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kristenremenar's review against another edition
4.0
I love just about anything by Kathleen Krull, and this is yet another great, interesting biography by a master. My favorite part is that L. Frank Baum kept a record of all his rejections from publishers in a book he called his Record of Failure. I hear ya, Frank.
alexandradk3's review against another edition
4.0
Great biography of L. Frank Baum. Read aloud to my kids after reading the Wizard of Oz.
beammey's review against another edition
5.0
I didn't know a lot about L. Frank Baum and I've always had a bit of an interest in The Wizard of Oz, so I got this book and read it. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful and make this book. It's a nice quick read for a child that maybe wanted an intro. into biographies. This was really engaging. 5 out of 5 stars.
libraryrobin's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting bio that tells the ups and downs of Baum's life.
tayloramirab's review
Brief Review:
A fun biography for kids about the life of L. Frank Baum leading up his success from writing his beloved tale 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'. The illustrations in this book are incredible, and really help bring the book to life. The Wizard of Oz is a popular tale that most everyone is familiar with, but students may not realize where it came from.
Content areas:
This book is a quick read about an author in America that could be used to teach the basic components of a biography. Students could read this book before writing a biography of their own in an English class. This book could also be used in history, to help make a period of American History (post civil war, reconstruction) that can be somewhat boring, a bit more interesting.
Comprehension questions:
1: If Frank's father hadn't bought him and his brother a printing press, how do you think things would have turned out differently?
Answer: The printing press is what got Frank first writing and publishing pieces of work, they began as small family newspapers, and grew into his well known stories today. Without the access to the printing press, I do believe that he would still have become a successful author. He was incredibly driven, and it took him numerous times to finally be published. Having the printing press helped set him just a little bit ahead, and helped him realize that writing is really what he wanted with his life. Along with that, Frank gave the printing press to his own children when they were old enough, and without that he would not have bonded with his children over it.
2: What is the significance of the inspiration for the Emerald City?
Answer: The inspiration for the Emerald City was Chicago, also known as the White City. Frank and his family moved there and lived there for several years, while there he attended the Worlds Fair in 1893. While there, he was inspired by many of the attractions for his writing.
Wonders:
1: Of all the Oz books, which one was Frank's favorite?
2: Did any of Frank's children grow to be great writers as well?
A fun biography for kids about the life of L. Frank Baum leading up his success from writing his beloved tale 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'. The illustrations in this book are incredible, and really help bring the book to life. The Wizard of Oz is a popular tale that most everyone is familiar with, but students may not realize where it came from.
Content areas:
This book is a quick read about an author in America that could be used to teach the basic components of a biography. Students could read this book before writing a biography of their own in an English class. This book could also be used in history, to help make a period of American History (post civil war, reconstruction) that can be somewhat boring, a bit more interesting.
Comprehension questions:
1: If Frank's father hadn't bought him and his brother a printing press, how do you think things would have turned out differently?
Answer: The printing press is what got Frank first writing and publishing pieces of work, they began as small family newspapers, and grew into his well known stories today. Without the access to the printing press, I do believe that he would still have become a successful author. He was incredibly driven, and it took him numerous times to finally be published. Having the printing press helped set him just a little bit ahead, and helped him realize that writing is really what he wanted with his life. Along with that, Frank gave the printing press to his own children when they were old enough, and without that he would not have bonded with his children over it.
2: What is the significance of the inspiration for the Emerald City?
Answer: The inspiration for the Emerald City was Chicago, also known as the White City. Frank and his family moved there and lived there for several years, while there he attended the Worlds Fair in 1893. While there, he was inspired by many of the attractions for his writing.
Wonders:
1: Of all the Oz books, which one was Frank's favorite?
2: Did any of Frank's children grow to be great writers as well?
pussreboots's review
3.0
The Road to Oz by Kathleen Krull and illustrated by Kevin Hawekes is a nonfiction picture book biography of L. Frank Baum. The book covers highlights of Baum's childhood, early adulthood and the events that lead up to him writing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Kevin Hawkes's acrylic paintings bring together the Victorian era and the motifs of Baum's Oz books. Artistically the paintings try to show the real world inspirations for Baum's fantasies.
Thematically the book is about the struggles of doing something you love and the responsibilities of providing for a family. I've seen it with my own family and I'm going through that now as I transition careers.
What's missing though is a sense of cohesion. As it's a picture book there's not much time spent on any particular time of Baum's life. It's mostly a sampling of his life.
Kevin Hawkes's acrylic paintings bring together the Victorian era and the motifs of Baum's Oz books. Artistically the paintings try to show the real world inspirations for Baum's fantasies.
Thematically the book is about the struggles of doing something you love and the responsibilities of providing for a family. I've seen it with my own family and I'm going through that now as I transition careers.
What's missing though is a sense of cohesion. As it's a picture book there's not much time spent on any particular time of Baum's life. It's mostly a sampling of his life.
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