The Wizard of Oz

Cathi Colas’s narration of *The Wizard of Oz* is the audiobook equivalent of a cozy blanket—if that blanket were woven with straw, tin, and a dash of existential dread. She nails the whimsy, giving the Scarecrow’s shambolic charm and the Tin Woodman’s rusty earnestness room to breathe, but she also captures the story’s undercurrent of peril. The tornado scene is genuinely tense, and her take on the Wicked Witch’s cackle is delightfully unhinged. That said, the pacing drags in the middle act, where Baum’s penchant for digressive folk tales slows the momentum. Some listeners might find the tinkling cymbal sound effects overused, but they add a touch of old-school theater that suits the book’s fairy-tale roots. If you’re looking for a straightforward, sunny adaptation, this isn’t it—but if you want an Oz that feels lived-in and slightly off-kilter, Colas delivers.