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The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Marvel Classics) Hardcover – September 2, 2009

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 9,556 ratings

After being transported by a cyclone to the land of Oz, Dorothy and her dog are befriended by a scarecrow, a tin man, and a cowardly lion, who accompany her to the Emerald City to look for a wizard who can help Dorothy return home to Kansas.
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Marvel Enterprises; First Edition (September 2, 2009)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 192 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0785129219
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0785129219
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 4 - 10 years, from customers
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.65 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.25 x 0.75 x 11 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 9,556 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
9,556 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book easy to read and enjoyable. They appreciate the imaginative story and vivid illustrations that bring the adventure to life. The book is described as magical and meaningful for all ages. Many readers feel it's a good value for money, with timeless lessons.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

574 customers mention "Readability"517 positive57 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and engaging. They say it's a great story to read to children and provides valuable lessons. The short chapter format is suitable for bedtime reading, and the hardcover cover invites readers in.

"...Shanower does a great job of adapting the story. It’s easy to read, the plot is clear and concise, and the dialogue fits in perfectly...." Read more

"Amazon is the seller and shipper for this beautiful book...." Read more

"I enjoyed the book. I don't know if I like it better than the movie but it's definitely different than the movie." Read more

"...recommend the following reading tactics: reading silently, reading to children, or having children read the Wonderful Wizard of Oz book to you...." Read more

326 customers mention "Story quality"308 positive18 negative

Customers enjoy the story. They find it wonderful, imaginative, and a classic. Readers appreciate the historical document of the Broadway version. They describe the book as charming and enchanting.

"...This book is timeless and beautiful, and I would highly recommend for anyone with even the slightest inkling of interest in the Wizard of Oz...." Read more

"...But have we been cheated? This highly-imaginative 1900 book was later followed by the film version in 1939, which is one of the most..." Read more

"...book because the movie was so annoying, but I'm glad it tells a completely different story." Read more

"...Now, I must admit I like the movie more than the book. While the basic story is great and Dorothy being a little girl does put a more child-like..." Read more

208 customers mention "Visual quality"168 positive40 negative

Customers enjoy the visual quality of the book. They find the artwork beautiful and unique, bringing the story to life. The illustrations are a nice addition and are from the classic book. The sturdy hardcover edition includes all the original artwork by W.W. Denslow.

"...this section, because it really demonstrates Young’s versatility and creativity – I had no idea how much work it took to develop original artwork..." Read more

"...Eugene Whitworth’s beautiful, deep, sensitive book Nine Faces of Christ is about the metaphysical Christ; it is written for the adult at a higher,..." Read more

"...Neill's is too often insipid and girly. This Dorothy is cute as a button with lots of spunk and emotional range - wonder, awe, fear and rage as..." Read more

"...One day these gorgeous books will look great on my granddaughters bookshelves. Grab them while you can at these prices. You will not regret it." Read more

109 customers mention "Adventure"105 positive4 negative

Customers find the book entertaining and enthralling. They appreciate the backstory and extra adventures the friends have in comparison to the movie. The book is described as a nice trip into a fantasy land where nothing too deep or evil is happening. There are several moments of surprise and delight as you pull open side stories, and there are interesting ideas like Emerald City.

"...A lot happens in that time. It is still a fantastical adventure and in some ways getting the back story of the characters added to it's..." Read more

"...The Lion looks like a cuddly stuffed toy - until he roars and then watch out!..." Read more

"...We found ourselves quickly absorbed in the adventure and giggling at certain moments. Ms. Hathaway’s voices for the mice and stork were pretty funny!..." Read more

"...young ones too because it's really not too scary and there is so much adventure." Read more

81 customers mention "Book for children"81 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book for children and adults. They find the story magical and meaningful for all ages. The book is described as a great introduction to the original story by Frank Baum. While it's a simple children's story, it draws children in and keeps them wanting to read more.

"...On top of that, this version is just as likeable for adults and teens! So just hurry up and get a copy of this book...." Read more

"...Along Dorothy's travel she finds kind persons and make endearing friendships, but as beautiful the Land of Oz is, and as gray and hard is the life..." Read more

"...It is a testament to the story that continues to draw children in and ask to read more...." Read more

"...falls just slightly under four hours, so it’s definitely doable for young minds, especially since the story moves along at a nice pace...." Read more

47 customers mention "Value for money"39 positive8 negative

Customers appreciate the book's value for money. They find it inexpensive and good value for money, saying it's one of the best free books they've read in a long time. The lessons have timeless value, such as confidence being key.

"...At this price point you can own the entire collection for less than you would pay for a vintage Alice. A book collector would know what I mean...." Read more

"A classic spanning generations! In particular this edition is worth every penny!..." Read more

"...IN A NUT SHELL IT'S WELL WORTH THE LOW PRICE I PAID...." Read more

"...But all in all an enjoyable read and the price was good." Read more

42 customers mention "Character development"39 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the book's character development. They appreciate the distinct voices and strong young characters, both boys and girls. The art is fantastic, with vivid descriptions of scenery and characters. Readers praise the excellent acting talent and smart, strong female protagonists.

"...I found it very interesting how many more characters are involved in this book than in the movie...." Read more

"...change her voice to the character of the moment showcased her excellent acting talents!..." Read more

"...It is so well written and presents the desires of the characters to receive their brains, their heart and their courage in an even better way than..." Read more

"...At the same time, the additional detail adds depth to characters and situations, making what was already a wonderful fairy tale even richer with..." Read more

32 customers mention "Depth"32 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's depth. They find it reveals a fuller, more interesting story than the movie. The images are detailed and can be studied in detail. Readers appreciate the informative endnotes that provide additional information not included in the film version. The descriptions are vivid, and they learn new concepts and words.

"...While it is not very graphic in description it is still easy to visualize...." Read more

"...Most importantly Baum's tone, humor, and kindly philosophy shine through...." Read more

"...book was not just an allegory about capitalism, but an allegory for self-sufficiency, self-reliance. Appeal gained...." Read more

"...It would be a great book to read to your children, many lessons to be learned." Read more

Great story, I like the book more than the movie!
5 out of 5 stars
Great story, I like the book more than the movie!
I love this book, I had only ever seen the movie and I decided to give the book a try, I'm so glad I did. I don't think a synopsis of the story is necessary but the general idea is that Dorothy is trying to find her way back home and meets friends and foes along the way, there is great adventure and great imaginative fun. This book has so many more stories and details than the movie does and it's really just a great read. I highly recommend it for anyone! The book I received does not have the same cover (see picture) and while I would prefer the cover pictured, it's not worth demoting this great story to 4 stars.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on July 23, 2014
    The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, adapted by Eric Shanower, and illustrated by Skottie Young
    Edition reviewed: Marvel hardcover edition, 2009.

    Why I Picked it Up:
    I actually wasn’t looking for a comic book at all. I wasn’t even looking at Wizard of Oz related things. I was reading a list of gift ideas for girls, and saw the Marvel version of the Wizard of Oz! Not to say that this is a girly book – it feels very gender neutral to me, which is probably one of the reasons that it was on the list. Anyway, I was intrigued, and looked it up. As soon as I saw the whimsical cover, and that it was a 200+ page hardcover collected the 8 comic book issues, I purchased it right away.

    My Overall Opinion:
    This book is not at all what I’m usually into. Perhaps I was inspired by Darth Vader and Son, which I found adorable. But this book absolutely blew me away.
    Of course, I watched the Wizard of Oz movie starring Judy Garland as a kid. So I knew the basic storyline, but I hadn’t known that the movie had changed so much of the original book. To my delight (in my world, books > movies), this Marvel edition was a direct, visual transformation of the original.
    Shanower does a great job of adapting the story. It’s easy to read, the plot is clear and concise, and the dialogue fits in perfectly. Another review states that this book is text heavy for a graphic novel. However, I didn’t notice this, so I assume this is only a problem for very young children. It seemed like a perfectly reasonable amount of text to me. I’d like to think that this book transcends all age groups.
    But where this book really shines lies in the visual aspects. Artist Skottie Young and colorist Jean-Francois Beaulieu have made this book an absolute masterpiece. The art is truly wonderful, and the vibrant colors enhance the storyline more than I would have thought possible. I would buy this book just to stare all the beautiful artwork because it really is outstanding. I never knew how much colors could alter the tone of a scene, and Beaulieu is clearly an expert here. Young’s incredibly talented as well, and the bonus material in the back shows his character building process, with various sketches and prototypes. I really appreciated this section, because it really demonstrates Young’s versatility and creativity – I had no idea how much work it took to develop original artwork for characters that readers had already cast in their heads.

    After reading this, the 1939 movie is no longer the “standard” Wizard of Oz tale to me. If I ever hear of the Cowardly Lion, Skottie Young’s illustration is the one that I will think of. I will think of silver shoes instead of ruby red shoes, and I will see the Tinman with a (awesome) moustache forever.
    This book is timeless and beautiful, and I would highly recommend for anyone with even the slightest inkling of interest in the Wizard of Oz. I had enjoyed the Judy Garland movie, but it was never one of my favorites. This Marvel edition, however, is now a book that I will recommend to everyone with children. On top of that, this version is just as likeable for adults and teens!
    So just hurry up and get a copy of this book. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is waiting!
    9 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2024
    Amazon is the seller and shipper for this beautiful book. It is a hardback illustrated 100th Anniversary Books of Wonder Edition reprinting from a reputable publisher - Harper Collins - ISBN 0-06-029323-3, with smooth paper, slick full color plates and gilt page edges. It has a nice size font for young readers with two color drawings imbedded throughout the text in addition to the color plates. These are replicas of the original illustrations. Very happy with this lovely edition of the Wizard of Oz. This is the original book, and doesn't match the movie - like all books made into plays and movies - for those of you who have only seen the movie. Others have done the book report quite well, this fills the physical book itself. Now I just need to find the 14 matching volumes for the full set! Very happy with this book for my granddaughter's "Life Library".
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2024
    I enjoyed the book. I don't know if I like it better than the movie but it's definitely different than the movie.
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2017
    The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the 1900 children’s classic, was written by L. Frank Baum. It is a masterfully-written tale penned by this beloved American author. The book begins and ends in America’s heartland: Kansas.

    But have we been cheated?

    This highly-imaginative 1900 book was later followed by the film version in 1939, which is one of the most successful films ever made. From that point on, the film version began its journey to overtake the written medium. In fact, after the film was produced in BluRay many years later, the scarecrow’s face in the corn field, for example, showed the cross threads in the sackcloth for its head. Such clarity in film frames made watching this version of the film breathtakingly beautiful – and much more preferable to watching any of the other versions.

    Unfortunately, for both children and adults, watching the film has supplanted even reading the book.

    But there is more! In total, Baum wrote 14 Oz books! Some of these aren’t based in Kansas; Dorothy is an international globetrotter! (Read the 13 others to find out where she travels.)

    Theosophist L. Frank Baum seemed to be ‘plugged into’ a realm of searching for deep themes of truth, tapped into by other international groups: the freemasons, many of the religions, metaphysics, all of whom trace their beginnings back to the Egyptian Mystery Schools. Our ancient philosophers, mathematicians, and others (Aristotle, Pythagorus, etc.) also passed through these portals.

    * Eugene Whitworth has written a book for adults which examines similar themes and truths, Nine Faces of Christ.

    What are some of the main themes in books from both authors, Baum and Whitworth?
    1. STRONG MAN MADE OF METAL – a. Oz: The Tin Woodman/ b. *9 Faces: Man of Tin
    2. DIRECTIONS – a. Oz: E & W (Wicked Witches) and N & S (Good Witches)/ b. *9 Faces: Mysteries of the Orient
    3. NUMBERS – a. Oz: Dorothy clicking her heels 3X/ b. *9 Faces: # of imitations, genders, opposites, birth and death
    4. FLYING/ ASTRO TRAVELLING – a. Oz: the 2 professor’s balloon flights/ b. *9 Faces: Soul Flight (and also the Hijra in Islam in 622 AD)

    Whether for children or adults, both authors, though, have the same golden thread interwoven throughout their books.

    Baum used a variety of pen names on his books: males, females, and a military captain! He did this so because in those days, he could write about certain topics from different viewpoints for social and political purposes. He was a writer, newspaper editor, film producer, and actor.

    A wonderful next step to reading The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is to read the remaining 13 Oz books, to mine those books for main themes that tie into this book.

    I highly recommend the following reading tactics: reading silently, reading to children, or having children read the Wonderful Wizard of Oz book to you. Some extensions to this book could be to then go through the remainder of the Oz series books with children. Have them: discuss main themes, draw pictures, create personal ‘books’ with the important parts both drawn and labelled in them, etc.

    I highly recommend this wonderful book classic as a beginning Oz book for children to read or for an adult to read to children who cannot yet read.

    (* Eugene Whitworth’s beautiful, deep, sensitive book Nine Faces of Christ is about the metaphysical Christ; it is written for the adult at a higher, more cognitively astute, complex, intellectual level. Like Oz for children, adults might want to read this book to identify the same golden thread interwoven throughout both of them. I highly recommend reading this book, too!)
    15 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2024
    It's better than any movie that has ever been made. In fact, I was hesitant to read the book because the movie was so annoying, but I'm glad it tells a completely different story.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • Cliente Amazon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Clássico
    Reviewed in Brazil on April 16, 2023
    História simples, agradável e interessante até para um adulto. Não foi previsível. Recomendo o clássico para quem, assim como eu, está buscando fluência no inglês.
  • Karla
    5.0 out of 5 stars Bien
    Reviewed in Mexico on January 17, 2022
    Es de pasta blanda, tipo tamaño carta. Pero es súper bonito el trabajo de julia sardá y además los detalles en dorado de la portada están chulos
  • DP
    5.0 out of 5 stars Nice book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 30, 2024
    Beautiful book in good condition
  • Manuela
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ottimo libro
    Reviewed in Italy on April 8, 2023
    Acquistato per mia figlia. Prima media. Ottimo allenamento per l inglese. Schede per la comprensione del testo. Consigliato.
  • Blue Shadow
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good
    Reviewed in Canada on December 2, 2020
    Many of the customer reviews seem to be for different versions of the book, such as a pop-up book and one with a gold-coloured cover, so I’ve attached some pictures to show the hardcover version that I received from Amazon.ca in September 2020. I purchased it as a Christmas gift so I haven’t read it myself. I can’t comment on the authenticity or completeness of this version compared to the original story but I’ve attached a picture of the Table of Contents. Based on a quick flip through the book, the reader will see an illustration most of the time that the page is turned. There is a full-colour, full-page illustration approximately every second chapter. Sometimes there is a black-and-white drawing on both sides of the opposing pages, and sometimes there is a small drawing on one side only. I noticed that there were a few pages with no illustrations on either side, but by far most had a drawing on at least one side.
    Customer image
    Blue Shadow
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good
    Reviewed in Canada on December 2, 2020
    Many of the customer reviews seem to be for different versions of the book, such as a pop-up book and one with a gold-coloured cover, so I’ve attached some pictures to show the hardcover version that I received from Amazon.ca in September 2020. I purchased it as a Christmas gift so I haven’t read it myself. I can’t comment on the authenticity or completeness of this version compared to the original story but I’ve attached a picture of the Table of Contents. Based on a quick flip through the book, the reader will see an illustration most of the time that the page is turned. There is a full-colour, full-page illustration approximately every second chapter. Sometimes there is a black-and-white drawing on both sides of the opposing pages, and sometimes there is a small drawing on one side only. I noticed that there were a few pages with no illustrations on either side, but by far most had a drawing on at least one side.
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