The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: A Commemorative Pop-Up

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0689834985 ISBN 13: 9780689834981

Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2001

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.

Review:

For many of us, the adventures of Dorothy in Oz will forever be associated not with Judy Garland singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" but with W. W. Denslow's exceedingly odd line drawings for the original editions of Baum's Oz series. The Viennese artist Lisbeth Zwerger, however, goes a long way toward providing a new and refreshed set of images for the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, and the humbug wizard. These illustrations are often cockeyed, with occasional realistic details thrown in, like a crow with a corncob in its beak in the first portrait of the Scarecrow. The characters have a poignance and oddity that escaped the makers of the Oz movie.

Book Description:

The Wizard of Oz is a beloved American classic.  This edition, with fine illustrations from internationally acclaimed artist Lizbeth Zwerger, has been reformatted as a readaloud edition.