All the Way to Oz and Back
Categories: Entertainment , Movies & Books , Graphic Novels , Science Fiction & Fantasy , African American , Children's Books , Fiction
L. Frank Baum's book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a lovely memory of my childhood. Outside the bedrooms in the upstairs hallway of my grandparents' house the walls were lined with old glass-fronted bookcases, filled with my mom's books from her childhood. All 14 Oz books were there, and I spent many happy hours reading them.
Robert Sabuda adapted the first book to his magical pop-up format, staying true to the original illustrations and story.
The cast of characters from Oz would happily surprise any Harry Potter fan: Tick-Tock the Royal Army of Oz, flying monkeys, witches and sorceresses, Ozma, Jack Pumpkinhead, and of course Dorothy herself who would give Harry a run for his money in resourcefulness and courage. The stories were written early in the 20th century but maintain a fantastic sense of adventure that is still enjoyable.
I was surprised to discover the graphic novel L. Frank Baum's Wizard of Oz, which I hope will bring in an even bigger audience to the wonderful stories set in that fantastic place.
Many people look no further than the 1939 movie with Judy Garland, Margaret Hamilton, and Billie Burke. This movie, while wonderful, is pretty far afield from the book in which the Ruby Slippers are Silver, the Good Witch of the North is an old wrinkly lady, Glinda is the lithe red-headed sorceress from the South, and Dorothy is a little girl of about 8 who meets the Munchins, the Quadlings, and the Winkies. It is a much richer place than the movie allows.
There a movie sequel that is pretty scary called Return to Oz that pulls in a beloved character named Ozma. And there was a Broadway musical and movie adaptation of the first book with Michael Jackson and Diana Ross called The Wiz.
Gregory Macguire's adult book Wicked and the musical based on it delve into the relationship between the Witches. There is a sequel book, Son of a Witch, which tells the story of the Witch of the West's son.
