The Wizard of Oz

by Michael Cavallaro (Adaptor), L. Frank Baum

After a cyclone transports her to the land of Oz, Dorothy must seek out the great Wizard in order to return to Kansas, accompanied on her journey by the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodsman, and the Cowardly Lion.

Genres: Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Comics, Classics, Childrens, Fiction, Middle Grade

148 pages, Library Binding

First published September 1, 2005

Reviews

[Kaytee Cobb · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading Finding Dorothy, by Elizabeth Letts, I wanted a primer on the full Oz story (rather than just the movie version). This GN adaptation included enough plot points and details that it was easy to see where the changes were made for the film.

[Bookish_Aly_Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, quick adaptation of The Wizard of Oz.

[The_Sunflower_Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a good version of Wizard Of Oz. I like how the illustrator draws the different characters too. I might read this again.

[Mariah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't terrible. The adaptation of this classic tale was very interesting, but changing significant trademark items (in my opinion) is silly and a waste. Although I did like how the graphics were more animated in Oz than the few from Kansas because it still holds that iconic change over that the film had held when Dorothy passes from the black and white world of Kansas to the colorful Oz. I did really enjoy how Dorothy's quest to kill the Wicked Witch of the West from just going through the woods and splashing her to a little bit more of a realistic enslavement idea where the shoes aren't glued to her feet rendering them untouchable by the witch. Plus the back story of the flying monkeys is also a tragic one that gives meaning to why you don't see them after they capture Dorothy.

This book did have a lot of meaningful quotes, I'm only going to highlight a few. First, and my most favorite is "If your people's heads were stuffed with straw like mine, you'd probably all live in the beautiful places, and then Kansas would have no people at all. It's fortunate for Kansas that you have brains" (29). The straw man is trying to justify to Dorothy why his land is significantly more majestic than her own. Basically he is saying beauty is what you think of it, but brains over think the beauty of something within. My second quote was the conversation between the tin man and Oz because it's and interesting spin on the classic response. "Why, as for that, I think you're wrong to want a heart, it makes most people unhappy. You're lucky not to have one. That's a matter of opinion. I will bear unhappiness without a murmur, if you will give me a heart" (119). Rather than handing over a heart saying it is pointless until make unbreakable Oz forewarns tin man the danger of unhappiness that a heart may bring. Tin man ignores that because wants a heart so bad he will suffer in silence just to feel again. In my opinion, I believe that this represents how people crave something so intensely that they have to give in to the pain to get what they want.

I do recommend this book to any people that feel as though the Wizard of Oz is the greatest story known to man, those who enjoy lots of author's ideas on how things connect, and people that really enjoy longer fictitious graphic novels. I also recommend you give the original text a shot if you enjoy novels because it's interesting to see what things fall in line and what is from the film, and even those things that stand alone.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book. It was a very quick read, and I enjoyed the book a lot because I've always loved the movie about the Wizard of Oz. I would recommend the book to anyone who likes fantasy.

[Lizzette G · Rating 5 out of 5]

My final middle school book report is on “The wizard of oz:the graphic novel” the original book by l.Frank Baum and the adaptation is by Mike Cavallaro, I could not get the lexile level of this book.This book is great and stickers to the original story so well along with great character design im really happy that this book exists. Again this book is a take on the original story “ The wizard of oz”and a good one at that, if you don't already know in the story a girl named dorothy gets caught in a twister bringing her to the magical land of oz and she has to take a journey to leave.



With the way the story is laid out the tradition becomes modern with dorothy living in an apartment with her aunt em and uncle henry in Kansas Dorothy wears jeans and a sweatshirt so it brings the old story into something new. The wording and drawing is so fitting with each other you can tell that this book took forever to make even though it probably didn't take that long.I like how it works with the original book and story unlike the movie and im grateful that is did.



So in conclusion, this book is great and i really hope you enjoy it to.My final rating is 5 stars and i really hope that a lot of people read it

[Eva · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5
A I've had this book since middle school and I never get rid of books I love. This comic in particular is a short but entertaining read, and is an acceptable adaptation of L. Frank Baum's original piece. I especially enjoy the blocky art and the character-defoning moments of the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion. This is a good read for anyone looking to not just read but to also see the The Wizard of Oz.

[Stacey Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this adaptation of the familiar story of Dorothy and her friends. The drawings were exciting showing a lot of movement. I love that it's all in black and white on newsprint type paper, not glossy and bright. The characters had a vintage Denslow look while being contemporary. It combines elements from the books into a nice story that flows well. This would be wonderful for people who only know the movie version and haven't read the books.....they may want to read them afterwards.

[JenniferJennaJennyJen Melendez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awards: None

Appropriate grade level: 3rd-7th

Original summary: Dorothy's house lands on a really ugly evil witch. The munchkins thank her and want her to stay but she just wants to go home. She must travel to the City of Emeralds to ask Oz, The Great and Good Wizard, for his help. She meets Scarecrow, Tin Woodman and the Lion along the way.

Original review: I loved this modern comic book version of the classic Wizard of Oz. Dorothy is spunky and the "silver shoes" are funky. Some of the drawings are hilarious. The modern interpretation was a page turner even though I have read the original and have seen the movie several times.

Possible in-class uses:
1. Create graphic novels based on classic books
2. Alternate ending (writing)

[Truly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Salah satu versi graphic novel yang saya beli ketika sedang berniat mengumpulkan aneka versi The Wizard of Oz. Kemudian sadar terlalu banyak jenis yg dikoleksi.

Gambar-gambar yang sungguh luar biasa. Membuat imajinasi saat membaca semakin luas.

[Chelsea Rapp · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel bad saying this, but I wasn’t a big fan of the art style with this book. I did like that Cavallaro updated and modernized the story, but I didn’t like the style of art. I found it to be a little creepy at times. I didn’t like how the tin man looked.

MVP: Glinda

[Ashlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love The Wizard of Oz movie (I have yet to read the novel) so I was intrigued to pick this up. The art style is very interesting and fun to look at. I am always sucked into this story and I’m so glad I read this.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The plot and illustrations were both perfect!!!! If there’s a graphic novel version of any title, I’m definitely going to read it because I love all the visual effects and panels. I loved this version of one of my favorite classics!!!! It really is a treasure/masterpiece!!!

[Vicki · Rating 2 out of 5]

Since this is a graphic novel about Oz, it should be in color. I am not a fan of the contemporary depiction either. It does seem to follow the original book. I am afraid the differently abled student for whom we purchased this will be disappointed.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. Not awful, but not amazing. It is faithful to the original, so that’s something. Because it is faithful, it struggles from the pacing of the source material. Things move far too rapidly, conflict and resolution often happen a few panels apart. Too much, too quickly makes it feel disjointed.

[Brittany Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this more than I thought.

[Karim Elmenshawy · Rating 2 out of 5]

How to work as team? ....That what story said .....

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought that that book gave more character to the characters in the story then from the movie and it does not put in the "It was all a dream" cliché but puts Dorothy outside of her family's house.

[Ediku Marjery Audery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good

[Scott Ollar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent adaptation, good artwork. Reminds you how different the popular movie is from the original novel.

[Tisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun way to revisit the class story of the Wizard of Oz.

[dd Padilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s not so good but I will read it again there was some changes so I gave it a four star rating…

[Kathryn Brumm · Rating 4 out of 5]

a really solid adaptation that brings a lot of charm to this classic tale!

[R · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this adaptation. The unique artwork felt very fitting and it followed the story well.

[CJ]

The Wizard of Oz by Mike Caplivor, features a new way of fantasy. Dorothy and her dog Toto are caught in a tornado's path and somehow end up in the land of Oz. Here,she meets some memorable friends and foes in her journey to meet the Wizard of Oz. Who everyone says can help her return home and possibly grant her new friends their goals of a brain, heart and courage. This book was truly great because of the life lessons taught in this book.

Dorothy lives on a farm in Kansas until a cyclone arrives, and picks her, her house, and her dog up and deposits them in the land of Oz. Things in Oz are strange and beautiful, but Dorothy just wants to get back home. She's helped by the Good Witch of the North, but she's also in trouble with the Wicked Witch of the West, who wants revenge for the death of her sister; the Wicked Witch of the East, and she blames Dorothy.

I reccomend this book to fantasy lovers. It features a new way to look at fantasy with witches and talking animals. I also reccomend this to children of all ages. It is an easy book to relate to. It also teaches alot of life lessons valuable to life. This book is truly magnificent and everyone should read it.

[Shelby (bookshelfworthy) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This gets four stars just because of the art. It is absolutely beautiful and I love the modern take on Dorothy and Kansas. The only complaint I have is that I wish the dialogue and story had been updated a bit more in the sense of word choice. But beyond that it’s a graphic novel adaptation of the beloved book by L. Frank Baum so if you’ve read that it’s essentially the same thing just in graphic novel format. It’s very true to the story but condensed in some places, which I’m not upset about, it flows quite well.

This graphic novel would be a great one for those who want to dip a toe in to the graphic novel world or say “they don’t like graphic novels.” It’d be a great one to start with.

[Allyssa · Rating 2 out of 5]

In this book The Wizard Of Oz by Mike Cavallaro, Dorthy chases her dog Toto back in the house. There is a huge cyclone is comeing and Dorthy has to hurry! But it's to late, by the time Dorthy reaches Toto they are already flying in the air by the cyclone. Dorthy and Toto don't know what is going on at all! When they landed safely, on the ground, they were in a whole different country,when Dorthy's house landed it landed on the wicked witch of the west! Dorthy and Toto have to go on a long journy if they want to get back home to aunt Em and uncle Henry. Read this book and find out who she runs into on the way to The Land Of Oz!

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

May 2008 Teale, Kim, & Boerman Book Links article:
...one in a series of graphic novel versions of classics that Puffin produced (other titles of possible interest to elementary school students include Black Beauty and Treasure Island). Cavallaro’s retelling in graphic form is faithful to the original plot. His black and white drawings contain lots of action and detail, making Baum’s book come alive in interesting ways; and they also have a contemporary look (jeans, sunglasses, and even a buzz saw that the Tin Woodman can project from the end of his arm).

[Norm Keillor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy seeing stories told across different media. From the old 1939 musical movie to the books to the newer Oz movie and the 80s cartoon series, and now this graphic novel.

Most people are so familiar with the classic movie that anything that differs from it seems sacrilege to them. This graphic novel was very entertaining and kept to the spirit of the original book. It wasn't complicated or splashy. The drawing was stylized and may take some readers a bit to get used to, but I think it gives it a childlike quality.