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Summary
Summary
Robert Ingpen's lush interpretation of L. Frank Baum's beloved classic transports children to the magical kingdom of Oz. Ingpen captures all the memorable moments and characters in his gorgeous illustrations, from the cyclone that whisks Dorothy out of Kansas to her encounters with the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, Cowardly Lion--and the Wicked Witch of the West. An essential edition.
Author Notes
Best known as the author of the Wizard of Oz series, Lyman Frank Baum was born on May 15, 1856, in New York. When Baum was a young man, his father, who had made a fortune in oil, gave him several theaters in New York and Pennsylvania to manage. Eventually, Baum had his first taste of success as a writer when he staged The Maid of Arran, a melodrama he had written and scored.
Married in 1882 to Maud Gage, whose mother was an influential suffragette, the two had four sons. Baum often entertained his children with nursery rhymes and in 1897 published a compilation titled Mother Goose in Prose, which was illustrated by Maxfield Parrish. The project was followed by three other picture books of rhymes, illustrated by William Wallace Denslow.
The success of the nursery rhymes persuaded Baum to craft a novel out of one of the stories, which he titled The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Some critics have suggested that Baum modeled the character of the Wizard on himself. Other books for children followed the original Oz book, and Baum continued to produce the popular Oz books until his death in 1919. The series was so popular that after Baum's death and by special arrangement, Oz books continued to be written for the series by other authors. Glinda of Oz, the last Oz book that Baum wrote, was published in 1920.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (5)
School Library Journal Review
Gr all levels-Dorothy and her little dog Toto are at home in their farmhouse when a cyclone suddenly lifts the house and deposits it in the fantastic land of the Munchkins. So begins Baum's timeless classic tale of magic and adventure in which Dorothy, along with three traveling companions she meets along the way-the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman and the Cowardly Lion-are involved in one adventure after another. Good and bad witches, friendly and unfriendly creatures, deadly poppies, and a dangerous river are just some of the challenges they encounter in their search for The Wizard of Oz, who they believe can grant each one of them their greatest wish: a return home for Dorothy, brains for the Scarecrow, a heart for the Tin Woodman, and courage for the Cowardly Lion. The audio quality of this offering is crisp and clear and Tavia Gilbert's narration is engaging, giving each character a distinct voice. Dorothy's voice is tremulous and has a lilting sing-song quality to it that is at times credulous, bewildered, confident, and consistently believable. The portrayal of the other characters is equally wonderful, with seamless transitions between them. A bonus companion ebook is included on the first CD. An enjoyable listening experience for all ages.-Mary Oluonye, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Baum's classic comes to life in this winning audio edition. When a cyclone whisks Dorothy Gale to the Land of Oz, her only hope of returning to Kansas is to find the Wizard, who lives in the heart of the Emerald City. Following the Yellow Brick Road, Dorothy encounters friends and foes-e.g., the endearing Scarecrow and the malevolent Wicked Witch of the West-that help and hinder her journey. Tavia Gilbert's whimsical narration will appeal to listeners young and old. Additionally, the distinct voices she creates for each character make for a delightful listening experience. Those only familiar with the film adaptation will be pleasantly surprised by the original story and Gilbert's fantastic narration. Ages 10-up. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
These budget-priced unabridged volumes, compact and sturdily bound with glossy-finished covers, have pleasant but bland cover illustrations and a uniform design. A short "about the author" is included in each. [Review covers these Oxford Children's Classics titles: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, The Wind in the Willows, and Party Shoes.] (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
Gr. 4-8. Originally published in 1900, this classic story is now being re-issued with all 24 of Denslow's original colorplates, pictorial binding, and 130 two-color illustrations. Although children might be more enticed by illustrator Michael Hague's edition or Deborah Hautzig's adaptation, purists will delight in this facsimile and enjoy introducing it to children. BE. [OCLC] 86-62556
Library Journal Review
Baum's classic is an eye-opener for those who know it only through countless viewings of the 1939 movie. While the basic plots are identical-Dorothy, Kansas, twister, Oz, Scarecrow, Tin Woodsman, Cowardly Lion, melted witch, clicking heels, return home-the novel is vastly simpler and waaayyy slower. The biggest disappointment is the Wicked Witch of the West. Deliciously evil on screen, the worst thing she does here is swat Dorothy with an umbrella. After receiving their brains, courage, etc., Dorothy and company have more strange adventures here, but they're entirely forgettable. VERDICT Narrator Tara Sands does an accomplished job of channeling each character according to Baum's descriptions, and this production will charm small children, but older kids and curious adults should stick to the film. Buy appropriately.-Mike Rogers, Babylon, NY (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.