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The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,
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Claire
I just finished reading it aloud to my 4 children, ages 11, 8, 5, and 3. We all loved it differently, but equally. There's certainly a reason it is considered a classic and it does not disappoint on any level.
Alan
It IS a children's book, but keep in mind, it's a children's book that is over 100 years old. It's necessary to remember that when reading classic children's literature. There are things that could be truly terrifying to a modern child, that a child of the turn-of-the-twentieth-century would have merely glossed over as commonplace.
Ultimately, it's intended to be whimsical, with a message of, "You only need to rediscover what you had all along." It's crazily inventive and subversive. You can read a lot into what isn't said, or you can just sit back and go for the ride. I've read and re-read as much of Baum's work as I've been able to get my hands on. There are actually books in this series that I think are even better than "Wizard," but this is the one that sets the premise - even though some plot points are abandoned in later stories - for what comes after.
As with any good children's book, there will be things in it that will go entirely over the child's head when they're younger but, as they get older and re-read, will catch more and more.
Ultimately, it's intended to be whimsical, with a message of, "You only need to rediscover what you had all along." It's crazily inventive and subversive. You can read a lot into what isn't said, or you can just sit back and go for the ride. I've read and re-read as much of Baum's work as I've been able to get my hands on. There are actually books in this series that I think are even better than "Wizard," but this is the one that sets the premise - even though some plot points are abandoned in later stories - for what comes after.
As with any good children's book, there will be things in it that will go entirely over the child's head when they're younger but, as they get older and re-read, will catch more and more.
Satrio Pambudi
I think this book is suitable for all ages and I like the depiction of the characters in the book
Ruxi (The Lightning Reader)
I read this book as an adult, never having read it when I was a child and I enjoyed it very much. It transported me back to my younger days and made me feel happy with its humour and colourful descriptions of the land and its creatures.
Kelly
Nope, I don't think it's a children's book. I myself didn't care for it as an adult.
Mary
This was a book I never read as a child, but had seen the movie many times. The book is the same...but different. I found the original book charming, but had some challenges with suspending my "oh-come-on-now" sensibilities. However, if I were to have read the book for the first time, out loud to children, I know I would have been drawn into the magic of it.
Hailey
As it is a fairytale I think that it could be a children's book but I also think that as adults I would like to re-read it. My family loves it though and I definitely recommend this book for anyone that likes fairytales
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