FROM OUR EDITORS

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the publication of L. Frank Baum's The Wizard of Oz, master paper engineer Robert Sabuda has created a pop-up book that's as magical as the classic, itself. From a twisting cyclone that spins up on the opening spread to the elaborate, glittering 3-D model of the Emerald City (which comes complete with a pair of green tinted glasses for the reader) to Dorothy's silver shoes that click together to take her home to Aunt Em, this remarkable book is filled with an array of special effects. Told in a shorter version of L. Frank Baum's original text, with artwork that's faithful to W. W. Denslow's original illustrations, this phenomenal edition will be treasured by readers of all ages.

ANNOTATION

A biography emphasizing the childhood of the man who later led the first expedition to explore west of the Mississippi River.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

A phenomenal pop-up celebration of The Wizard of Oz's 100th Anniversary! This deluxe pop-up of L. Frank Baum's timeless classic is an Oz-lover's dream! The amazing paper engineering and special effects include a twisting cyclone, a wizard's balloon that sails into the sky, and holographic foil for the Emerald City -- complete with green glasses for the reader. The slightly abridged story unfolds in booklets on every spread, each sprinkled with additional pop-ups. The beautifully rendered artwork is faithful to the original book's illustrations and represents a fresh, new art style for Robert Sabuda -- prints made from cut linoleum blocks. This glorious edition is sure to find an honored place on the family bookshelf.

SYNOPSIS

Robert Sabuda has created a resplendent pop-up version of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the original publication. This glorious edition is told in a shorter version of L. Frank Baum's original text, with artwork in the style of W. W. Denslow. With sparkling touches of colored foil and Emerald City eyeglasses, this classic tale is certain to find an honored place on the family bookshelf.

FROM THE CRITICS

Children's Literature

This stunning new look at the original W. W. Denslow illustrated classic should clear the MGM movie from minds that consider that as the only "real" one. Sabuda has had to cut much of the story for this pop-up celebration commemorating the 100th anniversary of the original publication, but the core of Baum's story and its memorable moments remain, along with the illustration style of the Denslow version. The real wizard here is the artist/engineer who has created seven complex, double-page scenes, along with many attached smaller ones in various-sized smaller books including their own pop-up surprises. A spinning cyclone starts the visual adventure, emerging from the corn fields to loom a foot high. The Emerald city is a baroque fantasy complete with green-tinted glasses for viewing. The Wicked Witch of the West's castle is a properly spooky home for the flying monkeys, while the witch herself melts satisfyingly away. We also see the poppy fields, the flight of the wizard's balloon, and of course, all the friends—the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Lion, as Dorothy and Toto find their way from the land of the Quadlings back to Aunt Em's arms. 2000, Little Simon/Simon & Schuster, $24.95. Ages 5 up. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz

School Library Journal

Gr 2-5-This showstopping pop-up book celebrates the 100th birthday of The Wizard of Oz in a spectacular fashion; from the twister that spins up dizzyingly on the opening spread to the final "And oh, Aunt Em! I'm so glad to be at home again!" clinch, the array of special effects will wow even blas "seen it all" readers. Not only is Sabuda a wizardly paper engineer, able to pull off a bursting ball of flame, a melting witch, and a balloon rocking gently in the breeze, but he also shows a magic touch with pictorial art, creating colored lino-cut figures that strongly recall those of W. W. Denslow. The large central effects open up like stage settings, and are flanked with accordion-folded insets that contain even more pop-ups, along with an abbreviated text closely based on the original. Nor does the razzle-dazzle stop there, as Dorothy's silver shoes, the yellow brick road, and even the Emerald City are coated with shimmering foil, and by donning the included pair of tinted spectacles, readers are treated to a hidden message on one page. Sabuda's homage to an enduring classic captures its timeless sense of wonder, distinctive characters, and the flavor of its melodrama brilliantly.-John Peters, New York Public Library Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.

People Magazine

Think Baum's classic couldn't get any more magical? This gorgeous 100th anniversary volume, complete with a tornado that spins, will prove you wrong.