Book #58

We finished "Dorothy and the Wizard in OZ" today.  In my last post about the OZ series I mentioned that I wasn't enjoying the books.  I take that back.  This one was much better.  It was creative and fun.  Dorothy falls to the center of the Earth with a cousin after an earthquake and the same the happens to the wizard.  They find themselves in a vegetable land where they are not liked and are kicked out.  Then they travel to a land of invisible people.  Next they luckily escape a land populated by wooden gargoyles.  Finally they are trapped in a cave and are magically transported to OZ by the magical belt of Princess Ozma, where we are reunited with all of the characters from previous books (except Jack Pumpkinhead).  Dorothy eventually returns to Kansas, but the kids and I think she will soon go back to OZ. 

Book #45

Another book in the OZ series. . ."Ozma of OZ".  After the last book I mentioned that it reminded me of the 2nd OZ movie.  Well, this one is even more like it.  Dorothy returns to OZ and we meet the wheelers and Tiktok and travel with them to the Gnome King to save the royal family of Ev.  We also are reunited with the Tin Woodmand, the Scarecrow, the sawhorse, and Ozma.  The kids are enjoying the series, but I would have been fine if we stopped after the first.  L. Frank Baum's writing style has changed and there isn't much to discuss.  Too bad that there are about 10 books left. 

Book #41

We just finished the second book in the Wizard of Oz series called "The Marvelous Land of Oz".  I don't know if you watched the movie Return to Oz when you were a kid, but parts of this book reminded me of that movie--some of the characters and some of the magic.  It made me want to find it and watch it with my kids. 

After writing "The Wizard of Oz" Frank L. Baum said that he wouldn't write another Oz story.  He received lots of letters asking him to write one.  After one letter from a young girl he said that if she could get 1000 people to write saying they wanted another Oz story he would do it.  This story is proof that he lost that bet. 

In this story we see the Scarecrow and Tin Woodman again and are introduced to new characters--Tip, Jack Pumpkinhead, the Sawhorse, the Highly Magnified Woggle-Bug and the Gump.  They travel around the land of Oz in an attempt to save the Emerald City from the army of revolt and search for the rightful heir.  I enjoyed the story, but didn't think it was as well written as the first book. 

Book #38

"We're off to see the wizard, the Wonderful Wizard of OZ!"  I broke out in song several times as I read this book aloud to the kids.  What a fun story, even thought it isn't the same as the movie I grew up watching and singing along with. 

Dorothy is carried by a cyclone to the land of OZ and befriends some strange characters--the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion.  They make their way to the Emerald City in hopes that the wizard will give them their deepest wish.  The irony of their wishes is that 3 of them already have what they want.  The Scarecrow wants brains, but his ideas along the trip show that he already has brains.  The Tin Woodman wishes for a heart, but he is always kind and thoughtful to all the creatures.  The Cowardly Lion desires courage, but often shows courage and bravery in the face of danger.  Even Dorothy has the ability to get back to Kansas the whole time, she just doesn't know the power is contained in her silver shoes.  The 4 friends go on many adventures and overcome many trials, but in the end, they all get what they want.

I can't remember if I already knew there were more books about the land of OZ or if I learned it from friends who were reading the series.  I decided it would be a fun series to read.  Most of the kids have already read the first book, but I decided to start there anyway for the benefit for the youngest two.  They loved it and all are looking forward to the next book in the series.