Happy Birthday Wizard of Oz!

August of 1939 marked a change in United States popular culture. It was during this month that The Wizard of Oz was released in theaters across America. If you are like me, you have whined an “I’m melting” when it is too hot outside.  Or, again like me, during the first few weeks of living away at college you wish you could tap your heels together three times while saying “There’s no place like home.”  These are just two examples of how this movie has influenced so many of our lives.

There are numerous ways to celebrate the Wizard’s anniversary:



Read Frank L. Baum’s Oz Books:
• The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
• The Marvelous Land of Oz
• Ozma of Oz
• Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz
• The Road of Oz
• The Emerald City of Oz
• The Patchwork Girl of Oz
• Tik-Tok of Oz
• The Scarecrow of Oz
• Rinkitink in Oz
• The Lost Princess of Oz
• The Tin Woodman of Oz
• The Magic of Oz
• Glinda of Oz

You could also read Gregory Maguire’s The Wicked Years series:
• Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West
• Son of a Witch
• A Lion Among Men
• Out of Oz

Gregory Maguire’s book Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West was turned into listen to the soundtrack for the musical that originally starred Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth.
the smash Broadway hit Wicked.  You can

If you enjoyed Wicked on Broadway, than you might also enjoy the very first Broadway adaptation - The Wiz.  You can listen to the music from the Broadway show or watch the film adaptation starring Michael Jackson and Diana Ross.

Want something more child friendly? How about watching The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz.
Want something more science fiction? There’s a Syfy miniseries starring Zooey Deschanel called Tin Man.

There is also a graphic novel series adapted from the original books by Eric Shanower.
If you follow the yellow brick road to your local Mercer County Library you can find biographies on L. Frank Baum, books on the munhckins, books discussing the novels, and so much more.

-Amelia R.