The Wizard of Oz (Abridged)

In his introduction to the original 1900 edition of The Wizard of Oz, L. Frank Baum stated his intention to create a 20th-century American fairy tale. In this, he succeeded admirably, but the appeal of The Wizard of Oz is universal. Published in every major language, it has been enjoyed by children the world over. Full color.

Publishers Weekly

Viennese illustrator and Hans Christian Andersen Medalist Lisbeth Zwerger takes a fresh look at L. Frank Baum's The Wizard of Oz in a large-format edition. Zwerger's fantastical, delicate, eccentric illustrations bear no resemblance to the vision of the movie; they make the classic tale new again. And readers can view the Emerald City through a pair of green-tinted glasses, provided in the back of the book.

Lyman Frank Baum (1856-1919) was born in Chittenango, New York. After trying many different professions, he turned to writing for children at the age of 40. "The Wizard of Oz "is the first and most popular of his fourteen Oz novels.

Lisbeth Zwerger was born in Vienna, where she later studied at the Academy of Art. Internationally renowned as one of the finest contemporary illustrators of children's literature, Zwerger chose "The Gift of the Magi" as the first American story she illustrated.