The Marvelous Land of Oz (1904)

Everyone is use to the original Wizard of Oz because of the movie but the rest of the series is worth checking out if you are looking for fun children's literature. In this second book of the series, there are a lot of new, interesting characters like the Gump and the Saw-horse. Things like friendship and honesty and kindness are shown to be better than money and there is enough nonsensical fun to appeal to children. I liked it a lot! ( )

I was thrilled to discover that my university library had a copy of this book that I have been wanting to read since childhood. The oz series has always fascinated me, but due to the fact that there are so many books in the series I have never been able to acquire all of them. I discovered that my university library has 13 out of the original 14 that are written by L. Fran Baum which thrills me.

The book in many ways can be seen as an early American story that involves a transgender character, if you really want to think about it in those terms. What the book is though is a magical romp in a land that most of us are familiar with. We are introduced to new characters, like Jack Pumpkinhead. We are also revisited by familiar favorites, like the Scarecrow.

The book feels like a wonderful journey into the land of oz for those of us that deeply appreciate what Baum was doing with these stories. Baum uses current issues, like the women's suffragist movement of his time, beautifully in his books. This book showcases that movement and also is a really good fairy tale story. It holds up to the original classic that most of us love.

The book is primarily focused on a young boy named Tip that escapes the evil clutches of Mombi. Mombi is a low-level practicing witch, since it is forbidden to be a true witch other than the ones previously mentioned in Wizard of Oz. The book is about his journey and how ultimately he discovers what he is in the land of oz. The book is fun, beautifully written, and just a darn good read for anyone that wants to take an additional trip down to Oz. ( )

This is one of my favorites of all of the Oz books. The conversations between the characters and the lines that come from them are some of the most memorable that I have ever read. As always, Baum's remarkable ability to tell the story of Oz continues in this book as we travel through new countries and meet new friends.

There is just enough description throughout to allow the reader to make a clear picture in their mind and let the world grow inside of them. Through unique bedtime-like storytelling the adventures of the characters come across as clearly as if you were watching them happen and easily move you along on the journey with them. Anyone who has fallen in love with one of the movies needs to read all of the books to truly fall in love with all that Oz is. ( )

L. Frank Baum received over a thousand letters from children after writing The Wizard of Oz, and this prompted him to write the sequel, The Land of Oz, published in 1904. It's over a hundred years old now (!) but it still feels fun, fresh and magical. It's a joy to read.

Tip is a young boy who lives with a mean old witch named Mombi. He runs away with two inanimate creatures magically brought to life: Jack Pumpkinhead and the wooden Saw-Horse. The trio travels to the Emerald City, now ruled by the Scarecow. However, General Jinjur is leading the Army of Revolt, an all-girl army, armed with knitting needles. The girls storm the city for jewels and ball gowns, overthrowing the Scarecrow. Tip and company then journey to the land of the Winkies, where the Tin Woodman (now named Nick Chopper) is ruling as Emperor. The group, together with the Highly Magnified and Thoroughly Educated Woggle-Bug and the poor, depressed Gump (pieced together by two sofas, a stag's head and giant leaves) set out to reclaim the Scarecrow's throne, while Jinjur recruits the help of the witch Mombi.

The silliness of Jinjur's girl army is nicely countered by Glinda the Good's efficient and serious all-woman army - complete with silver-tipped spears, shields and swords! When Glinda comes into the story she takes charge in an awesome way and there is a really fantastic twist at the end. I was surprised and delighted by the time I reached the last page of this story. ( )

This is the second book in L. Frank Baum’s Oz series of books. In this book the reader is introduced to new citizens of that magical land: Tip, Mombi Jack Pumpkinhead, the wooden Saw-Horse and Ozma. To many readers of the Oz books these characters are just as important and critical to Oz as the Scarecrow, Tin Woodsman and Cowardly Lion. Without giving anything away, the story found in this book is needed to understand Oz and the future books in the series as much as The Wizard of Oz, the first book in the series. The character Ozma is especially important. The story line in this book was combined with the story line in Ozma of Oz, the third Oz book, to be the basis of the movie “Return to Oz.” ( )