It aspires to being a modernized fairy tale, in which the won- derment and joy are retained and the heartaches and night- mares are left out.

Yet the old time fairy tale, having served for generations, may no九九藏书w be classed as "historical" in the childrens library; for the time has come for a series of newer "wonder tales" in which the stereotyped genie, dwarf and fairy are eliminated, tog九*九*藏*书*网ether with all the horrible and blood-curdling incidents de- vised by their authors to point a fearsome moral to each tale.

Having this thought in mind, the story of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz&q９９lｉb•ｎｅtuot; was written solely to please children of today.

Modern education includes morality; therefore the modern child seeks only entertainment in its wonder tales and gladly dispenses with all disagreeable inc九*九*藏*书*网ident.

L. Frank Baum Chicago, April, .

Folklore, legends, myths and fairy tales have followed childhood through the ages, for every healthy youngster has a wholesome and instinctive love for stories fantastic, mar- 99ｌib•nｅtvelous and manifestly unreal. The winged fairies of Grimm and Andersen have brought more happiness to childish hearts than all other human creations.

This book is dedicated to my good friend and comrade My Wife L. F. B.