The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

The story

A cyclone lifts Dorothy's house from the grey Kansas prairie and drops it in the colourful Land of Oz — right on top of the Wicked Witch of the East.

To get home she follows the yellow brick road to the Emerald City with the Scarecrow, who wants brains, the Tin Woodman, who wants a heart, and the Cowardly Lion, who wants courage. The Wizard they hope to meet is not what they expect.

Themes: home, courage, heart and brains, friendship, illusion.

Why it's a good book for language learners

Baum wrote in simple, clear sentences with lots of repetition, which makes Oz one of the easiest classics in English. Many learners know the story from the film, which helps you predict meaning and read faster.

What you'll practise

• Colours, places and journey vocabulary
• Wants and wishes: want to, need, hope
• Simple past narrative
• Describing characters

Did you know?

Baum wrote thirteen more Oz books after the first one, by popular demand.

The PageWalker adventure

In the adventure you walk the yellow brick road yourself, and your choices decide whether you reach the Emerald City. The first page is free to play in your browser, and the adventure is available in 13 languages with click-to-translate.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in other languages

• EnglishThe Wonderful Wizard of Oz
• العربيةساحر أوز العجيب
• DeutschDer Zauberer von Oz
• EspañolEl Maravilloso Mago de Oz
• Françaisle Magicien d'Oz
• हिन्दीद विज़ार्ड ऑफ़ ओज़
• ItalianoIl meraviglioso mago di Oz
• 日本語オズの魔法使い
• 한국어오즈의 마법사
• PortuguêsO Mágico de Oz
• РусскийУдивительный волшебник из страны Оз
• TürkçeOz Büyücüsü
• 简体中文绿野仙踪