I read a bunch of the Oz series as a child, and they're very formulaic. They're not any worse than a lot of long kids' series (OMG the Boxcar Children), but I can see them not being a favorite of librarians.
OTOH with the right artist they would make for a GREAT graphic novel series for today. They're vintage steampunk!
Didn't Matilda's wand actually say 'OZ' on it? That's definitely educator-fail then.
Having recently watched a documentary on Baum (thank you, Smithsonian Channel) I was surprised to find out that Baum was related to some fairly prominent suffragettes, so the prominence of young female protagonists with agency in his books is not a coincidence. I wonder how much that played into librarian-disapproval, because the books aren't exactly endorsing girls staying home to become housewives....
Actually, Marvel Comics has been doing a well-regarded series of Oz adaptations.
Oh, I know she's *in* books, but her origin is definitely the movies; after that, the novelizations and the expanded universe and so on and so forth. But Leia-the-book-character would never have existed without Leia-the-movie-character coming first, so (in my brain anyway) she's firmly slotted as Movie Character, not Book.
I read non stop as a child but had no idea who Ozma was until JZ explained. As I remember, we had some Oz books at home and started one but didn't really like them. Although I would never have gotten Princess Leia from her adorable costume.
Actually, Marvel Comics has been doing a well-regarded series of Oz adaptations.
Yeah, those are pretty great and are both faithful to the originals, but bring a lot of the artist's own vision to the stories. Recommended.
I never read an Oz book at all. Once I'd seen the movie, and realized that the books were a little different, I had no interest in *another* Oz. So I didn't know who Ozma was, either.
When I lived in Huntington Beach, the HB main library had every OZ book.
The Soldier is a splendid man when marching on parade.
And when he meets the enemy he never is afraid.
He rights the wrongs of nations, his country's flag defends.
The foe he'll fight with great delight, but seldom ever fights his friends!
I read all (or many, anyway) the Oz books as a kid because my grandmother had them and that was part of visiting her, reading the Oz books. I don't think I've actually seen the movie all the way through, just clips.