FROM THE LIBRARY: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a classic if ever there was one (even if some very unpleasant things happen to some of the witches in it*), and it's very clear why. Author L. Frank Baum (known to fans as The Royal Historian of  Oz) recorded the story of little Dorothy Gale from Kansas and her dog Toto who get swept up in a tornado and land in a strange place over one hundred and ten years ago - but it remains as fresh and timeless as if it were written yesterday.

If you have seen the wonderful movie musical based on this book, you may think you know the story already - but there is so much more to the story than that! Imagine a dainty country where all the inhabitants are china figurines! An army of field mice! A witch with three pigtails and only one eye who commands armies of wolves, bees and crows! A city of emeralds where everyone must wear green tinted glasses to protect their eyes from the dazzling jewels! These are just a few of the adventures the movie left out and they are a joy not to be missed.

Best of all, there's no need for the adventures in this magical land to end after just one book for Mr.Baum was able to continue telling stories from Oz until he passed away leaving us 14 glorious books in all. Later Historians took up the call as well giving us 40 books in total!

The copy we have at Creepstone Cottage has been read and reread many times over, as I'm sure your copy will be too. Read it for yourself and join little Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Lion as they journey down the road of yellow brick and learn of all their real adventures for yourself.

* Do try not to get too upset by the fate of the witches in the book my dears - the Witch of the East was very unpleasant, but what happened to her was entirely an accident. As for the Witch of the West, well she was a downright meanie and Dorothy really had no idea of her allergies to water. The kindly Witch of the North who points Dorothy towards the Wizard and the breathtaking Glinda, Witch of the South who shows Dorothy how to get home both make out very well!