My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Published in 1900, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900) by L. Frank Baum is one of those fun, adventurous books for all ages. One of the reasons I love reading these kinds of classics, is because they often hold within secrets and treasures all their own that often fail to be converted into the film adaptations.
For instance, Dorothy’s slippers are not of ruby but of silver, and they are indeed magical. Also, the Golden Cap, a magical hat, can call the flying monkeys that can grant three wishes and no more. And they do, in fact, aid Dorothy and her companions in their travels, and the winged monkeys are not inherently evil, but instead were enslaved by the Wicked Witch of the West.
By page 129 (out of 219 pages) the second evil witch is dead and the story has so much more to offer than the movie version. For example, did you know that the Scarecrow, after getting his brains and the departure of Oz by hot-air balloon, becomes the emperor of Oz, and the Tin Man eventually becomes the leader of the Winkies in the West.
If you loved the film version of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (there are around 15 total books about this fantasy world), then I’m sure you will enjoy this story as well.
A strong recommend for any reader who loves fantasy stories.
