Stories of Oz

A Kansas cyclone, a little dog named Toto, a road of yellow brick, and a wonderful wizard waiting at its end. In 1900, L. Frank Baum published The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and America had its own fairy tale. Stories of Oz invites readers into the magical land Baum created and returned to again and again.

Lyman Frank Baum was born in 1856 in Chittenango, New York. Before Oz made him famous he worked as an actor, a newspaper editor in South Dakota, a traveling salesman, and a storekeeper, and he loved telling stories to his four sons and their friends. He wanted to write a modern fairy tale for American children, one full of wonder and joy without the frightening lessons of older tales. The result was an instant success. Readers begged for more, and Baum went on to write thirteen more Oz books, along with many other stories set in and around his enchanted country.

Oz is a land like no other. It is divided into four colorful countries, the blue land of the Munchkins, the yellow land of the Winkies, the purple land of the Gillikins, and the red land of the Quadlings, surrounding the glittering Emerald City at its center. Here travelers meet Dorothy Gale and her loyal friends: the Scarecrow who longs for a brain, the Tin Woodman who wishes for a heart, and the Cowardly Lion in search of courage. In later tales readers meet the clever Princess Ozma, the patchwork girl Scraps, the mechanical man Tik-Tok, the pumpkin-headed Jack, and many other delightful characters. There are good witches and wicked ones, talking animals, magic belts and shoes, and adventures around every bend.

Baum's stories celebrate friendship, kindness, courage, and imagination. His characters often discover that the qualities they seek were inside them all along. The 1939 film The Wizard of Oz made his world beloved by millions, but the books themselves offer even more wonders to discover.

Why read it?

• America's fairy tale. It shows the magical world behind one of the most beloved films of all time.
• Unforgettable friends. The Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and Cowardly Lion are icons of childhood.
• Pure imagination. Colorful lands, magic, and adventure await on every page.
• Timeless lessons. Brains, heart, and courage are found within.
• Perfect for reading aloud. It is ideal for bedtime and family reading.

Why the Comfortable Classics edition?

Comfortable Classics was created to help families build a library worth keeping. Each book in the series shares the same handsome design, a black cover with warm wood-grain bands and a parchment panel. Only the title lettering changes, chosen to suit each book's spirit. Together they make a matching collection that looks beautiful on a shelf and invites you to take the next one down.

Classics meant to be kept, studied, and handed down.