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.

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.

Me, too. Also, "Wicked."

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.

It's tricky because the Oz books really vary in quality. The first three or four are consistently inventive and interesting and often funny. Then Baum got tired of them and resented them and wanted to branch off to create something else. Then he'd reinvest himself and knock off a great one like The Patchwork Girl of Oz (my favorite, and book 8 in the series) or Glinda of Oz (Baum's last and a bit darker, and one of JZ's favorites).

I'm also a big fan of the two Cap'n Bill and Trot books The Sea Fairie and Sky Island which dovetail into the Oz series (both characters cross over and recur in Oz books). They're a little darker/scarier but really well written and have some of the most gorgeous illustrations by John R. Neil.

Also the Return to Oz movie (with Fairuza Balk, and The Wheelers) is great! A little scary but beautifully done. It adapts the second and third books in the series into one story.

I read some of the further OZ book as a child but I did have to interlibrary loan them. Until JZ, I did not know another person my age who even knew there were books. However, Matilda's wand says "OZ" so the Princess Leia is confusing.

she's firmly slotted as Movie Character, not Book.

If I needed my favourite character to count for a very important costume day, this would not be an obstacle worth pausing for, given how many gazillion (relatively speaking) books she managed to be in.

However, even as I was reading the books with Ozma in them, I was pretty sure I wasn't fighting with anyone else to get them out of the library. I certainly hear Extended Universe events dealing with Leia talked about more than Ozma (as in, this is the first time I think I've had an Ozma conversation ever, and I read the books 30 years ago).