Enter the Wizard of Oz Book Set Giveaway below!
There is no place like home.
What’s so great about Kansas anyway that Dorthy should like so much to be returned there? Her answer:
No matter how dreary and gray our homes are, we people of flesh and blood would rather live there than in any other country, be it ever so beautiful. There is no place like home.” ~ Dorthy to the Scarecrow
In the short time I have lived in Kansas I can say it’s made a great home for us. It’s beauty is subtle and it’s prairies and wheat fields abundant. But as a military spouse having moved into 15 new homes in 17 years and lived 8 years overseas, I can empathize well with poor Dorthy who was suddenly pulled out of the only home she knew into a strange new land.
Learn about the state with a Kansas unit study.
Use my FREE State Notebook Pages to guide your child through a simple research project on Kansas. Keep it simple and easy and seek mainly general exposure to learning more about the state.
Or pick one of these topics or projects to do to learn even more about Kansas:
- Prairie Lapbook from Homeschool Bin
- Free Little House on the Prairie Lapbook from Homeschool Share
- Famous Kansas people. Pick a person who is associated with Kansas and learn more about them, perhaps your child can give a talk or write a report about them.
- Bleeding Kansas and the Civil War from These Temporary Tents.
And now the Giveaway! You can enter to win the cutest little Wizard of Oz Book set – $40.00 value. The set includes:
- Canvas Wizard of Oz Tote Bag
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Paperpack by L. Frank Baum
- Dover Color Book Version of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz- Illustrations by Denslow
- Dover Little Activity Book- Wizard of Oz Stickers- Denslow
- Oz Passport-Pocket Notebook
- Acid Free Scrap booking stickers- Movie
- Bookmark Cowardly Lion- Denslow
- Bookmark Cowardly Lion- Movie
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56 Comments
Sheree Slagle
I found this post after the contest ended…sigh. But our 13 yr old daughter is a HUGE Oz fan! We have been gifting her original Oz books, she has quite a collection already! We live in Nebraska and last year we went on vacation to…..Kansas (I bet you can understand the humor there too, lol.) We visited the Martin & Osa Johnson Safari Museum in Chanute (real cool, neat story, sad ending though), the Lego Discovery center in KC and grand finale: the Oz Museum in Wamego! Very well put together, lots of history! Just thought I would chime in!
ohAmanda
It’s the only movie I’ve liked more than the book. However…I read the book as a kid and AFTER I’d seen the movie. It’s been on my bucket list of books to read!
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tammy cordery
I liked the movie more because I am a visual learner and I would like to read the books I down loaded your notes thanks.
Christine C.
I have loved the Wizard of OZ since I was a little girl and my 5 year old has loved this since she saw the movie when she was two with her big sister. We love every part of the movie and love to sing all the songs together! Since my youngest has become such a huge fan we have read many of the books. We still have many to read. It has become something special we so as a family!
Louanne
The movie has a special place in my heart because my mom and I watched it every year I was growing up. I read all the books as an adult and love them. If I had to pick a favorite it would be the Tin Woodman if you mash up his character in the books and the movie. I love that he loves and does whatever he can to protect those he loves.
Michelle C.
I love when the tin man sings. That is my favorite part. I also adore the cowardly lion– his cry and “I do believe in ghosts. I do believe in ghosts..”
Stephanie
LOL. Timeless!
Dianne
I love Dorothy, because she was so brave and persistent in her quest to get back home.
Stephanie
She is a great hero for little girls. I admire her too!
Cristy S.
The Cowardly Lion, because I spent so much of my early life being fearful.
Stephanie
I can relate. He’s my favorite too!
Rachel K.
I pretty much always enjoy the book more because its never as good on screen as it was in your head…but not this time. The movie is number one for me!
Stephanie
Lots of people feel that way about this movie too!
dawn finch
I have never read the book. I can’t believe that I never have but I would love to read it. The movie is one of the best ever made. Brings back memories of watching it on t.v every year with my cousins
Stephanie
You should read it, maybe if you win this you can. But I will give you the heads up, it’s different than the movie in certain ways, all good I think. 😉
Colleen Kessler
I love the scarecrow — he’s so sweet and smart and sensitive.
Stephanie
Yes, I agree! And so much smarter than he gives himself credit for!
Kristen @ TeachingStars
I honestly couldn’t pick ONE favorite character. So many of the characters could have warranted their own books on their own adventures. That being said, I only read The Wizard of Oz as an adult with my daughters. For me, the book has a very special place in my heart because of this moment— http://www.teachingstars.com/2012/06/17/im-gonna-watch-you-shine-gonna-watch-you-grow/
Stephanie
Precious! Thanks for sharing!
Kristan Price
My favourite character has always been the cowardly lion! He’s just so bashful and tries so hard not to be a coward and it finally pays off for him.
Stephanie
he’s our favorite too! In the book he is very sacrificial and brave. The book talks about how being brave doesn’t mean being afraid but rather having courage despite it.
Carmen
Hannah and I just finished reading Wizard of Oz and I prefer the movie over the book. I felt like the last handful of chapters in the book really drug on and on…
Stephanie
I can understand why you say that, especially in comparison to the movie. The movie sums up quickly the remainder of the story. But I love the extra parts myself which include china country and how the lion becomes King of the Beasts!
Tammy Kindig
I am the mom to Hannah West….and I too love the movie. My favorite part is when Dorthy finds out that she had the power to go home all along. For no matter where one lives when they get older and move away…”there is no place like home”. Home to me is my brothers place, for it use to be our fathers…and when ever I go there I am flooded with memories of my childhood,
Stephanie
Your words make a ton of sense. I agree with Dorthy, I’ve lived away from home for 17 years and there is no place like home!
Hannah West
I have to say, I prefer the movie. All of the memories of my childhood come flooding back whenever I see it. My favorite part has to be when Dorothy wakes up and she’s surrounded by all her friends and family. There truly is no place like home. As a fellow military spouse (who also spent a few years in Kansas) I know that all too well!
Stephanie
I forgot about the ending, I love the movie also but I haven’t seen it for quite a while. I can see why you treasure that part also! Thanks for visiting Hannah!
Becky
I am ashamed to admit, but I have never read the book. By reading some of the previous posts, it seems like the book is quite different. Going to be adding it to my reading list!
Stephanie
You will love it! When you get the chance to read it you will realize just how much is in the book that is not in the movie.
Marijo
I prefer the book to the movie. Having not read the book until I read it to my children, I was surprised at how much more there is in the book than in the movie. That shouldn’t really surprise me, though, should it? That seems to be the way of the world. Neat giveaway!
Stephanie
Thanks! I agree, so much in the book, it’s a delightful read.
Laura
Have always loved wizard of oz. would love to win this for our state study!!!! Thanks!!!
Stephanie
You are welcome. Good luck!
tammy c.
I like the book because you use you imagination.
Stephanie
Me too!
Wendy
I always prefer the book rather than the movie–except in this case! I love this movie! 🙂
Stephanie
Thanks for visiting Wendy!
Tiffany
The Wizard of Oz has been one of my favorite movies since I was young! I collected Wizard of Oz music boxes and many other things. Our baton twirling group did a routine using music from parts of the movie and during a portion of it, I was Dorothy :). I typically like a book much better than a movie, however, since I watched the movie enough to memorize most of it…the book seemed off when I tried to read it! Thanks for the giveaway and ideas!
Stephanie
I am loving hearing all the reasons why people like one or the other…or both. The book is quite different, especially toward the end. So I can see how it would feel off when being so familiar with the movie.
Joanne
I love both the book and movie. Now that we are living in KS I hope to take my girls to the OZ museum!!! My favorite character was the lion.
Stephanie
You will love the museum. I like the lion best also. I relate to his bravery and courage being married to a soldier. And I like the way he is so protective of Dorthy- he is much more admirable, sacrificial and less comical in the book. I especially love how though he is captured and tortured by the witch ( by not being fed), how with Dorthy’s help who comes to him in secret with food at night, he is able to resist the witches attempt to be coerced into being harnessed to work for her. That’s not at all in the movie, so sad to leave out such a compelling and inspiring part of the story. I can’t help myself that it reminds me of the POW.
Nikki Petty
I prefer the book rather than the movie but both are great. My favorite character is the tinman because he is so loving and sweet. I can’t wait to introduce my kids to Oz this school year.
Stephanie
Me too, but the movie is also timeless. The tinman is quite tenderhearted in the book, very loveable. I hope you find lots of resources here that you can use with them as you read the story. Next week, I will have amazing free copywork pages, be sure to look for those. I will also release a unit study eventually.
Heather
As a kid, my favorite characters were the Munchkins….I still love them (especially after playing one in a production of the Wizard of Oz). It used to drive me crazy that her shoes were not red in the book, but silver. And, slightly unrelated, my favorite Wizard of Oz related thing is the musical “Wicked”….my husband and i went to see it when we lived in NY, and it was amazing….such a different take on the life of the Wicked Witch.
Stephanie
Yes, her shoes are silver in the book. My son is irritated that they changed that in the movie, lol, among many other things. I haven’t seen “Wicked” but I really, really, want to. I have heard it is spectacular.
Brooke
I loved the Flying Monkeys….they made me laugh! The Book is definitely the way to go!
Stephanie
Yes, they are neutral in the book and later work for Dorthy’s benefit. I also tend to like the book more as well, but I still enjoy the movie also- it’s a classic.
Carol
We LOVE The Wizard of Oz. I’ve probably read it (and the second book) six times to my kids. I hadn’t thought about doing a Kansas Unit Study but we have a lot of family there, it might be fun to do! Thanks!
Stephanie
You are welcome. I haven’t read the second book. Maybe next year:)
Laura~PeaceofthePrairies
I LOVE The Wizard of Oz. Did you know that Frank Baum actually lived in Aberdeen, SD and it’s rumored that he based his characters in the book around people he knew there? We have the “Land of Oz” and “Storybook Land” there.
Laura~PeaceofthePrairies
I forgot to add that I like both the book and the movie. My favorite character is the scarecrow. He is the first one Dorothy meets. You can feel the love between the two.
Stephanie
Yes I read about that. He did some interesting jobs while living there too! The emerald city spectacles are something that was inspired there in his paper job- he wrote a column called “Our Landlady” and it came from a joke he published in it! I can imagine that most of the characters and ideas came from parts of his experiences. Fascinating! In the book I could really feel the commonality between Dorthy and the Lion- as they were both creatures of flesh and took care of each other- Dorthy even often rides on his back. But there are times when the tinman and scarecrow carry her as well.
Lauren
I’ve never read the book but I love the movie! My favorite character is Scarecrow because he is loving and loyal and a true friend! And he is just funny!
Stephanie
The book is well worth the read and very easy if you get the chance. The movie is also delightful but can be scarey sometimes for kids. Even though the book is also dark for some reason I don’t think it is as scarey as the movie. It must be a visual thing. Anyway, I think the scarecrow is also a wonderful character-especially in the movie, though in the book the Tinman is more loving, where as the scarecrow is more of a problem solver. And in the book, Dorthy seems to be closest to the Lion as they are captured together by the witch and only he and her are there at the time Dorthy destroys the witch.
Rebecca
My favorite part of the movie is when the witch is melting and she’s going “What a world! What a world!” If only they’d realized before this that it was so easy to get rid of her 🙂 I’m really enjoying these posts because we’re planning to read the book and do some activities together later this semester because my daughter really got curious about the books after seeing the McDonald’s happy meal toys last month!
Stephanie
Awesome , do read the books with her -she’ll love them. The story is particularly good for girls as the hero is a girl! Also did you know a new animated movie is also coming out called Legends of Oz?