Utterly delightful. If I'm completely honest, I think it rambles on a trifle too long what with the china village interlude and all, but the lion and the tin man and the scarecrow, the poppies and flying monkeys and green spectacles are all so imaginatively done, and the kindness that underlines the story is so always-present, and yet never really shoved down your throat, that it's a pleasure to read. (Even if it's a bit strange to read about silver shoes instead of ruby slippers! All my knowledge of this story came from the Judy Garland film, which differs in a number of small ways.)

If I weren't already inclined to give this story five stars, this particular edition would earn it due to the fantastic and gloriously funny illustrations by Michael Sieben. Dorothy looks stoned throughout, and I cackled my way through each new drawing.