My mom liked to tell us that during the Depression, she would only get one gift for Christmas and it was always a Frank L. Baum book. Although we didn’t quite believe that anyone could be so deprived (my dad used to say he had to pick rocks out of the fields and walk ten miles to baseball), the treasure was there for us to examine anytime we wanted. She had all the books, but the only one we really liked was the original. I still have it, but no one’s read it in years because it’s a mess. The boards are / have fallen off, the pages are weeping. The only reason I’ve kept it is because I learned to read from it.

Well, I’ve found a worthy replacement. Wait until you see this! It’s from Counterpoint and it’s called Frank L. Baum’s The Wizard of Oz, Illustrated by Graham Rawle (978-1-58243-455-1). I’ve never heard of the guy before, but he seems to have accumulated plenty of accolades for previous collage work, and by collage I mean blending illustration and text. This is no exception. The typography in this unabridged version of the classic is wonderful, but what’s going to catch your eye are the illustrations. Using real items (dolls, masks, fruits), he’s placed them in miniature landscapes to create the most amazing Over the Rainbow ever. But it’s still Dorothy and Tinman and Toto, so fear not: even if you grew up with the Judy Garland version, you’ll find something to love. Check out the amazing Emerald City, or the field of poppies. If the Depression is getting you down and you can only give one book, make it this one.


Read other reviews of Best Picture Books at our 24/7 Bookshelf.