The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Resources

Interesting documents, manuscripts, early reviews of the book (it was an instant success!), and more.

You want fun facts? We've got your fun facts. Like…Margaret Hamilton, who played the Wicked Witch of the West, was a kindergarten teacher before she got into acting.

Page through the original drawings from the publisher's 1900 edition of the book.

See the film poster, review the cast, watch a clip, and read the summary. Yeah, you're going to want to see it again.

We got you. Roger Ebert gave The Wiz three out of four stars back in 1978—and, of course, one thumb up—so it could be worth a watch. If only to see MJ easing down the yellow brick road.

Oh yes. In Muppets' Wizard of Oz, Piggy plays the witches, Queen Latifah is Aunt Em, and Quentin Tarantino plays Kermit's director.

Slate takes a closer look at America's first fairy tale, and in particular, its creator: L. Frank Baum.

Smithsonian Magazine profiles L. Frank Baum (and a 2000 biography about his life).

A website that maps the literature of Kansas wouldn't be complete without a page dedicated to Baum. Photos, a bio, writing samples, and more.

This Wall Street Journal writer thinks people tend to read too much into the story.

Videos weren't really a thing in the author's lifetime. Why not watch the original trailer for the movie instead?

Listen to a sample from the audiobook, read by Anne Hathaway.

NPR takes a look at the book's origins.

You'll also meet his awesome 'stache.

His name is William Wallace Winslow. (Another great mustache!)

This is from the first edition, which was printed in 1900.