Book Review: The Wizard of Oz (The first of many Oz book)

There are certain books, and in some cases series of books, which deserve to be read multiple times.  "Harry Potter" series is one of these.  For some people the "Twilight" series and the "Hunger Games."  For me the best series, is an older one, but it has witches and wizards, just like Harry Potter.  L. Frank Baum created a universe with fantastic characters and adventures. in the "Oz" books.    This is why I have enjoyed this series of books.  I have determined to read them all again after seeing "Oz the Great and Powerful."  Many parts of that story are familiar, but I am not sure which book it would be.  More likely it is bits taken from many books.
I enjoyed "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" which is the first in the series.  It was written in 1900.  We are introduced to the grey world of Kansas, as compared to the land of Oz.  The movie is not a reflection of the book, but takes stories from several different books.  However we do have Dorothy taking care of two wicked witches, with the help of two good witches.  Dorothy meets the Good Witch of the North in the book, but we don't get her name.  She then visits, Glinda The Good Witch of the South.  Baum does an excellent job of keeping his readers interested in his characters, and their adventures.  In the book, we find that the flying monkeys are really not that bad, but they are ruled by the Evil Witch.  She is overcome and melted by water as in the movie.  Each of the heroes gets there wish in a physical way, which helps them gain confidence in themselves and find what they already had.  Dorothy doesn't get hers but through her "silver slippers" she makes it home. 
I love Baum's wit.  As for this book, he talks about which is better brains or heart.  "'All the same," said the scarecrow, 'I shall ask for brains instead of a heart, for a fool would not know what to do with a heart if he had one.'  'I shall take the heart, returned the Tin Woodman; 'for brains do not make one happy, and happiness is the best thing in the world.'  Dorothy did not say anything, for she was puzzled to know which of her friends was right."