“Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore.”

L. Frank Baum, author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and dozens of other books, brought a unique voice to children’s literature, seizing on classic folk tales and giving them a decidedly American spin. Though the author has been gone for 100 years now, his works remain as well-loved and influential as they ever were, and the 1939 film based on his fantastical world remains a cultural landmark.

Baum’s goal, he often said, was simply to “please children,” but to this day a legion of fans continue to find playful hidden meanings scattered along the yellow brick road. Baum himself might well have offered an amused reply: “Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!”

So click your heels three times and transport yourself to a celebration of the wonderful world of Baum. Author Daniel Stashower explores Baum’s life and legacy, and actor Scott Sedar reads a selection of Baum’s most beloved works.

A reception follows the program.