The Wizard of Oz

by: L. Frank Baum
Follow the yellow brick road! Dorothy thinks she's lost forever when a tornado whirls her and her dog, Toto, into a magical world. To get home, she must find the wonderful wizard in the Emerald City of Oz. On the way she meets the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman and the Cowardly Lion. But the Wicked Witch of the West has her own plans for the new arrival - will Dorothy ever see Kansas again? {cover copy}
I'm going to be really honest with you. I had never read this book before. I had seen the movie countless times (I'm originally from Kansas, after all) so I never thought to pick up the book. Which is weird coming from an avid reader, but there you go. Anyway, I knew there were some differences, and it was fun to finally see them in print! I love that there is so much more to the story with the book(s) as there are like several volumes to Dorothy's tale. Now that I have read the first one, I'm looking forward to reading the rest. I think I will choose to read the whole series together with Madeline when we start reading chapter books and experience the rest with her. 

Dorothy lived in the midst of the great Kansas prairies, with Uncle Henry, who was a farmer, and Aunt Em, who was the farmer's wife. {first line}
"You have plenty of courage, I am sure ... All you need is confidence in yourself. There is no living thing that is not afraid when it faces danger. True courage is in facing danger when you are afraid, and that kind of courage you have in plenty."

"Brains are the only thing worth having in this world."


• again • {last word}