The Emerald City of Oz (Books of Wonder) Reviews

• best oz book

  
  By on 2000-02-08
  Though I loved the original Wizard of Oz, and have enjoyed all the Oz books for more than 20 years (back to when my mother first read them to me), Emerald City ranks as my all-time favorite. It's full of adventure, suspense and humor. Who could forget the ridiculous roly-poly Nomes and their quixotic plan to conquer Oz with the help of some rather bizarre allies? Or the village where every house and fence (not to mention every inhabitant) was edible? As I write this, my week-old son sleeps in my lap. I can't wait to read him this book when he's old enough to appreciate it.
  
  

• One of my favorite Oz books

  
  By A3QM8GPBZ6OBG8 on 2000-12-15
  This Oz book is one of the more disjointed ones, more a sort of package tour of Ozma's magic kingdom than a quest. But the vignettes are charming and stick with you. The "Rigamaroles" have become part of this family's culture, with my 12 yo son and I occasionally getting into rigamarole competitions, where we go on and on without saying anything. Bunbury and Bunnybury also stuck with me during the six years between reading this to my first son and my second; utensia is ... punny; and the cuttenclips, the fuddles, and the flutterbudgets are all cute and endearing. A great read aloud for the 5 to 10 set.

  Onr thing, though: The famed metallic ink in the Books Of Wonder edition is just sort of glittery. Nice, but not really any big deal. I don't think that this is the best looking BoW Oz book.
  
  

• Still my favorite Oz book

  
  By ASECXJBCQR8RT on 2005-01-03
  I just read The Emerald City of Oz to my little boy, who's almost five (see my earlier review of the book from 2000 which I wrote when he was about a week old!), and he and I both enjoyed it immensely. We're reading all the Oz books in order, and are now on our eighth (Tik-Tok of Oz). My son is a huge Oz fan.
  
  One cautionary note to those who wish to read this book to their young children: My little one was actually quite upset and frightened at the prospect of Oz being invaded and possibly destroyed by the Nomes and their ferocious allies. A number of times I had to soothe him by explaining that Ozma was sure to find some way to save her country. Perhaps this is a better book for older children.
  
  

• One of my favorite Oz books

  
  By A30KEXFT9SILL6 on 2004-10-07
  In this sixth Oz book, Baum makes an effort to close down the series and tie up all the various loose ends. Dorothy, driven by financial disaster, brings Aunty Em and Uncle Henry to Oz to live out the rest of their lives in peace with Ozma in the palace. At the same time, Roquat the Red (the old foe of the girls) decides to lay waste to Oz once and for all to retrieve his magic belt.
  
  The middle of the book meanders a bit, as Dorothy takes Aunt Em and Uncle Henry on a tour of some of the stranger parts of Oz. The various towns (Cuttenclips, Fuddles, Utensia, etc.) are half puns, half morality plays, but still clever for all of that. Dorothy is a well-written enough character that she can raise a smile even in a ridiculous scene like the one in Bunbury where she is offered a stale wheelbarrow to eat instead of the lunch she was looking for.
  
  The Neill illustrations in this Oz book are particularly magical. For example, the big paste heads of the Whimsies have stuck in my head all the years since I have read it for the first time.
  
  I have read all the Oz books multiple times, and this is one of the three which have proven the most memorable. (The other two are The Road to Oz and Ozma of Oz) It gets a high recommendation despite any minor flaws.
  
  

• Princess of Oz

  
  By A17GY2WSRPLEUO on 1999-10-13
  I'm reading the Wizard of Oz at school. Just a week ago I found a book that my teacher had bought and it was The Emerald City of Oz. I finished it today and it was wonderful. I think it is even better than the Wizard of oz.
  
  
• An enchanting and imaginative book!
  By on 1998-12-27
  When I read this book in the fourth grade I was absolutely mesmerized by the story Baum had to offer to his readers. Dorothy's travels through Oz were the most interesting they ever have been. First, Baum brings the beloved Dorothy to live forever in Oz. Then he tells of her(and her friends) journeys in the lands of Utensia, Bunbury, and Bunnyburry (as well as some other places). Readers will be mesmerized when he talks of the beautifully dressed rabbits and hysterical when he discusses Toto's trouble with the delicious Buns of Bunbury. What about suspense and danger? Well, Baum throws in the Nome King for that, as well as some other fearful enemies who plan to capture Oz. This was my favorite Oz book and I absolutely recommend it to anyone who has the imagination to handle this wonderful experience.
  
  
• Dorothy returns to Oz
  By on 1999-07-24
  Dorothy's return to the Land of Oz,along with her Uncle and Aunt-who finaly believe her stories-is a must for anyone who reads the Oz series.Dorothy had gone to Oz before(four times in all,if you know the other stories)but this is when she settles in Oz and becomes a princess.She could even have been a co-ruler,along with Ozma.Living in Oz was Dorothy's secret dream,and now that her Unlce Henry(who was about to retire from farming) and Aunt Em have come with her,Oz becomes Home for Dorothy.Home is truly where your loved ones are.
  
  
• A fun tour of Oz
  By AVQP62D65QULC on 2003-02-07
  Finally, Aunt Em and Uncle Henry get the chance to visit Oz, and Baum introduces them and us to a variety of unusual inhabitants. True, most of their journey through the countryside has little or nothing to do with the main plot, the attempt (again) by the Nome King to conquer Oz. But it's fun. And best of all, this book becomes a turning point for the series because in it Dorothy makes the decision to remain in Oz. While maybe not the best book in the series, The Emerald City of OZ is a lot of fun and well worth the read.

  Also recommended: King Fortis the Brave, Harry Potter and Abarat. Books that, 100 years from now, people will be looking back with the fondness of the Oz series.
  
  

• Nice try, Mr. Baum...
  By A11YV6VC51HJTV on 2003-04-01
  After five "Oz" books, L. Frank Baum had enough, and tried to close off the series with this sixth installment. Of course, the children wouldn't let him, and he went on to write eight more, but this effort to end the series was one of the best in some time.

  The last two books ("Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz" and "The Road to Oz") suffered serious problems. They meandered, there was no sense of danger, nothing bad could ever happen to these characters. This time out Baum started with our heroine in a form of danger -- Aunt Em and Uncle Henry were going to lose the farm in Kansas -- and went on to reestablish the greatest threat the Oz books had left, Roquat the Red, the Nome King.

  While this book again lacked a serious sense of danger, the devices Baum used in his effort to end the series were all clever, and furthermore, made for better stories when he returned to the series later. This is a lovely story, a real classic.
  
  

• Baum comes back with another anazing OZ adventure
  By on 1999-02-28
  I have always been an OZ fan. This was the first book other than the wizard of OZ that I read. I was hooked. I own all of Baum's books on OZ. I think it is a shame they are hard to find. OZ is a treasure all people should know and love. It should not be held in a publishers house but be on the selevs of every book store. It is something any true OZ fan would want
  
  
• A "Must Have" for any fan of OZ books
  By on 1995-10-19
  This book is a wonderful reproduction of the very first run of the very first edition of this book. When "The Emerald City of Oz" was first published, a special metalic green ink was used on the cover, and on the illustrations throughout. However, after the first printing run, it was determined that this ink was far too expensive to continue with, and so a regular green ink was used. This special edition from "Books Of Wonder" very faithfully reproduces the book as it was originally printed, including the use of a metallic green ink. Other OZ books from books of wonder are similarly faithfull in being full reproductions of the first editions.
  
  
• Disappointed by this volume
  By on 2000-07-30
  Although I'd previously only read Ozma of Oz, I was very disappointed by the style The Emerald City of Oz was written in. For some reason, Dorothy has a hick accent, Aunt Em and Uncle Henry are a little too happy go lucky, and the various towns they visit are filled with characters who are too literal and simple for my taste. I am about to read the other books in the series and hope they are written more in the style of Ozma of Oz than Emerald City of Oz.
  
  
• Another great Oz story
  By on 1999-04-19
  Possibly one of my favorite Oz books. Everyone should be reading these stories for the child inside them.
  
  
• The Emerald City of Oz
  By A111NFZ2U33ZF5 on 2002-07-06
  NOTE: This is not the edition of the book I would have liked to review. I just didn't see it anywhere. This review is based on the Del Rey edition.

  The Emerald City of Oz is about how Dorothy, Aunt Em, and Uncle Henry go to live in Oz because of financial problems. Also, the Nome King is plotting to conquer the Emerald City along with many other dreadful creatures. To find out what happens, read The Emerald City of Oz. It's very exciting!
  
  

• The Emerald City of Oz (Books of Wonder)
  By A2TAPL67U2A5HM on 2005-08-17
  The sixth book in the series The Emerald City of Oz (Books of Wonder) by L. Frank Baum is one of the best so far and covers the adventures of Dorothy and her numerous friends in the land of oz. This time Dorothy moves to Oz for good with her aunt and uncle after they have lost all their money and been evicted from their farm. Here we get once more to meet old friends such as the tinman, jack pumpkin, the cowardly lion and the splendid princess ozma. The story centers on the evil nome king and his insideous plan for revenge and also contains crazy little stories about paper people and a land filled with cake like people. I love it and so will you.
  
  
  
• Friendship, courage and adventure!
  By AJD41FBJD9010 on 2006-12-04
  As a little girl, I read this book **at least** 20 times! The friendship of Dorothy, Ozma, the Cowardly Lion, the Hungry Tiger, Toto, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and all the others truly shines here, as they face great danger together with love and courage. The tour of Oz is so much fun, and the terrible danger Oz faces from the Nome King and his allies is very exciting!
  
  John R. Neill's gorgeous original art nouveau illustrations bring the fairytale to life. Highly, highly recommended! If you want your child to love reading, share this book with her. This is a snuggle up under the covers, read all Saturday kind of book!
  
  
  
• What a Book!
  By on 2000-03-24
  Dorothy's family is in trouble.She has to save them from losing thier farm, so she talked to Ozma, the ruler of Oz. She said that Dorothy's grandparents could come to the Oz. But what the Land of Oz didn't know was that the 3 strongest evil people in the world were digging a hole under the deadly desert surrounding the Land of Oz. Dorothy and some of her friends went on a trip around Oz, and found out that the desert hole was almost finished with the help of the tin man. The group went to Emerald City to think up a plan. Finaly the scarecrow thought up an idea.Read the book to discover the end!
  
  
• great book
  By on 1998-06-22
  This was a great book for especially ages 8-13. I especially thoughtthat by the sound of the evil characterswere particularily strange.
  
  
• I loved it.
  By on 1997-11-30
  I think that The Emerald City Of Oz is One of the best books I have ever read in my whole entire life. I reccomend taht everybody read it as soon as they can.
  
  
• "Wad up wit it Vanilla Face!!"
  By AZ216MK9KO1S0 on 2007-06-12
  The gleaming, beautiful Emerald City, under attack? What? In The Land of Oz trouble stirs up. The Nome King is much but furious over his magic belt, so now what? He plans revenge on Dorothy, Ozma and the whole Emerald City! The book "the Emerald City of Oz" takes place in the peaceful Land of Oz were everyone is always happy, were you always fit in where you're at. Dorothy, the wizard and Aunt Em and Uncle, Ozma, The Scarecrow, and the Tin woodman all have to figure out how are they going to stop the Nome King from destroying the Emerald City and all it's inhabits. But while this event occurring Dorothy, the Wizard, Aunt Em and Uncle Henry are all on a trip around Oz. But all thanks to the great brains that the Wizard gave the Scarecrow, peace was brought upon the Land of Oz and the Emerald City.
  I thought that this book was very entertaining. Usually books like this can be very boring, but not this book. My favorite part of the book was when Dorothy wanders off from the camp, and into the City of the Bunnies. Where only bunnies are aloud to go there. But Dorothy was able to enter due to the letter of approval by the princess Ozma. There she helps the king bunny make up his mind about wanting to be king or not. But over this entire book was one of my favorites.
  The theme or main idea probably would be; always choose well over evil and never become what you don't like. I got my theme from the end of the book. The savior of the Emerald city was an interesting save.
  What I found interesting about this book is that it's a continuation of my favorite books & movie such as; Dorothy and Wizard of Oz, and the book "The Land of Oz". And it I were to change things about the book would be that Ozma would not be so cut of the story during Dorothy's trip around the land of Oz, Ozma stayed home and during that time, nothing is rarely heard of Ozma. But besides that I felt that the book fell right in place with each event. I recommend fantasy-fiction books should read of the book and it's a more in depth look at The Land of Oz and it's inhabits.
  
  
  
  

• Road to Oz, The (Books of Wonder)
• Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz (Books of Wonder)
• The Patchwork Girl of Oz (Books of Wonder)
• Ozma of Oz (Books of Wonder)
• Tik-Tok of Oz (Books of Wonder)