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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Heart's in the right place..., January 21, 2007
First, let me say this: I adored the original Oz books. I have read all of them, from the Wizard of Oz to Glinda of Oz, dozens of times, and every time I find something new. I ran across this book in the collection of two young girls I was babysitting and chose to read it in the hopes it would live up to its predecessors, and was very dismayed to find that it did not.
L. Frank Baum was a very good writer, and where his great-grandson Roger (the author of "Dorothy") falls short of his genius is over very fine but definite lines. L. Frank Baum's books were childlike, this new one is childish; the original Baum books were simple and charming, this new one is merely simplistic. The originals were intended to be readable and enjoyable by both young and old, but their descendant loses the appeal to adults, simply because the reading level has dropped. [...] itself classifies this book at the "Baby-preschool" reading level, whereas the original "Wizard" is rated at ages 9-12. It makes a huge difference.
"Dorothy of Oz" also spends more time name-dropping places, people, and events from the original series than it does actually forwarding the plot, which is tenuous at best. Oh, remember the China-Doll Country? That was in the first book, let's visit it again. And the dinner-pail trees, Dorothy's hungry, so let her reminisce about those. The Hammerheads sure are jerks. Princess Gayelette was obscurely referenced in "The Wizard of Oz", let's bring her back into this book. And by the way, the Jester is possessed by the evil spirit of the Wicked Witch of the West, and there's a new area peopled by talking marshmallows. I appreciate the desire for fantastic scenes and a feel of the old Oz, but it isn't achieved by reminding the readers of happenings from the original story or creating completely ridiculous premises for the sake of fantasy. New characters are distressingly puerile: a tugboat named Tugg and an owl named Wiser who have no real purpose in the plot other than to be cute and charming, which they rather fail in.
In short, although it is a story with a great deal of heart and good intentions, it is done in by poor writing, a lack of plot clarity, and an unnecessary sense that because of the author's lineage, the book doesn't have to be well-written to stand alongside its predecessors. Though the heart is the important part, the rest is standing very firmly in its way, making it a book that I would hesitate to recommend to anyone over the age of seven.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Worthy Successor, January 15, 2004
If you're afraid you've run out of Oz books to read, then this book is for you. If you're worried about reading an Oz book that's not by the original author, don't - Roger S. Baum has captured all the magic and wonder that L. Frank Baum's books were famous for. Dorothy of Oz is a delightful book, perfect for reading aloud to the kids or for the adult who is young at heart. The illustrations are beautiful and the tale is original, engaging, and very "Oz." It's clear Mr. Baum put a great deal of thought, care, and love into writing this book. I hope everyone, of all ages, will enjoy reading it.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
All About "Dorothy of Oz" - the Extended Review, August 17, 2004
After having read the book from the library, I had this book ordered so that I could keep it, and here's why I love it:
The full-colour frontispiece by Elizabeth Miles (I don't think it's shown in the sample pages) is beautiful with Dorothy and her friends in a sunny forest, and the black-and-white illustrations are really good (see samples from Chapter 1 in "Search Inside"), and are really helpful with new characters like Wiser the Owl-like bird, the Candy People and others. The story begins with Dorothy and Toto back home in Kansas when she notices a rainbow and with Toto beside her, she runs towards it and is happily reunited with Glinda the Good Witch of the South, who tells her that she must return to Oz to help her friends, and with the help of the Silver Shoes (Elizabeth Miles draws them in a new design, having them look like ballet slippers) Dorothy and Toto RETURN TO OZ OVER THE RAINBOW!! There, the two arrive in the North Gillikin country of Oz and after meeting some new Oz folk, they arrive at Gayalette's Palace. Dorothy learns from an old friend that the Jester is using the wand of the Wicked Witch of the West (However, it is not known how he comes in possession with it, but I have an idea), and in order to save Toto and all the captured people of Oz, Dorothy has the Jester return the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman and the Lion to normal. Dorothy has a plan to save Oz but it will need Glinda's help, so once again the friends travel through Oz, this time with 2 new companions, having adventures and breaking ancient spells which had been put on by the Wicked Witches of the East and West, before being destroyed, with help from friends old and new like Tugg the Talking Tree-turned-into-Boat. Once they reach Glinda's castle, Dorothy (and we) learn about the magic of Oz and how/why Dorothy's simple acts have defeated evil in the past on her first visit. Back at the Gillikin Castle, Dorothy confronts the Jester, and defeats the Wicked Witch's wand. Once Peace has been restored to Oz, Dorothy and Toto say good-bye to all their friends, new and old, and using with the Silver Shoes one last time, return to Kansas, to the comfort of Aunt Em and Uncle Henry.
This story is set after "Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz", but before "the Emerald City of Oz", following Dorothy's adventures in 12 chapters, much shorter than regular Oz stories, but of course much longer than 'Beginning-to-Read' Oz books like "the Birthday Ban in MunchkinLand" and "Mister Tinker in Oz" - had L. Frank baum wrote it himself (instead of "Rinktink in Oz"), I'm sure that it would've been longer. Despite the differences, this story also seems to bear a resemblance to Disney's Return to Oz (1985), just 4 years before. We also learn about the origins of the Yellow Brick Road (which is told differently in "How the Wizard Came to Oz" by Donald Abbott). Many characters return, among them Queen Gayelette and King Quelela, Boq the (rich) Munchkin and the Mouse Queen and of course there are some new lovable characters like the Marshmellow King of CandyLand. However, unlike most other Oz stories, the Emerald City doesn't appear in the story, only mentioned once and briefly. We also return to some old favourites, like Dorothy's old house and the Dainty China Country, and we also visit some new places too. There are a few changes though (other than the wand, which is an original idea): Toto is brown instead of black (again!), the Lion is brave and not so cowardly (enjoyable) and the door to Dorothy's old house being open, whereas in the original story Dorothy locked it. Elizabeth Miles' illustrations are really good, like with Dorothy, she looks a bit like an 8 year old black girl (I like that) and Princess Ireney from the animated movie "The Magic Princess/The Princess and the Goblin" instead of Judy Garland, and the Tin Woodman slightly resembles Ironman from the 1960's, The Lion looks both adorably cute and strong and brave and Glinda's design is in the tradition of John R. Neill (long crown) but without the hair-net. Out of all the other Oz books by Roger S. Baum (L. Frank Baum's Great Grandson, "the Oz Odessey", "Lion of Oz and the Badge of Courage", "the Green Star in Oz" etc.) this is the only time where Dorothy is not modelled after MGM's Judy Garland (which can get very tiring). There is a bit of resemblance to "Disney's Return to Oz", because Dorothy mentions lunch-pail trees and the MGM Oz, as this book was written and published on the 50th Anniversary of "MGM's the Wizard of Oz". But there is also some fun in the writing: The story recalls the Wizard doing something during 1856 (making him much older than 46) when in real-life that's when L. Frank Baum was born! However, there are no illustrations of the Wicked Witches, Ozma, Aunt Em and Uncle Henry, the old house, Queen Gayelette and King Quelela, the Hammer-Heads or the Rainbow, and quite a few other things. But it's alright, as we already know what they look like.
In the future, when I hope to have my stories published and make lots of Movies (mostly about "Oz"), I look forward to making this story into a movie, as a sequel to "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz".
This story is suitable to everybody, and is for anybody who LOVES OZ!! Collect this book, and I'm sure that you will love it as if L. Frank baum wrote it himself, even if it is not that long.
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