous Land of Oz," in which he mentioned that this book had been left unpublished due to Neill's death.At that time I had read only a few Oz books (now I have read almost all of them), but I felt deeply sorry that this book was unavailable for me to read.Now, at last, thanks to the efforts of Eric Shanower (who edited and illustrated the book), we can read this long-lost volume of Oz history.

It certainly is an interesting book, and forms an exciting conclusion to Neill's four-book tenure as Royal Historian.Scraps, the Patchwork Girl, decides to run away from the Emerald City and find a new home, and the book details her adventures with the new friends she makes, as well as those of Jenny Jump, Professor Wogglebug and Jack Pumpkinhead, who go searching for her.Among her new friends is Alexample, a young boy who is TAG (Talented and Gifted); this is a highly noteworthy feature of the book, since I could count on one hand the number of other children's authors I know of who have depicted gifted children in their books, thus leaving gifted children (of whom I was one) with a paucity of literary role models.(Meg and Charles Wallace in Madeleine L'Engle's Time Trilogy and Claudia in E. L. Konigsburg's "From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler" were among the welcome exceptions.)

Neill's style of writing is highly cinematic and visual, as might be expected from the greatest Oz illustrator; thinking back to reading this book, I feel almost as though I had seen it as a movie rather than reading it.The gorgeous illustrations by Eric Shanower contribute to this impression; Shanower certainly is the most talented person illustrating Oz books today.

One slight quibble with Neill's tale concerns the characterization of the Wogglebug:in no other Oz book is he quite so unlikeable as here (although still not extremely unlikeable).Also, I must agree with "The Baum Bugle"'s reviewer, who wished Shanower had explained the extent to which he had to work on the book's text.The story's tone is somewhat more serious than was that of Neill's previous three Oz books, though that might be due to Neill's failing health while writing "Runaway" (something similar happened with Baum's last few Oz books) or to the lack of interference by a Reilly & Lee editor who, I understand, heavily revised Neill's earlier Oz books.

However, one aspect of the book that is quite atypical of Neill is the excellence of its continuity.There are practically no mistakes when the book refers to characters or events from earlier Oz books, and the characterizations are almost completely consistent with the depictions of the same characters in earlier Oz books by Neill and others.Neill's other books are well-known for having the worst continuity in the whole Oz series, with such egregious mistakes as Jack Pumpkinhead remembering being enslaved by Mombi for many years (which never happened) and the introduction of Scraps' never-before-displayed propensity for punching people (which she does again at one point in this book, but that is simply an example of consistency with Neill's previous books, and otherwise her personality is exactly as depicted by Baum and Thompson).One has to wonder whether Neill's manuscript contained continuity errors which Shanower corrected.

Nonetheless, the availability of this book after so many years is cause for rejoicing among all Oz fans here in the Great Outside World.

A collaboration that really succeeds!
When John R. Neill died in 1943 after writing three Oz books, the manuscript of this book was left without illustrations and unpublished. Preserved by Neill's family for over 50 years, Eric Shanower finallyediting it and provided his own marvelous black-and-white drawings to bringit to press.At the time of his death, Neill had illustrated all but thefirst Oz book and his illustrations have come to define the people and landof Oz to generations of readers. Shanower's illustrations follow in Neill'sstyle, improving, if that is possible, on the work of the master.Thestory evolves around the theme of anger and its effects as Scraps, thePatchwork Girl, in a fit of anger decides to run away. Upsetting many ofthe people she runs into, Scraps still manages to befriend Popla, the PowerPlant, who is possibly the most unusual character in a land known for itsstrange inhabitants. Popla is the strongest plant in the world and growsalone on a windswept mountaintop. Scraps, finding a flowerpot, takes thePower Plant, who has never left the spot where she first sprouted, on aexciting and enjoyable journey. Together they travel on Scraps spoolicle, abicycle with wooden spools for wheels, and through their adventures alasting friendship is created that dissolves Scraps anger. Anyone whe hasever enjoyed an Oz book will love this unique contribution to the Ozcorpus.

A long-lost Oz book published at last
I first heard of "The Runaway in Oz" when I read Martin Gardner's introduction to the Dover edition of "The Marvelous Land of Oz," in which he mentioned that this book had been left unpublisheddue to Neill's death.At that time I had only read a few Oz books (now Ihave read almost all of them), but I felt deeply sorry that this book wasunavailable for me to read.Now, at last, thanks to the efforts of EricShanower (who edited and illustrated the book), we can read this long-lostvolume of Oz history. It certainly is an interesting book, and forms anexciting conclusion to Neill's four-book tenure as Royal Historian. Scraps, the Patchwork Girl, decides to run away from the Emerald City andfind a new home, and the book details her adventures with the new friendsshe makes, as well as those of Jenny Jump, Professor Wogglebug and JackPumpkinhead, who go searching for her.Among her new friends is Alexample,a young boy who is TAG (Talented and Gifted); this is a highly noteworthyfeature of the book, since I could count on one hand the number of otherchildren's authors I know of who have depicted gifted children in theirbooks, thus leaving gifted children (of whom I was one) with a paucity ofliterary role models.(Meg and Charles Wallace in Madeleine L'Engle's TimeTrilogy and Claudia in E. L. Konigsburg's "From the Mixed-Up Files ofMrs. Basil E. Frankweiler" were among the welcome exceptions.) Neill'sstyle of writing is highly cinematic and visual, as might be expected fromthe greatest Oz illustrator; thinking back to reading this book, I feelalmost as though I had seen it as a movie rather than reading it.Thegorgeous illustrations by Eric Shanower contribute to this impression;Shanower certainly is the most talented person illustrating Oz books today.One slight quibble with Neill's tale concerns the characterization of theWogglebug: in no other Oz book is he quite so unlikeable as here (althoughstill not extremely unlikeable).Also, I must agree with "The BaumBugle"'s reviewer, who wished Shanower had explained the extent towhich he had to work on the book's text.The story's tone is somewhat moreserious than was that of Neill's previous three Oz books, though that mightbe due to Neill's failing health while writing "Runaway." (Something similar happened with Baum's last few Oz books.)However, oneaspect of the book that is quite atypical of Neill is the excellence of itscontinuity.There are practically no mistakes when the book refers tocharacters or events from earlier Oz books, and the characterizations arealmost completely consistent with the depictions of the same characters inearlier Oz books by Neill and others.Neill's other books are well- knownfor having the worst continuity in the whole Oz series, with such egregiousmistakes as Jack Pumpkinhead remembering being enslaved by Mombi for manyyears (which never happened) and the introduction of Scraps'never-before-displayed propensity for punching people (which she does againat one point in this book, but that is simply an example of consistencywith Neill's previous books, and otherwise her personality is exactly asdepicted by Baum and Thompson).One has to wonder whether Neill'smanuscript contained continuity errors which Shanower corrected. Nonetheless, the availability of this book after so many years is cause forrejoicing among all Oz fans here in the Great Outside World. ... Read more

Product Description
An Electrical Fairy Tale Founded Upon The Mysteries Of Electricity And The Optimism Of Its Devotees. It Was Written For Boys, But Others May Read It. ... Read more

Product Description
Long before Judy Garland sang "Over the Rainbow," the denizens of Oz had already captivated the American reading public. The quintessential American fairy tale, L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz has had a singular influence on our culture since it first appeared in 1900. Yet, as Michael Riley shows, Baum's achievement went far beyond this one book, or even the thirteen others he wrote about that magic kingdom.

The Land of Oz was just one in a whole continent of fantasy countries whose histories, geographies, and citizens Baum developed in detail over the course of his writing career. In this Other-world, Baum created a full-scale mythology that foreshadowed Tolkien's Middle Earth in its imaginative detail.

Taking us on an entertaining tour of this endearing and unforgettable Other-world, Riley illuminates Baum's richly creative imagination in the Oz books and other works of fantasy, like the much neglected Life and Adventures of Santa Claus. He restores for millions of readers Baum's original conception of Oz as it existed long before other writers were hired to continue the immensely popular series following Baum's death in 1919. Equally important, he shows us how Oz and its companion countries evolved over time, as Baum repeatedly responded to a loyal readership clamoring for an endless supply of Oz stories.

While there have been other studies of Baum, this is the first to examine his Other-world in its entirety. Oz and Beyond provides the first comprehensive analysis of all of Baum's fantasy creations and his evolution as a fantasy writer, demonstrating that Baum had a more consistent and disciplined imagination than is generally recognized. It also explains the influence of Baum's childhood and adult experiences on his writing and illuminates his philosophy concerning nature, civilization, and industrialization.

Oz's enduring influence on American culture is indisputable--witness its endless replication in books, films, musicals, and theme parks. In returning to the original source of that influence, Riley serves as our guide to that land over the rainbow and inspires renewed appreciation for a great writer's magical vision. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A wonderful insite to the mind
I'm a HUGE fan of Baum.Always have been. Ever since I was a kid. Reading Baum in published order is an ever ongoing project with me. Now I'm not one who wants to take apart the wonderful stories and put all the elements intolittle boxes and find out what they are make of, but this book doessomething that is just the opposite. It takes the stories and looks at themin the order in which they were written! This book is a wonderful look atthe "periods" in the Baum Canon. This is a great look at how saysomething like the Life and Adventures of Santa Clause and Queen XiXi of IXrelate to each other. Great writing and research makes this book a MUST forany Baum collector. ... Read more

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Share a classic from Mary Engelbreit's library of favorites!

Customer Reviews (2)

Wizard Of Oz
This is a really cute cover on this book. I love the Mary Engelbreit art. I was disappointed though that the book did not have more Engelbreit illustrations inside.
The book came with a surprise. A little girls ruby slipper necklace.

No Pictures Inside!Disappointed
Why would they call this book "Mary Englebriet's Classic Library"?If Mary Englebriet's name is on the book then I expect pictures inside.There are no pictures except the cover which all books have cover pictures so having one picture doesn't make this book any different than the paperback version.How is it possible that someone who is as prolific as Mary Englebriet couldn't even create one single picture for the inside of the book? ... Read more

Product Description
Lyman Frank Baum (1856-1919) was an American author, actor, and independent filmmaker best known as the creator, along with illustrator W. W. Denslow, of one of the most popular books ever written in American children's literature, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900), better known today as simply The Wizard of Oz. He wrote thirteen sequels, nine other fantasy novels, and a plethora of other works, and made numerous attempts to bring his works to the stage and screen. Amongst his other famous works are Mother Goose in Prose (1897), American Fairy Tales (1901), The Master Key: An Electrical Fairy Tale (1901), The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus (1902), The Surprising Adventures of the Magical Monarch of Mo and His People (1902), The Enchanted Island of Yew (1903), Sky Island (1912) and Mary Louise (1916). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

I loved this book when I was about 10
I first read Queen Zixi of Ix when I was in fourth grade. I loved it then and got really into it. The story concerns a magic cloak that grants wishes (one wish only per person). For entertainment fairies weave the magic cloak and release it to the people of Noland. The recipient is a little girl, Fluff. Through absurd circumstances her brother, Bud is crowned king of Noland.

Ironically only one person in the story ends up intentionally making a wish on the cloak. The others either forget that they are wearing the cloak or don't know about the cloak's magic properties, and so are granted the first wish that they state as they absently talk to themselves. Because the cloak takes things literally this leads to some absurd consequences as people is Bud's palace find their idle wishes come true.

Queen Zixi in the neighboring land of Ix has heard about the cloak. She decides to steal it and after a few tries succeeds. However the wish will not be granted if the cloak has been stolen. Queen Zixi doesn't get her wish and discards the cloak without knowing why.

Meanwhile Bud's country of Noland is invaded by very round rude people called Roly-Rouges. He and Fluff don't have the cloak to help them and appeal to Zixi for help. She took the cloak while in disguise and switched it for a fake so the kids don't know that the cloak is missing. They only know that it won't work. The rest of the book follows Zixi helping the children as they hunt down the cloak and deal with the Roly-Rouges. Naturally this happens in unexpected ways.

As an adult rereading this book I still liked it, but the pacing felt kind of funny. This is a fairly short book and lots happens (more than I can summarize here). When I read this as a child the pacing felt perfect so I probably read faster now. There are still little jokes included here for adults, though. At one point a character muses that this would be the way things work "in a fairytale, but not here in the real world of Noland". So there are little jokes and ways in which things are worded that adults will get but children will likely overlook as they think about fairies, wishes and magic. This book is written more for children, but if you read it as an adult or if you read it aloud to kids there is something for you too.

If you have younger children then this book is definitely a good choice for them. I remember it well from my childhood and I loved it. For a child it is a must read. For an adult it is a quick entertaining read.

As Good as the Wizard!
L. Frank Baum is best known for THE WIZARD OF OZ and the sequels he wrote to that series. All of them are good but, of course, some are better than others. He wrote other stories as well and most of them take place in the same general locale as the Oz stories. The kingdoms and personages may vary but the "feel" remains the same. This book is one such.

This is an original fairy tale and has many of the familiar aspects of the classical genre. It is fun and well written and is as fully deserving of respect as the OZ books. Some say it was Baum's best work; Baum himself certainly ranked it among his best. I had heard of this book when I was a child in love with all things Oz but it was out of print at that time. Thankfully, it is available now.

The story centers around a magic cloak created by a fairy queen. The possessor of the cloak will be granted one wish. Many of those wishes turn out to be foolish or wasteful. The cloak is originally given to a young orphan girl, Fluff. Her brother is soon proclaimed King of Noland and turns out to be an enlightened ruler, even if he is full of the follies of youth. The cloak provokes jealousies, however, and Noland soon finds itself at war with Ix and ultimately conquered by a bunch of strange beings foreign to both Noland and Ix. The cloak turns out to be a source of trouble as well as a blessing.

Fabulous Fantasy!
My kids loved this book andhad me read it to them 6 times!Yours will too!

My daughter Paige's opinion
This is a very good book.It is about two young children with no mother and then their father dies and they are very poor.They are forced to live with their aunt. (She is very mean and she doesn't care about anything but money.)Once the king of Noland died they decided for Bud to be the new king. It is really about their adventures with Bud being king.At the same time a magic cloak is going around and nobody knows that it is magical.People keep on accidentally making wishes and they don't know it until later when their wishes come true.Once they notice that it is magical everybody wants it.Soon there is a war against queen Zixi of Ix for the cloak.
This book is cool in very weird ways.It is also one of the books in the series of the Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum.I like this book because the plot is fiction and I have read and liked most of the books that this author has written.I think that he is a very good author.He is very creative and I like that and how he uses his creativity to write his books.
I strongly recommend this book to whoever has it.I don't really think it belongs in a specific age group.I think that every body could read it and understand what is going in the book.I also think that whoever reads this book will really like this book.

A Fairy Tale for all ages.
Queen Zixi of Ix is far and away my favorite non-Oz Baum book, and actually is high on the list for my favorite Baum books in general. In the interesting and informative introduction to the Dover edition, Martin Gardner cites Baum himself(from a letter to his son) about the book.

Baum wrote: "In some ways Queen Zixi is my best effort, and nearer to the 'old-fashioned' fairy tale than anything I have yet accomplished."

In fact, one of the reasons that this book has stayed with me so strongly over the years (I have been re-reading it on and off since I was eight) is that pure fairy tale quality. The issues between Ix and Noland have less of the sly contemporary humor that Baum used in the Oz books. He instead revisits the classical fairy tale characters of the ruling innocents (Bud and Fluff), the tragic "evil" queen (Zixi), and the wicked step-parent (Aunt Rivette). What makes Queen Zixi so wonderful is that while the archetypes are recognizable in the characters, they are alsovibrant and real people in their own right. The tension and the flow of the story relies on the fact that these characters are much more than their fairy tale ancestors.

I find that the Richardson illustrations work well with the book (it was the only Baum book that he illustrated). His style is memorable and works well with the text.

Expect the always reliable Baum humor and wordplay. Expect to be engaged and amused and moved.

Recommended for readers of any age. ... Read more

Product Description
L. Frank Baum (1856-1919), author of The Wizard of Oz and thirteen more Oz books, created many other appealing fantasies for children. Writing under the pseudonym of Laura Bancroft, Baum related the adventures of Twinkle in these stories for small children that, like the Oz books, have something to say to adults as well. Growing up in the village of Edgeley on the North Dakota prairie, Twinkle is an inquisitive little farm girl who is constantly swept away into the worlds of enchantment surrounding her. She and her friend Chubbins are miniaturized by a prairie dog magician and discover the secret life of a prairie dog town. Twinkle falls asleep by a woodchuck hole and suddenly finds herself the prisoner of a well-dressed, very bourgeois Mr. Woodchuck. In another tale, Twinkle's murderous crow pays a dear price for his actions. Climbing Sugar Loaf Mountain in the Ozarks, Twinkle and Chubbins enter a world of sugar people, whose society mirrors that of humans in some unsettling ways. In "Policeman Bluejay," the children are transformed into larks by the hideous tuxix, are befriended by Policeman Bluejay, and enter a world of birds that casts disturbing light on the world of humans.

Originally, all of these stories were published separately.Baum wanted them to be reissued in a single volume, as they are here for the first time.

Katharine M. Rogers is a professor emerita of English at the City University of New York and the author of L. Frank Baum: Creator of Oz. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Not Baum's finest, but a rare read for his fans
_The Twinkle Tales_ is a first-time collection of several mini chapter "books" by L. Frank Baum, all starring a little girl by the name of Twinkle, and her friend Chubbins.

The books are as follows:

In _Prairie Dog Town_, Twinkle and Chubbins are miniaturized and visit a prairie dog town and speak to its residents.

_Bandit Jim Crow_ features an injured crow that Twinkle is given as a pet. He quickly escapes and decides to live with other birds, to their chagrin--considering the fact that he likes to eat them!

In the tale _Mr. Woodchuck_, Twinkle visits a woodchuck family and learns the truth about the cruelty of animal traps.

Twinkle captures _Prince Mud-Turtle_, who can speak once a week. During a moment of speech, he reveals that he's actually a fairy prince who needs her help. Here, finally, is a twinkling of Baum's humor and magic, hardly seen in any of these stories.

_Twinkle's Enchantment_ tells of Twinkle walking past a hidden line into a magical world. There is some word play used, including poking fun at such statements as "the walls have ears" and "pop goes the weasel."

In _Sugar-Loaf Mountain_, Chubbins again features into the story, when he and Twinkle discover a hidden door in a mountain, which leads to a city where everything is made entirely of different types of sugars.

_Policeman Bluejay_ is the final story and the longest. Both children get lost, and a tuxix turns them into birds. The moral message here is mostly about hunting.

Twinkle and Chubbins do not really have the same type of magical adventures as fellow Baum creation Dorothy. In fact, they visit the natural world, and most of their adventures are educational and at times dark, explaining how animals are killed or otherwise mistreated by people. While the animals can talk and have anthropomorphised features and habitats, they are not humorous or eccentric in the way Oz creatures are. Overall, this is not Baum's finest; it comes across as preachy and not nearly as innovative as the Oz stories. Perhaps the main problem, though, is that the tales are too short to develop much of a storyline. Yet even the longest has little of one itself. They often end abruptly, without any real conclusion or conventional storyline arc.

This is, nevertheless, a volume for Baum fans, since these specific tales are a rare find, especially all in one volume. If nothing else, reading this book gave me an even great appreciation for the originality of the Oz books. ... Read more

Product Description

When Dorothy and her dog, Toto, are swept away from Kansas in a wild cyclone, they find themselves in the strange and magical land of Oz. On a quest to find her way back home, Dorothy and her friends the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion journey to the Emerald City where the great and powerful Wizard lives. Discover Dorothy's unforgettable adventures in one of the most enchanting fantasy novels of all time.