Review Detail

“The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” by L. Frank Baum, adapted for young readers, with illustrations by Archina Laezza, is an easy classic to help young readers delve into Baum’s fantasy world. The first couple of pages have cute illustrations that identify the characters that will be found throughout the pages of the book.

The story tells the classic tale of Dorothy and her dog, Toto. When their house is picked up by a storm and lands in an unknown land called Oz, Dorothy doesn’t quite know what to do. As they follow the Yellow Brick Road, she meets witches, as well as a lion, a scarecrow, a tin man, and even the Great and Powerful Wizard of Oz. As they each look for something to make them feel “whole,” Dorothy finds friendship and understanding from some of her new friends as she yearns to find her way back home to Kansas.

Many of the pages contain brief glossary terms, such as “prairie,” “sorcerer,” and “ravine,” among others. The illustrations found in the book are well drawn and accessible to all readers, helping to make the story understandable and clear.