Product Description

A beautiful book that finds each pop-up page bringing to life scenes from one of the greatest children's stories of all time. The story is told in minibooklets set onto each page; but it is the scale and artistry of the pop-ups that is awe-inspiring. An incredible whirling tornado whisks Dorothy off in the first page and the jaw-dropping effects just keep going. Each page is an aesthetic experience in itself including a stunning Emerald City centrefold (enhanced by looking through pair of green glassesl), a melting Wicked Witch, Glinda's castle and the fantastic sight of the humbug wizard floating away in his shiny green, gold, and blue hot-air balloon.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5830 in Books
• Published on: 2001-07-25
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 14 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
How many times have you seen The Wizard of Oz on Television? How many times have you seen Judy Garland and her red shoes following the Yellow Brick Road? Can you remember the story, or do you just remember the film characters? Forget all those, and immerse yourself in this magnificent book. If you also have preconceptions about pop-up books, then forget those too. The original story was written by L Frank Baumand; this edition, created by Robert Sabuda, is a shorter version of the original story. The artwork, in the style of WW Denslow, the original artist, is exceptional, made up of prints created from cut blocks of linoleum.

Open up the first page and find Dorothy, with her uncle Henry, a farmer, and his wife Aunt Em on their farm in the cyclone belt of Kansas, USA. Watch the cyclone approach and see the house and its surroundings before they are transported (found over the page) to a "country of marvellous beauty", the land of Oz. Meet the munchkins, hear about the Wicked Witch of the East and be there when Dorothy finds the magical silver shoes, and the Witch of the North, before undertaking her journey on the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City, accompanied by her dog Toto. Dorothy joins up with a scarecrow, finds a tin woodman, and a cowardly lion, and with them makes her way through a great forest. The Emerald City comes into view (more easily appreciated when seen through the green spectacles provided) and Dorothy discovers Oz, the Great and Terrible. The amazing story unfolds and the travellers continue in their quest to find the Wicked Witch. Further adventures ensue, featuring flying monkeys, yellow Winkie slaves, the demise of the Wicked Witch, and soon, until eventually, as in all good stories, there is a happy ending when Dorothy returns home safely.

Recommend for children aged 6 years and over, this book is a modern take on a real classic, and it will make an excellent gift for book lovers everywhere.--Susan Naylor

Review
A stunning pop-up picture book of L Frank Baums classic tale that has to be seen to be believed! Even those who have never read Baums novel know the story of Dorothy and Toto and their adventures in the magical land of Oz. After a cyclone whisks them away from their Kansas prairie homestead, Dorothy and Toto head to Oz to see the Wizard they hope can get them home again. On the way they meet the faint-hearted Lion, the brainless Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman who wishes he had a heart. When they arrive in the Emerald City and meet the Wizard he says he will only grant their wishes if they can destroy the Wicked Witch of the West. This pop-up book contains an abridged version of the original but still manages to retain the excitement, magic and adventure of the full-length novel. Lots of the original tale is included thanks to clever fold-out/fold-down pages that also enable an incredible 31 separate pop-ups to be included. The artwork throughout the book is in a style similar to that of the original artist, W W Denslow, but with many striking new touches. The paper engineering that has gone into many of the pop-ups is quite spectacular the representations of the tornado that takes Dorothy to the Land of the Munchkins and the balloon that takes her to the country of the Quadlings are stunning. The artwork includes shiny touches of coloured foil and there is also a pair of novelty glasses which give everything in Oz a suitable emerald glow. This is a great book to read to children of six years and upwards and for confident readers aged eight and above. As with all pop-up books it is easily susceptible to damage if not treated with great care although the papercraft seems sturdier than in many similar books and should last well if handled carefully. (Kirkus UK)

A lively and charming adaptation of the quintessential American fairytale. Caballero's black-and-white art uses clean lines, bold blacks and pleasingly variegated panel layouts to breathe fresh vigor into Baum's timeless classic. The storyline moves briskly while staying mostly faithful to the original text, though purists might cavil at the telescoping of Dorothy's admittedly redundant journey to Glinda's castle. The real delight here is the re-imagining of beloved characters for the 21st century, ironically reminiscent of Baum's own prairie populism. These Munchkins are no outre Art Deco midgets, but as friendly and familiar as Wal-Mart shoppers. The Tin Man becomes a genial robot with a buzz-saw appendage, and the Scarecrow a likable homeboy. Generous, openhearted Dorothy herself is clearly on the cusp of adolescence, spunky and self-reliant in her boot-cut jeans and Wonder Girl bracelets; and her magical silver shoes (no glittery ruby pumps here!) look comfortable and sturdy, far more sensible for the long trek down the Yellow Brick Road. By no means a substitute for the original, but certainly a worthy companion, and well able to stand on its own. (Graphic novel. 8+) (Kirkus Reviews)

About the Author
Robert Sabuda has established a name as an outstanding and imaginative creator of pop-up books with such popular titles as The Movable Mother Goose, The 42 Days of Christmas and Cookie Count.

Customer Reviews

A wonderfully intricate pop-up book of the original story.
On opening this book you become entranced by the amazing intricacy of the pop-up illustrations. The original story is told using the original illustrations but is brought to life in an amazing way. Each page has a large pop-up with the story told in its own little book within each page which itself has small pop-ups in it.
This book is expensive but it is to treasure. My 4 year old daughter loves the story and sits for ages just gazing at the scenes of the Emerald City, the hot air balloon etc. Adults and older children would easily get as much enjoyment from this book - just as I have.

Probably the most beautiful book I've ever bought
I bought this book as a Christmas present for my 5- and 3-year olds. I read the reviews and thought it sounded good. I was confident it would be a nice book for them to explore a story I read and loved as a child.

Nothing I read here prepared me for the beauty it; when the parcel arrived from Amazon, I sat in amazement with this work of art, and completely lost track of time. The imagination used, not just for the illustrations but also for the way the story is told in little booklets, makes each turn of the page a delight. I cannot believe how much I underestimated the beauty of this book: when I showed it to my friends, they thought, without exception, that it must have cost at least £40.

One word of caution: I bought this for a 5-year old, but she isn't able to contain her excitement sufficiently to open and close the pages without damaging the pop-ups. It will have to be put aside until she's a little older and more capable of restraint.

If you're wavering, thinking of buying this book- DON'T! Buy it now, and keep it for years of pleasure to come.

Pop-tastic!
I bought a copy of this on my last trip to the US, and I'm thrilled that it's now available for we Britons to buy. It's probably the nicest pop-up book I've seen, and does some really incredible things with this classic story right from the first page - which features a twirling whirlwind that leaps out at you! Obviously, the story is condensed, but each page has mini-pages within it, each with their own pop-ups to fill in the elements not shown on the main page. All in all, this technically dazzling book is a really wonderful way of enjoying Oz for young and old!