The Wizard of Oz

By Samantha Newman and Alex Paterson

After a tornado sweeps Dorothy away from her family to the magical land of Oz, she longs to return home. Will she ever make it back, or will she be thwarted by the Wicked Witch of the West?

This magical tale has been retold and adapted with new illustrations, making it perfect for younger readers aged 4+

• Language: English
• Publisher: Arcturus Publishing
• Release date: Sep 12, 2019
• ISBN: 9781838577742

Book preview

Chapter 1

Whisked Away

There once was a little girl named Dorothy, who lived with her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry in the middle of the Kansas prairie. The prairie was a huge plain of grass that stretched as far as Dorothy could see. It wasn’t a very cheerful place—the hot sun and the wind dried everything out and made it dull, and Aunt Em and Uncle Henry seemed worn out by their struggle to make a living from their farm.

The only thing that kept Dorothy from being as miserable as everything around her was Toto, her little dog. He had long, silky black fur, twinkling eyes, and a funny little nose. He played all day long and made Dorothy laugh a lot.

One day, the wind on the prairie blew more strongly than usual, and black clouds appeared in the sky. Uncle Henry squinted across the land. There’s a tornado coming! Quick, hide in the storm cellar! I’ll get the sheep!

A little trapdoor outside the house led to the storm cellar. Aunt Em ran straight to it. Quick, Dorothy! Get in! she screamed.

Dorothy was in her bedroom. She was about to run for the cellar, when Toto wriggled out of her arms and hid under the bed. The wind started to howl, and Dorothy could see farm tools and bales of hay flying past the window.

Come on, Dorothy! Aunt Em screeched, as she climbed down the ladder.

Dorothy caught Toto, but then the house shook, and she was knocked to the floor.

The wind blew so hard that the house started to spin. Then, with a great gust of wind, it was lifted up into the air! Up and up, Dorothy and Toto flew, away from the prairie and Aunt Em and Uncle Henry.

Dorothy was scared—she hugged Toto close as the house flew

Reviews for The Wizard of Oz

[valerieandbooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Loved this book and its sequels when I was a kid -- still have most of them. Thought it was time for a reread and was reminded why it's considered a classic. Some funny lines and scenarios in this one.

[debbie13410 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

After reading a review I was reminded that this is a children's book. Duh obviously, but I was reading it from an adult perspective and found it lacking. If you see it from a child's perspective it probably isn't bad. It is imaginative but it does not have the quality or depth that the 1939 film brought to the story. The movie was a lot better.

What is the deal with the author calling the friends in the books "comrades"? I always think of this as a communist expression but I guess it doesn't have to be. This was written before the cold war and before communism so it probably has no deeper meaning.

[dauntless_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Having never read the book before, I read this before seeing the new Oz movie. It was a good, quick read. I understand its' classic status!

[saraellen_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I love this book. It's a very easy to read children's book. It's full of imagination and interesting characters. I love the imagery that this book puts out. It's a really fun read.

[citizenjoyce · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What a surprisingly wonderful book. I've only seen the movies before, and while I did miss the music, I found the plucky girl character Dorothy strong and purposeful and all the other characters varied and interesting. I wish I had a child to read it to now, but I don't think it would work too well on my 18-year-old grandson.

[cubsfan3410 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have seen the movie COUNTLESS times and finally read the book. It was wonderful and has a little bit more to explain the movie story.
LOVED it!

[ninacaramelita · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

By now everybody knows - or should know, the tale about Dorothy and Toto. No matter what you believe, which theory is behind this (hi)story, there's just as many reasons to read or reread a series as Oz. Mine was nothing more than this beautiful clothbound classic! Isn't it pretty?!?!

[kate_schulte078 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book would be good to use when talking about fantasy. I think students will like this because of the adventure the main character goes on.

[jclheatherm · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of my very favorite children's books of all time - the timeless characters and theme of finding your true home resonant in today's modern times. Dorothy and her friends - with their teamwork and spirit - show that dreams are attainable and friendship and family are every lasting.

This title has held up for over one hundred years with good reason, and its legacy continues through cinema and theatrical adaptations.

[laurakurtz · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a classic tale of the orphan Dorothy and Toto, transported from Kansas to the land of Oz, where she tries to get home and help her friends along the way. they gain love, courage, and brains from her, and she goes home safely in the end after several hardships.

[saskreader · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I was interested in reading at least this first book of the original Oz series after recently finishing Wicked by Gregory Maguire, if only to see what he based his novel on and what the 1939 movie was based on. I found it a little slow-going (even for a children's book), but overall imaginative and a good read. I don't have any interest in pursuing the rest of the series, but perhaps I might someday down the road when my children will be old enough to read them.

[bribre01 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I've been a huge fan of the Wizard of Oz movie, I can't believe it's taken me this long to read the book. It's a cute, entertaining story with much more detail about the land of Oz. I'm also a fan of Gregory Mcquire's Wicked series, and I was interested to find some of the characters from his books in the original book (Boq). The entire time I was reading I kept thinking that I can't wait to share the book with my kids someday. I now want to read the entire series.

[pepperwings · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A rather wonderful story! There were definitely some differences from the movie, which I found interesting, and I listened to the audiobook, which was a very nice interpretation/performance. I don't feel the political aspects were very pronounced, I'll have to read more analysis of that to understand it better, I suppose.

[audacity88_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It's a travesty that this book has been eclipsed by the 1939 movie made of it. Whereas the movie is a simple morality tale, the book is full of delicious ironies; two in particular that stand out are1) the Emerald City's not actually being emerald, and2) the fact that Dorothy's three companions clearly possess in spades the qualities which they believe themselves to lack.How could a man wearing a silly looking lion costume ever properly represent the fearsome Lion from this book?

[kellybryan_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book is a true classic. It is such an imaginative story that a child will not be able to put this book down. Baum makes the sentences easy enough for a child to read. There are illustrations throughout the book that will help to break up the text a little bit.In class, you can have the children read the book and then watch the classic movie. They can compare the differences between the two.

[lisamelanie · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I liked this book because there are almost no hard words to find in this book. You can read this book also when you're laying down in your bed when your tired.I think this book is suitable for all ages. You can read it when you're 12 years oldbut also when your 70 years old.It fun to watch the movie too, but do this after reading 'the wizzard of oz'.

[maydacat_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

No matter how old this tale gets, it will never lose its ability to charm and delight - and scare - its readers. Though a children’s book, adults will find it well worth reading, whether they read it as a child or are reading it for the first time. L. Frank Baum paints a picture of Oz that will mesmerize you. His way with words and his obvious delight with puns are as entertaining as his plots. How wonderful that he continued the series!

[beezle176 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

wonderful, wonderful, wonderful...!!!

[ryuuta_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This story's main character is Dorothy.She is threw away by typhoon to country of Oz.she want to go back home,then, her adventure began with scarecrow, woodcutter and lion.Throught adbenture, they learn important thing.Can they go back home?I think this story is interesting.Almost all of people know this story. This story tell me what is the most important thing.I learn them again.I want children to read this book.

[karin7-11 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I loved this when I was little. My dad read it to me when I was about 4 or 5 & then I read it when I wasn't much older. I recently reread it, though, and have to say that I probably like the movie better.

[mainrun · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I read this book because the movie was referenced in Stephen King's, "Wizard and Glass (4th Dark Tower Book)." I couldn't wait for it to be over. Surprising how bluntly violent parts of it was. "So the Woodman raised his axe, and as the wildcat ran by he gave a quick blow that cut the beast's head clean off from its body, and it rolled over at his feet in two pieces." They don't write children books like that anymore. The Gunslinger books referenced the movie more than this book, I think.

[jessica_haynes-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I always loved this book since I was younger and even now. It just show's how you always have thing you thought you never had inside but in realty it was always there.This book is great for all ages.

[csdaley-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Better than I expected it to be but it does show its age. Still fun to read. I am a little surprised it took me this long to read it.

[ginger_malone-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another great kids book for introducing classic literature. Kids love this story, and I would use it for characterization and story progression.

[laphenix · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed reading about the characters that have become so familiar to us.

[she_climber · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this book! I've seen the movie several times but I can't believe how much I enjoyed the story. The little things that were different, the big things that are different. No wonder this is such a timeless classic.

[bostonian71 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It was fun to read this in French, though I found the illustrations somewhat off-putting. (I can't even find the proper adjective to describe them -- my wife suggests the word triangular, though we agree it doesn't quite capture the bizarreness.) I also thought asking the reader to wear green-tinted glasses during the City of Oz sections was a little much. Still a good way to practice my French.

[ladycato · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book—a novella by modern standards—remains a pleasant read over a hundred years after Baum first published it in 1900. The basic characters are the same, and some of the same events take place, but I think the movie is a more solid story over all. That said, I still liked it. There is a deep sense of magic to Dorothy’s adventure (with Toto, too) in Oz.

[gopfolk · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Well that was interesting. While the movie seems to have lasted the test of time the book did seem out of date. I enjoyed reading the original however and found that there was much more to the story than I ever assumed there was. I will save this and read this to my children before they ever seem the movie...it was that good.

[robert.zimmermann · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Quick review: Not sure why I took so long to read this. I've seen the movie many times in my life, since I was a child, but now having read the book, I can see the two are equally great works despite the differences. I know there will be more Oz books in my future.