Awards
New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book (The Wizard of Oz)
Synopses & Reviews
Hans Christian Andersen Medal-winner Lisbeth Zwerger's critically acclaimed interpretations of two of the most beloved English-language children's books, L. Frank Baum's
The Wizard of Oz (which was named a
New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book) and Lewis Carroll's
Alice in Wonderland, are now available in a splendid boxed set the perfect gift for families to enjoy for years to come!
First published in 1865, Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland has become one of the most beloved children's books ever written, inspiring hundreds of illustrators to interpret the story in different ways. In this new version, Lisbeth Zwerger lends a wry and whimsical twist to Alice's fantastic adventures, with imaginative illustrations of the strange denizens of Wonderland perfectly capturing the inspired nonsense of Carroll's classic tale.
Originally published in 1900, The Wizard of Oz has been enjoyed by children the world over. Lisbeth Zwerger brings her exceptional artistry and singular vision to this new edition. Her unique perspective, her blend of whimsy and farce, charm and imagination, offer readers a view of Oz that is fantastic yet familiar, startling yet strangely satisfying. Her vision of Baum's timeless classic complete with cunningly designed green-tinted glasses to be worn by readers entering the Emerald City is sure to be treasured by young readers well into the twenty-first century.
Review
"Zwerger's fantastical, delicate, eccentric illustrations bear no resemblance to the vision of the movie; they make the classic tale new again." Publishers Weekly (on The Wizard of Oz)
Review
"Zwerger demonstrates the many layers to Alice's journey....[Her] penetrating interpretation reinvents Carroll's situations and characters and demands a rereading of the text." Publishers Weekly (on Alice in Wonderland)
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"[Zwerger's] paintings lead readers gracefully into the pages, to be surprised and entertained by the story they only think they know from the movie." Kirkus Reviews (on The Wizard of Oz)
Review
"[Zwerger's illustrations are] uniformly lovely and, occasionally, strange and haunting in their dreamlike quality....A must for collectors, this new version of a classic will intrigue and please many children." Michael Cart, Booklist (on Alice in Wonderland)
Review
"The pages are a tour de force of design....Yet, the artist's style remains subtle: there is much to learn from close inspection of posture, expression, and placement." School Library Journal (on The Wizard of Oz)
Review
"Zwerger now brings her extraordinary talents to this modern fairy tale and has created a masterpiece of fantasy. The characters are full of life and humor....Don't miss this new version!" Marilyn Courtot, Children's Literature (on The Wizard of Oz)
About the Author
Lyman Frank Baum (1856-1919) was born in Chittenango, New York. He tried many careers, including window dresser and theater manager, before becoming a children's writer. He wrote more than 50 children's books, and 14 of these were about the land of Oz.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was first published in 1900 and was an instant success. A musical version of the story was produced within a few years, with lyrics written by Baum himself. In 1939, Hollywood produced the film of the book, which made Dorothy and her friends world-famous.
Lewis Carroll is the pseudonym of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (1832-1898), an Oxford don, a lecturer in logic and mathematics, and an amateur photographer. The author of many books, he is best known for the two Alice books, Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, and for The Hunting of the Snark.
Lisbeth Zwerger has been accorded nearly every prize that can be given to an illustrator, including the highest international award for lifetime achievement, the Hans Christian Andersen Medal. For the past fifteen years she has devoted her extraordinary talents exclusively to children's literature, to stories as charming and picturesque as her native Vienna. Always surprising, always engaging, always progressing, her work combines technical mastery with an insight and gentle wit so rare and captivating that she has been correctly called one of the finest illustrators of the twentieth century.