Customer Reviews

The Road to Oz: Twists, Turns, Bumps, and Triumphs in the Life of L. Frank Baum

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I picked up this book in my nephew's school library yesterday, and could not put it down. It made me want to know more about L. Frank Baum's life, and so I am going to read his full biography soon. He seemed like a good person, a good husband & a good father in a non-traditional sense for the times he lived in. This book feels full of love.

If you are a fan of the Oz books, you will enjoy how the stories came to be. This is written for a younger reader. However, it does provide solid information about the life of L Frank Baum that matches other biographies written for adults.

Dorothy's creator Frank Baum is revealed in a picturebook biography of his life and times and tells of a daydreamer who had many failed vocations before at age forty-four he did what he loved best: storytelling. In 1900 his WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ was published to acclaim and became a big success around the world. Baum's life history and inspirations for Oz makes for a wonderful read.

In this biography geared towards children, author Kathleen Krull gives us an up-close-and-personal look at the life of L. Frank Baum.

Beginning with his privileged upbringing in 1860s New York, chronicling his never-ending money woes, and ending with his successful publishing of THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ in 1900, Ms. Krull takes us into the life and times of a brilliant author.

Paired with beautiful illustrations by Kevin Hawkes, THE ROAD TO OZ is a testament to the man who brought us a legendary story that still holds the power to entertain. Even now, over one hundred years after its original publication, both the book and the movie are known throughout the world but thousands.

Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"