The Wizard of Oz
L. Frank Baum · 1900
This book is rated All ages. It isn't available on your library card.
A Kansas cyclone carries Dorothy and her little dog Toto to the strange, bright Land of Oz. To get home she must follow the road of yellow brick to the Emerald City and ask the great Wizard for help, and on the way she makes three friends: a Scarecrow who wants brains, a Tin Woodman who wants a heart, and a Cowardly Lion who wants courage.
A classic fairy tale with storybook dangers: wild beasts, a wicked witch and her flying monkeys. They are shown as exciting rather than frightening, and nobody is hurt in a gruesome way.
Characters
Dorothy
A brave little Kansas girl whom a cyclone carries to the Land of Oz, and who sets out to find her way home.
Toto
Dorothy's lively little black dog, who goes everywhere with her and barks at anything strange.
The Scarecrow
A cheerful straw-stuffed man Dorothy lifts off his pole, who joins her to ask the Great Oz for brains.
The Tin Woodman
A gentle woodman made all of tin, found rusted stiff in the forest, who longs for a heart to love with.
The Cowardly Lion
A huge, roaring lion who is secretly frightened of everything and hopes the Great Oz will give him courage.
Oz
The mysterious Great Wizard of the Emerald City, whom everyone fears and whom the travellers hope will grant their wishes.
The Wicked Witch of the West
A cruel one-eyed witch who rules the yellow Winkie Country and hates anyone who dares to enter her land.
The Witch of the North
A kind little old witch who welcomes Dorothy to Oz, gives her a protecting kiss and sends her down the yellow brick road.
The Winged Monkeys
A noisy band of flying monkeys who must obey whoever owns the magic Golden Cap.
The Queen of the Field Mice
A tiny, grateful mouse queen who promises to help Dorothy and her friends whenever they call for her.
The Munchkins
The kindly little blue-dressed people of the East, who cheer Dorothy as the girl who set them free.
Aunt Em
Dorothy's stern, hardworking aunt on the gray Kansas farm, the home Dorothy wishes so much to return to.
About the story
Dorothy lives with her Uncle Henry and Aunt Em on the flat gray prairie of Kansas, and her only bright companion is her little black dog, Toto. One day a cyclone lifts their house into the sky and drops it in the Land of Oz. Oz is a bright country of Munchkins, good and wicked witches, and talking animals. Desperate to get home, Dorothy sets out along the road of yellow brick to ask the great Wizard for help in the Emerald City.
On the way she meets three friends who become her traveling companions. The Scarecrow wishes for brains, the Tin Woodman longs for a heart, and the Cowardly Lion wants courage. Together they cross dark forests, deep gulfs and a swift river, and each of them shows the very qualities he believes he lacks. The book is about friendship, loyalty and longing for home, and about the gifts people already carry inside them.
L. Frank Baum published the story in 1900, with pictures by W. W. Denslow. He set out to write a modern American fairy tale, and it became one of the best-loved children's books ever written. It led to thirteen sequels, many stage shows and the famous 1939 film. Its humor, warmth and sense of wonder have kept readers of every age coming back for more than a century.
This is a condensed picture-book retelling in 120 illustrated pages, with about 36 minutes of synthetic-voice narration and AI-generated pictures drawn for this edition. Baum's full original text is in the public domain, free to read, and well worth enjoying too.
Adapted from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum (1900), public domain.
Questions
What is The Wonderful Wizard of Oz about?
A cyclone carries a Kansas girl named Dorothy and her dog Toto to the magical Land of Oz. To find her way home, she follows the yellow brick road toward the Emerald City to ask the Wizard for help. On the way she makes friends with a Scarecrow, a Tin Woodman and a Cowardly Lion.
Who is the main character?
Dorothy, a brave and kind-hearted girl from the Kansas prairie. She travels with her little black dog Toto and the three friends she meets along the road.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes. This edition is rated for all ages. There are some mildly scary moments, such as wicked witches, fierce beasts and a dark forest, but the tone is gentle, hopeful and often funny, and it suits young listeners and family reading.
How long does this edition take to read or listen to?
About 36 minutes of narration across 120 illustrated pages, so it can be enjoyed in one sitting or split over a few bedtimes.
Is this the full book?
No. This is a condensed retelling that keeps the main story and characters but shortens the text. Baum's complete original novel is in the public domain and freely available to read.
Read the text version: every page's caption, with its picture, on one page.
