Stephanie from The Red Clay Diaries recently found out about my Oz book collection. She had some on her shelf and wanted to give them to me. As a matter of fact she had 17 that she wanted to give me. Wow! A group of people were coming from Missouri. So she shipped the books from where she lives in the Atlanta area to them. They packed them in their luggage and delivered them into my hands last week. For books that talk of great journeys and adventure I think it is only suitable that they should arrive to me in such a round about way.
I began collecting Oz books when my first daughter was a baby. I read them aloud to her as we cuddled. More than once she fell asleep to tales of talking lions and romps down the yellow brick road. Now she adores the books in a new way since she can read them on her own.
Thank you so much SSBBBFF! (That is my nickname for Steph.)
The story behind the Royal Oz Historian, as Frank L. Baum referred to himself, is one of eccentricity. I own one biography and would like to get my hands on the film made about his life starring John Ritter.
An interesting bit of trivia is that Baum is not the only one recognized as a valid author of Oz books. He was where the idea originated. After him a few other authors took the liberty to write about this wonderful land. There are forty authentic titles. Below is the list. The titles in green are the ones I own. Someday I would love to own a full first editions set. Until then I will be perfectly contented in a state of rapture with my dear Oz books.
Here is the complete list of the Famous Forty Oz books (often shortened to the FF) — the ones that most Oz fans agree are true Oz — along with their authors and dates of publication.
1. The Wizard of Oz, originally published as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (L. Frank Baum, 1900) and also published as The New Wizard of Oz (1903)
2. The Land of Oz, originally published as The Marvelous Land of Oz (L. Frank Baum, 1904)
3. Ozma of Oz (L. Frank Baum, 1907)
4. Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz (L. Frank Baum, 1908)
5. The Road to Oz (L. Frank Baum, 1909)
6. The Emerald City of Oz (L. Frank Baum, 1910)
7. The Patchwork Girl of Oz (L. Frank Baum, 1913)
8. Tik-Tok of Oz (L. Frank Baum, 1914)
9. The Scarecrow of Oz (L. Frank Baum, 1915)
10. Rinkitink in Oz (L. Frank Baum, 1916)
11. The Lost Princess of Oz (L. Frank Baum, 1917)
12. The Tin Woodman of Oz (L. Frank Baum, 1918)
13. The Magic of Oz (L. Frank Baum, 1919)
14. Glinda of Oz (L. Frank Baum, 1920)
15. The Royal Book of Oz (Ruth Plumly Thompson [but originally attributed to L. Frank Baum], 1921)
16. Kabumpo in Oz (Ruth Plumly Thompson, 1922)
17. The Cowardly Lion of Oz (Ruth Plumly Thompson, 1923)
18. Grampa in Oz (Ruth Plumly Thompson, 1924)
19. The Lost King of Oz (Ruth Plumly Thompson, 1925)
20. The Hungry Tiger of Oz (Ruth Plumly Thompson, 1926)
21. The Gnome King of Oz (Ruth Plumly Thompson, 1927)
22. The Giant Horse of Oz (Ruth Plumly Thompson, 1928)
23. Jack Pumpkinhead of Oz (Ruth Plumly Thompson, 1929)
24. The Yellow Knight of Oz (Ruth Plumly Thompson, 1930)
25. Pirates in Oz (Ruth Plumly Thompson, 1931)
26. The Purple Prince of Oz (Ruth Plumly Thompson, 1932)
27. Ojo in Oz (Ruth Plumly Thompson, 1933)
28. Speedy in Oz (Ruth Plumly Thompson, 1934)
29. The Wishing Horse of Oz (Ruth Plumly Thompson, 1935)
30. Captain Salt in Oz (Ruth Plumly Thompson, 1936)
31. Handy Mandy in Oz (Ruth Plumly Thompson, 1937)
32. The Silver Princess in Oz (Ruth Plumly Thompson, 1938)
33. Ozoplaning with the Wizard of Oz (Ruth Plumly Thompson, 1939)
34. The Wonder City of Oz (John R. Neill, 1940)
35. The Scalawagons of Oz (John R. Neill, 1941)
36. Lucky Bucky in Oz (John R. Neill, 1942)
37. The Magical Mimics in Oz (Jack Snow, 1946)
38. The Shaggy Man of Oz (Jack Snow, 1949)
39. The Hidden Valley of Oz (Rachel R. Cosgrove, 1951)
40. Merry Go Round in Oz (Eloise Jarvis McGraw and Lauren McGraw Wagner, 1963)
I have a few more titles that are not on the official list. Also, L. Frank Baum wrote some non-Oz books. I have decided that I am collecting Oz books and books by L. Frank Baum.
Do you have a memory about Oz that you would like to share?
angie washington 
i’ve never read a single oz book. but i do like the movie. or i probably have more a memory of liking the movie than actually still liking it. but, you know. same diff.
i watched “return to oz” once as a child and, though i remember nothing about it, i know i hated it.
a friend refers to me as the wizard of oz.
Oh, I would like to hear the story behind why your friend refers to you as the wizard of oz… sounds interesting…
Wow, that is awesome! I remember reading many of the oz books when we were on furlough in my 5th grade year – they had a whole collection at the nearby library and I eagerly read every single one they had (and also all the Enid Blyton books!) I loved all the oz books. I remember friends of mine saying how much they liked the movie, and I would tell them how much they were missing out on by not reading the books too!
Library… what an absolutely rapturous word!
Wow, I am really impressed. I don’t remember knowing this about you! :D It’s awesome that you have a collection started that is so practical and capable of being passed on. How neat! I too have never read any of the Oz books. Have, of course, seen the movie. How would you rate the movie as compared to the books (or visa versa)?
The original movie stands on it’s own and has close similarities to bits from various Oz books. It is legendary and great in it’s own way. The books are different from the movie with stories that are a bit more raw. Knowing Baum’s life history also lends for some fabulous analyzing of the material found in the books.
Thanks!
Wow! I just learned a lot right now. I had no idea about any of these books, I had just assumed there was only The Wizard of OZ! Well, I take that back. I read Wicked and the book after that (I forget its name) but I dont know if they are official OZ books, since they are new…but I rather enjoyed them.
I remember when I was little we would watch the movie on TV and I was sooooo afraid of those flying monkeys. hehehe They just made a mini-series about OZ and I happened to see it here on TV las month or so. It was kinda lame. lol Did u see it?
I didn’t see the mini-series. I guess I should be glad I didn’t see it if it was lame.
The flying monkeys are horrible! They still make me shudder when I watch the movie with my kids.
I love your collection, I don’t have memories because I’ve only read the one book, but, I think your collection looks GREAT, my daughter and I enjoy reading so much but since our Portuguese is not a 100% we keep reading the same books again and again, I’ve started reading my books out loud with that “story teal-like” voice and she seems to enjoy it even though they don’t have fun, colorful pictures on them.
Good idea, Ana, to read your books out loud with a story like voice. Smart! Whenever I am in the States I always stock up on books for my kids. Even though we have shelves full I never feel like I have enough. We love, love, love books. :-)
I’ve never read any of these books either! They look lovely, what a wonderful gift you have received!
Wonderful is the perfect description of this gift.
I am completely ignorant in this area. I have heard about it, and have a very vague idea that there was a Dorothy and four companions (tin man, lion, ?, ?). But I thought that was just one book. Are you telling me that all these books are a series from the same context? wow. If I want to read one, where would I start?
Dorothy was whisked away from Kansas to Oz with her dog Toto in a tornado. As they walked the yellow brink road as instructed my the munchkins to find the great Wizard of Oz they came upon three more creatures in need of the Wizard’s assistance. These three are: The Lion, The Tin Man and the Scarecrow. I would recommend you start with “The Wizard of Oz”. That is where the story all began. Frank L. Baum went on to write many stories about this land. His successors continued along the original idea with other adventures.
So have you read of or seen the Broadway play Wicked?? I’ve heard that is marvelous…but have not had an opportunity to see it myself. Would love to though!
I have never ever heard of it. Quality live theatrical performances is one of the things I miss. I am sure I would enjoy it.
Angie, It’s GREAT to see the books on your shelves. They look right at home. I’m glad they got there without incident.
So glad to find a BFF who could use and appreciate them. Enjoy!
Oh, Steph, I surely will. I promise! :-)
I had no idea there were so many Oz books and ones that are accepted as and some that are not. That’s funny. I’ve not read any of them, and I haven’t even seen the movie in years and years. The last time I watched it was before Daniel and I started dating and we all watched the “dark side of oz”, so I’m not even sure that counts! My girls haven’t seen it either…we might wait til they’re a bit older to watch it with the witches and all.
It makes me happy that this is such a treasure for you and your family. :) I think Anne of GG will be that with me and my girls.
Those are a great set of books to have as well. Good memories there!
Books allow us to travel to different places and times. Oz is a wonderful land with stories great for telling. The book Wicked is most interesting but may not be appropriate for the very young. We have opening night tickets for the live performance when it comes to Wichita. As a interesting note on the movie. It was traditional to view it on TV every year. It was many years before I knew that the land of OZ was in color. We have only B&W TV until I was in High School. It is great being able to use the line: “We are not in Kansas anymore” in context.
Hey Dad – I think that the movie was originally shown in b&w and then later it was colorized. I could be wrong. Also, I think with the colorization they kept the first part of the movie b&w or sepia to show the drabness of her life in Kansas. I would have to research it. I am sure the fact that you are now Kansasites and travel frequently affords many opportunities to turn that phrase. :-)