Kathleen Krull weaves a beautiful non-fiction tale of L. Frank Baum and his difficult path to writing The Wizard of Oz and all of its counterparts in this narrative biography. With emphasis and focus on the dips and bumps leading to Baum's penning of Oz, the biography gives insight into the life and career changes of L. Frank Baum throughout his life and amidst beautiful, colored illustrations that make you feel like you're reading a fictional picture book. The book includes author notes and a timeline that give a bulleted account of Baum's life and writing progress.
Krull, K. (2008). The road to Oz: Twists, turns, bumps, and triumphs in the life of L. Frank Baum. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf.
Review: School Library Journal
Fans of The Wizard of Oz will find plenty of enchantment in this thoughtful, brightly illustrated narrative. From his childhood at his parents' estate, with its "rosebushes in glimmering-jewel colors," to his various careers as journalist, playwright, chicken expert, window dresser (including his creative display of hardware fashioned into a tin man), store owner, newspaper editor, and family storyteller, Krull magically interweaves the origins of Baum's characters and themes that would appear in his "modern American fairy tales." The "Oz" books were his only true success, but they did not result in a fairy-tale ending for the Baum family. With sympathy for her subject, Krull tactfully notes Baum's lack of aptitude for business affairs and his eventual declaration of bankruptcy. Hawkes's merry paintings of the author and his characters invoke the magic of Oz within the great author's real-world setting. The Road to Oz will provide students with an inspiring introduction to Baum's life.
Damron, J. (2008). The road to Oz: Twists, turns, bumps, and triumphs in the life of L. Frank Baum. School Library Journal, 54(9), 165-166.
My Impressions:
I thoroughly enjoyed this narrative biography by Kathleen Krull. The pictures embody the fantasy of Oz and give the reader pertinent, accurate information without overwhelming them with dense descriptions and information. That being said, I would consider this a partial biography, possibly a targeted biography were that a classification. Highlights of Baum's life are sprinkled throughout the book but only as context for the main focus of the biography, Baum's eventual writing of The Wizard of Oz. If readers are looking for more personal information with details about his everyday life, this book will not satisfy them. The information included is mainly surface level when related to familial or intimately personal matters. Had the reference not been as obvious, an unprepared reader might interpret this narrative biography as fiction.
Library Use:
The Road to Oz is a great resource for introducing non-fiction in its sub-genres of biography and historical fiction. The picture book format allows readers to approach non-fiction information in a way that seems familiar because of the shared narrative components of fiction. The illustrations help demonstrate what key points are being discussed at that point in the biography and allow readers to place ideas in a visual context. This book could be used as an introductory piece for students learning the sub-genres of biography and historical fiction for the first time.
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