We’re off the see the Wizard!
Emily’s reading “The Wizard of Oz” in her advanced reading class at school. She has really, really taken a shine to it. Just now I heard her playing with her dolls:
Doll 1: “MY JOINTS NEED OIL!!”
Doll 2: “Sounds like Shauna’s in trouble!”
Doll 3: “We have oil!”
All dolls: “Yay!”
I loved the Wizard of Oz as a kid. I remember reading all the books in the sixth grade, and getting teased for it by some kids in my class, who weren’t real big on reading and I’m sure thought that the Wizard of Oz was baby stuff. At the time, their teasing bugged me, but I wasn’t about to stop. I’ve got all 14 of L. Frank Baum’s books in paperback on my shelf, and no amount of de-cluttering will get me to part with them.
That is, I thought I had all 14. Lo and behold, I’m missing book 1. Yep, I don’t have The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. I don’t think I ever bought it. I have no idea why. It’s an appalling lack. I’d like to have it, but I settled for getting a big illustrated copy from the library for Emily. Maybe one of these days I’ll get a used paperback and we can go through the series.
My friend Laura and her youngest boy came over today, and it was great. Emily’s cornucopia of Playmobil stuff was fun for him to play with. Afterward, it looked like Godzilla had rampaged through TinyTown, but that’s what I expected. In years past, this would have been a big issue for Emily, but I took a chance that she could handle the chaos upon her return, and she’s doing fine at rearranging stuff the way she wants it without being upset because it was messed up to begin with. Excellent progress. Of course, she did also come up to me later and say, “He didn’t play with my Groovy Girls, did he? I don’t want that.”
Emily’s been extra cute lately with the holidays getting her all worked up. I went just now to get the video camera to record some of this for posterity, but the battery’s completely drained. Something to fix before this weekend’s cookie bake at her paternal grandparents’. This is a new tradition on that side of the family – my husband’s mother heard about the one we have on my side of the family, and loved it so much they started their own. So come this weekend, there’ll be a dozen people staying overnight in a three bedroom house. Should be cozy. My husband’s family is great, but that’s a lot of people for an introvert to be constantly around. Wish me luck! 🙂
Maybe…
I’m not sure, but I think I have a copy in my basement that I’m trying to give away. If you don’t mind that it doesn’t look new, I can find some way to send it to you.
Maybe…
I’m not sure, but I think I have a copy in my basement that I’m trying to give away. If you don’t mind that it doesn’t look new, I can find some way to send it to you.
I have all 14, plus many of the Thomson ones.
This is (one of) the version(s) of The Wizard of Oz that I had as a child and it’s truly amazing. To this day Michael Hague is one of my favorite illustrators. If you can get your hands on a copy (and amazon appears to have used ones for cheap), I strongly suggestion it.
I have all 14, plus many of the Thomson ones.
This is (one of) the version(s) of The Wizard of Oz that I had as a child and it’s truly amazing. To this day Michael Hague is one of my favorite illustrators. If you can get your hands on a copy (and amazon appears to have used ones for cheap), I strongly suggestion it.
That’s the version I got from the library. I’d never seen it before. You’re right, it’s gorgeous!
That’s the version I got from the library. I’d never seen it before. You’re right, it’s gorgeous!
I still vividly remember several of the images from that book, even though I haven’t been able to find my copy for several years (and I keep intending to buy a new one). The two-page image of the munchkin party all in blue is great. As is the one in the poppies. And the one of Glinda’s court. And I think I may always envision the Wicked Witch of the West with that golden hat on.
I also have copies of The Wind in the Willows and The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe that he illustrated. They’re truly amazing as well.
I still vividly remember several of the images from that book, even though I haven’t been able to find my copy for several years (and I keep intending to buy a new one). The two-page image of the munchkin party all in blue is great. As is the one in the poppies. And the one of Glinda’s court. And I think I may always envision the Wicked Witch of the West with that golden hat on.
I also have copies of The Wind in the Willows and The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe that he illustrated. They’re truly amazing as well.