Lit for Little Hands: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Brooke Jorden earned a BA in English and editing from Brigham Young University. The author of the Lit for Little Hands series and other books for children, Brooke is also the managing editor at Familius and the mother of three.

Jorden provides younger readers with another fun board book adaptation from children’s classics. As with some of the other books in Familus Press’ Lit for Little Hands series, Jorden's book also includes pull tabs, wheels, and other interactive elements to draw younger readers into the story. Jorden accurately retells the classic American fairy tale of Dorothy Gale and her travels through the land of Oz. Jorden includes some original quotes from Baum’s text and does not over simplify the engaging text too much, as some adaptations for younger readers do. However, adult readers should know that the text does not include a sanitized version of what Dorothy and her friends must accomplish to receive help from the Wizard of Oz. Teaming up with Jorden again, veteran illustrator Skomorokhova provides bright, whimsical, cartoon like illustrations, pairing perfectly with the text. None of the visual elements are particularly scary. Very young children have little to fear of the Wicked Witch of the West; she is only featured on the cover of the book and once toward the end of the book.