What more is there to say about one of the world’s most beloved stories of all time? Merely that if you thought you knew the story from watching the movie, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the original book. The film is a wonderful translation between media, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. If you’ve not read it, here’s what you and your child can look forward to.
First of all, the true title is “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”. Dorothy Gale is a young girl who is magically transported to the land of Oz by a fierce cyclone, which sweeps up her house and deposits it directly upon the Wicked Witch of the East. Barely two pages into the second chapter, and Dorothy is guilty of manslaughter! Though Dorothy herself is aghast at what’s happened, the rest of the populace — the Munchkins — praise her for freeing them from slavery. So, right up front, there are a couple of issues you can decide to skate over or confront directly, depending on how prepared you are to answer questions from your child. The slavery is easily skipped over, as it isn’t directly pertinent to the story, but the death of the Wicked Witch is mentioned several times and cements Dorothy’s reputation throughout the rest of the story, so you may need to be a little creative to get around this, should you so choose.
Here’s one of the bigger surprises for those — like me — who hadn’t read the book before seeing the movie: the slippers that Dorothy removes from the dead witch’s feet (and by the way, ew) aren’t Ruby at all. They’re actually Silver shoes instead. One can only presume that the vibrancy of the red sequins made for better movie viewing.
A little later, after encountering her three traveling companions, there’s a bit that isn’t in the movie where the foursome visit with the Queen of the Field Mice, whose life is saved by the Tin Woodman. Seeing her chased by a wildcat, he uses his ax to cut the pursuing beast’s head straight off. Life is uncompromising in Oz, and there’s a great deal of violence that happens, almost casually, just like this. Again, edit to your level of comfort.
More changes: after the leavetaking of the Great and Powerful Oz, the residents of the Emerald City make the Scarecrow their ruler, and it’s determined that Dorothy must visit the Good Witch of the North in the hope that she will be able to send her home via magic. On the way, they discover a tiny city and its inhabitants, all made from delicate china. The Cowardly Lion, while traveling through a forest, decapitates a large spidery monster and is made the King of the Forest. Later still, the Tin Woodman quite on his own decides to make himself the ruler of the Winkies. Dorothy clicks her heels together three times, returns home, and that’s the end of the story.
Perhaps the best part of it all, however, is the sly, winking way in which it’s written. L. Frank Baum included many puns and other pieces of wordplay in his novel — one of 16 Oz books! — and it’s quite a pleasure to read. The other Oz books, if possible, are even stranger and more oddball than the first, but all of them were equally delightful to my son, who now says he’d like to re-read them all. It’s a wonderful thing when an investment pays ample dividends, and choosing to read to your child rewards in so many ways; read “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” today!
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