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Title: The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, Lewis Carroll, Maraja ISBN: 0-448-18983-6 Publisher: Price Stern Sloan Pub Pub. Date: May, 1986 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $10.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.51 (69 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Striking Yet Unusual Illustrations
Comment: L. Frank Baum's enduring story is wonderfully presented in this elegant edition and the Washington Post called Lisbeth's The Wizard of Oz "the loveliest edition imaginable."
However, the assessment of the local kids is the drawings are "weird." Perhaps intended for a more adult audience, the illustrations are beautiful--I enjoyed them--but their idiosyncratic style may not appeal to the younger set.
The characters pictured in the illustrations are dramatcially reinterpreted by the artist, however this may disappoint some viewers. The Scarecrow will look nothing like any scarecrow you've imagined. The Witch of the North is difficult to identify. This fresh point of view will be enjoyed by some but is sure to disappoint others.
I also felt the illustrations don't tell the story as well as the edition by Michael Hague or the original edition with W. W. Dinslow. (This is more important to the younger, read-to crowd, than the older, I can read it myself crowd.)
My daughter asked that we return the book and get a different edition for her. I would urge you to carefully consider the sample pages, except the sample pages don't cover a broad range of the illustrations included with this edition. The sample pages do include an image of the dramatic and striking cover. Unfortunately, in the judgement of several reviewers from 4 to 40, the other illustrations were noticably more "weird" than the cover and I don't think the sample pages represent the overall reading/viewing experience scrupulously.
Rating: 5
Summary: A magical tale for readers of all ages.
Comment: In this classic, Baum describes the tale of poor Dorothy, who is hurled by a cyclone away from her uncle and aunt in Kansas into a strange and magical world of wizards and witches. Fortunately Dorothy has the help of several companions that she meets in this new world - a stuffed scarecrow who wants brains, a tin woodsman who wants a heart, and a cowardly lion who wants courage. Together with Dorothy - who wants a return trip to Kansas - they travel to the emerald city where Oz is wizard, to ask him to make their wishes come true. Their journey is fraught with adventures, and when they finally meet Oz they discover a terrible truth, that leads them into even more challenges and adventures. The magical fantasy of this tale has pleased readers of all ages for a century, and it's not hard to see why. Baum spins a wonderfully enchanting tale that includes wicked witches, flying monkeys, talking mice, and other fantastic creatures.
Is this book more than just a fantasy thrill? Some literary critics have proposed that Baum - a strong believer in individualism and self-confidence - is working with themes about self-esteem and self-reliance. This is quite plausible, especially considering that the brains, heart and courage sought by the scarecrow, woodsman and lion are abilities that they clearly already possess - they just need to recognize them and use them. And Dorothy herself discovers that when the wizard can't help her, she must and can rely on herself. Other literary critics have claimed that "The Wizard of Oz" needs to be read as an elaborate political allegory where the various characters represent various social classes and financial structures - a not impossible suggestion, but one that's somewhat difficult to defend. Ultimately, however, "The Wizard of Oz" is best enjoyed as a wonderful story. That doesn't mean it is any less of a contribution to English literature, because when appreciated as a brilliant story, you're sure to come back to it again and again, as are your children and grandchildren. It's precisely this universal appeal that makes "The Wizard of Oz" a true classic.
Rating: 2
Summary: Please stop the senseless violence!!!
Comment: This fictional work of fantasy could have been appropriately titled "In Cold Blood". Lead character Dorothy, an apparent megalomaniac, and her 'gangsta' cohorts -- scarecrow, tin man, toto, and not-so-cowardly lion -- set out in a deliberate and premeditated scheme to kill the "wicked" [alleged] witch of the West (after Dorothy has already admittedly dropped her house on West's sister -- the wicked [alleged] witch of the East, killing her off, stealing her silver shoes, and then killing anything or anybody who gets in their way [sic] -- including the great Kaliddalah beasts and wildcats ...). The senseless violence continues as Dorothy and her "thug" sidekicks are ordered by the Emerald City "Chief" Wizard to perform a "hit" on the wicked [alleged] witch of the West [sic] in exchange for favors from the great and powerful Wizard ... Do today's parents actually condone such random and God-forsaken acts of violence? Do we really need so many senseless killings in children's literature? (Is this book actually endorsed by the Catholic Church to be read by children attending Catholic schools?) Isn't it time we remove this endorsement of randomized violence from our children's schools and libraries? Thank goodness there are some sensible alternatives currently offered in today's world of children's literature. Take the books recently penned and published worldwide by Madonna Ritchie ... The English Roses and Mr. Peabodie's Apples (not to mention soon to be published Yakov and the Seven Thieves [October 2004] and Das Lotsa ****load of Cash [whenever, 2004]). On a scale of 1 to 10, I collectively give Madonna's children's books (with the exception of 1992's Sex ...) seventeen stars, six apples, 4 oranges, 3 bananas, two plums, a blackberry, and a half a cherry ... [you do the math ...] Madonna's red-hot right now ... and you don't need a full page ad in the Wall Street Journal (or half a brain) to figure that out ...
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Title:Alice in Wonderland ASIN: 6303212301 Publisher: Warner Studios Pub. Date: 31 August, 1994 List Price(USD): $19.99 Comparison N/A, buy it from Amazon for $19.99 |
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Title: Walt Disney's Peter Pan : Walt Disney Classic Edition by Monique Peterson ISBN: 0786853301 Publisher: Disney Editions Pub. Date: 01 January, 2002 List Price(USD): $14.99 |
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Title: Noah's Ark by Heinz Janisch, Lisbeth Zwerger, Rosemary Lanning ISBN: 1558587845 Publisher: North South Books Pub. Date: October, 1997 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
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Title: Land of Oz by L. Frank Baum ISBN: 0345335686 Publisher: Del Rey Pub. Date: 12 November, 1985 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: Cinderella by C.S. Evans ISBN: 0679423133 Publisher: Everyman's Library Pub. Date: 11 May, 1993 List Price(USD): $12.95 |
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