Alan answers “Is this a kids book? Does it hold up well...”

anonymous asked this question about The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Oz, #1):

Is this a kids book? Does it hold up well for adult audiences?

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 chi…moreIt 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. (less)

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The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

by L. Frank Baum

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