Review: Originals Are Best!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 2, 2013
I have certainly enjoyed revisiting the TEXT of the 'Wizard of OZ'--one volume in this e-book series by Canestota, NY native, L. Frank Baum.  My family lived in nearby Oneida, NY and Baum and his work were big things to remember.  Most people of my time probably think of the classic film with Judy Garland that we saw on reruns on TV.  Would you believe that Dorothy REALLY wore silver shoes in the novel?  This reproduction of the original books includes the ORIGINAL ILLUSTRATIONS!  This is how a classic work should be presented, especially for those of us who appreciate the golden age of book illustrators.Here is a story that is full of 'heart' and soul and warmth; a story one can use to build treasured memories by reading to or with a young person.  It is a fine way to open their eyes to the wonders of skilful and timeless story-telling and imagination.  'Back in the day' people could not get enough of the adventures of OZ; neither could they accept Baum writing about other settings.  He came to market himself as 'the official historian of OZ' and produced sequel after sequel about what was going on there.  This collection of his books includes a forward that presents some very interesting background.To conclude with (possibly) some trivia:  Baum's Wizard of OZ has a devoted school of literary criticism and one of the strands pursued is that the book also has an allegorical meaning related to the debate about changing American currency from a gold to a bi-metallic standard.  Thus the importance of the 'Yellow Brick' Road and the 'magic' in the silver shoes.  Shades of William Jennings Bryant!  Well...the book was written and released at that time.