The Wonderful Wizard of Oz — L. Frank Baum

Dorothy and her faithful dog Toto live in dreary Kansas until a powerful tornado sweeps up their little house and carries them away to the wondrous Land of Oz. To return home, Dorothy must make her way to the Emerald City and ask the great and terrible Wizard for help.

Along the way, she meets three unusual companions, each with their own cherished dream:

The Scarecrow—a straw scarecrow who dreams of having a brain.

The Tin Woodman—who wants nothing more than a real heart.

The Cowardly Lion—who dreams of finding courage.

Key ideas of the book:

Self-belief: Throughout their journey, the heroes demonstrate precisely the qualities they supposedly lack: the Scarecrow devises plans, the Woodman shows compassion for all living things, and the Lion protects his friends.

The Journey as the Goal: The characters seek an external miracle, unaware that the hardships of the journey have already changed them for the better.

“There’s No Place Like Home”: This is Dorothy’s central theme, reminding us that the most valuable things are often found right where we began our journey.