Before Oz
0. The Life and Adventures of Santa Clause By L. Frank Baum
L. Frank Baum’s The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus reimagines the origins of Santa Claus as a mythical figure born into a world filled with magic and wonder. As a huge fan of Santa Claus lore, it was exciting to see this story introduced through an Ozian lens. Reading this book as an adult, however, I found that the lack of significant conflict and the minimal use of villains made the story less engaging compared to Baum’s other works. Still, it’s an enjoyable read that weaves in several characters from the Oz universe, including the fairy Lurline, who is responsible for creating the land of Oz.
Set in ancient times, the story begins in the Forest of Burzee, a timeless and enchanted woodland untouched by civilization. It is home to immortal beings such as Fairies, Knooks, Ryls, and Nymphs. Among them lives Necile, a beautiful and graceful wood-nymph closely related to Queen Zurline. Devoted to caring for the forest’s trees, Necile’s life is peaceful but repetitive, and she gradually grows restless and discontented.
One day, during a visit from Ak, the Master Woodsman of the World, the nymphs learn of the suffering faced by mortal children. Ak shares a poignant story of saving a freezing family and protecting a newborn infant abandoned near the forest’s edge. This tale awakens a deep compassion and curiosity within Necile. Defying the ancient Law of the Forest, she ventures beyond its borders and finds the helpless child. Moved by its innocence, she cradles the baby and returns to the woodland.
Though she breaks an age-old law, Necile boldly pleads with Ak to allow her to keep and care for the child. Despite his anger, Ak is eventually moved by her compassion and grants her request but ensures this is a singular exception. Thus, Necile becomes the first immortal to raise a mortal. Necile’s home soon becomes the heart of the Forest of Burzee, as nymphs and even Queen Zurline gather to see the human baby she has adopted. They name him Neclaus, meaning “Necile’s little one,” though Necile prefers simply Claus. The forest immortals all help raise Claus, including the nymphs, Ryls, Knooks, and Fairies. Cherished and protected, he grows up learning their laws and living happily within the forest, unaware that other humans exist beyond its borders.
When Claus grows older, Ak takes him on a magical flight around the world, revealing to him the many humans he never knew existed. Claus witnesses people of all kinds; joyful and sorrowful, wealthy and poor, but he especially notices the children. Ak explains that human life is brief and fraught with struggle, unlike the immortal beings who raised Claus. Accepting his true nature as human, Claus understands he must leave the forest to live among men. He vows to help children and bring them happiness, honoring the kindness he received from Necile and the forest spirits. Ak grants Claus their protection and magical gifts to aid him in his mission.
Returning to the forest’s edge, Claus chooses to settle in the joyful Laughing Valley, where he begins caring for children with the support of his immortal friends. With their help, Claus builds a home and begins a peaceful existence. The Field Ryls assist by providing his food, and together, they create a happy life in the valley without harming the wildlife or animals of the forest.
When winter arrives, Claus finds himself unable to aid the children as he wished. To occupy himself, he carves a wooden cat. Then one snowy night, he finds a lost boy named Weekum and cares for him. Weekum takes a liking to his carved cat, and after gifting him the wooden cat, he becomes inspired. Claus crafts more painted wooden cats with the help of the Ryls, bringing joy to sick and lonely children. His old lioness friend, Shiegra, suggests carving a wooden lioness to symbolize safety and happiness for the children. Claus fashions a lifelike lioness toy, which pleases Shiegra before she returns to the forest.
As winter fades, Laughing Valley bursts to life with the awakening of nature. Claus, now a kind toymaker, welcomes two children, Mayrie and her little brother, who come seeking his famous toy cats. Claus has only one left, which he gives to the boy, but Mayrie is upset, wanting one immediately. Claus offers her a toy lioness instead, but its fierce appearance frightens the children away. Realizing that gentle toys suit children better, Claus decides to craft softer animals like rabbits and lambs, which quickly become beloved far and wide.
One day, Bessie Blithesome, the daughter of a wealthy lord, arrives with her troop, requesting a toy. Claus hesitates, believing toys should be for poor children, but after consulting Necile and the Fairy Queen, he understands that all children, rich or poor, deserve happiness. Claus creates a new kind of toy: a clay “dolly” modeled after Necile, which he gifts to Bessie. Later, he fashions more dollies, including one dressed in silk that delights Mayrie when she returns, having broken her toy cat. Claus’s toys bring joy to children of all backgrounds, and he continues crafting his wonderful creations in the Laughing Valley.
However, his journey to fame is not met without trouble. Once there lived the Awgwas. They are evil, giant creatures who cause trouble by making children naughty. They make it their mission to try to stop Claus from bringing them happiness with his toys. This includes stealing his toys and kidnapping Claus twice. Thankfully, he is rescued by friendly immortals and protected by magical seals. Still, the Awgwas steal his toys and block children from reaching him, making Claus very sad. Forced to stay inside his home in the Laughing Valley, Claus asks the Master Woodsman Ak for help to defeat the Awgwas.
When Ak confronts the Awgwas, their King defiantly threatens to kill Claus, leading Ak and the immortals to prepare for war. A great battle ensues between the immortals and the evil Awgwas and their monstrous allies. The immortals, though gentle, defeat the Awgwas decisively, with Ak killing the King Awgwa. After their defeat, Claus is free to bring toys to the children without fear, as the Awgwas have perished. With the threat ended, Ak tells Claus he can now safely deliver toys to children, as the Awgwas have been wiped out.
Claus, after making many toys during his imprisonment in the Laughing Valley, begins delivering them to children far and wide, spreading joy and gaining fame. Realizing the long distances and heavy load, he decides to build a sledge to be pulled by two friendly deer, Flossie and Glossie, who get permission from the Knooks to help him. Claus crafts a simple sledge and harnesses the deer, then embarks on a nighttime journey across snowy landscapes. When he reaches villages and cities, he cleverly delivers toys by climbing down chimneys while the children sleep. After exhausting his supply, he races back home before dawn to avoid the Knooks’ displeasure.
Claus secretly delivers toys to children, who all seemingly know that only the kind Claus, now called Santa Claus, could bring such gifts. Despite some skepticism, his generosity makes him beloved by all. After his first trip, Claus faces a problem: Will Knook, the grumpy guardian of the deer, is angry because Glossie and Flossie return one minute late, threatening to punish them. Claus seeks help from the Master Woodsman and other magical beings, who convince Will Knook to allow the deer to pull Claus’s sleigh every Christmas Eve under special protections.
With Glossie and Flossie leading the reindeer, Claus delivers gifts across the land on a joyful, fast-paced night, ensuring happiness for children everywhere. This is the beginning of Santa Claus’s long tradition of spreading joy every Christmas. To carry the growing number of gifts, he builds a large, colorful new sleigh with steel runners, gifted by the Nome King in exchange for toys for his underground children. Claus also assembles a team of ten strong and swift reindeer, led by Glossie and Flossie, who wear special sleigh bells.
Claus carefully prepares harnesses and improves his toys with help from magical friends, making them more lifelike and fun. On Christmas Eve, Claus loads his sleigh with toys and sets off on his joyful journey, singing as he goes. That same night, children like Margot and her cousins hang their wet stockings by the fireplace to dry. Claus notices the stockings and quickly fills them with toys. This sparks the tradition of hanging stockings for Santa to fill, a custom that grows every year and helps Claus deliver gifts more efficiently to children worldwide.
Claus always returns home by daybreak thanks to his fast reindeer, each wearing sleigh bells gifted by the Gnome King. He fills children’s stockings not only with toys but also fruits and sweets from magical lands, visiting even warm countries.
During one of his many Christmas runs, he decorates a poor family’s tree, bringing joy and inspiring kindness. This tradition grows, spreading happiness to many homes creating the first Christmas Tree. Even places that once refused Claus later welcome him, and his goodness makes him beloved everywhere.
Eventually, Claus’s physical body grows old and his death draws near. However, because his legacy lives on, and his spirit continues to spread the magic of Christmas to children everywhere, the Council of Immortals grants Claus eternal life, ensuring that his kindness and generosity will never fade.
Baum’s story adds layers of fantasy and folklore, explaining how Claus’s immortal helpers and magical sleigh enable him to bring happiness to children everywhere. Interestingly, some members of this council, like the Nome King, later appear in Baum’s Oz series, tying the Santa Claus story to his broader universe. Santa Clause will also re-appear in The Road to Oz.
0.1 Queen Zixi of Ix By L. Frank Baum
This is probably my favorite non-Oz story from Baum. He conjures a classic fairytale setting that is whimsical and fun without relying on a true villain. The familiar rags-to-riches arc, mistreated orphans, vain witches, and kindly fairies are nothing new, yet the way he utilizes these clichés and tropes feels fresh and inventive. From the chaotic switching of the magic cloak—granting wishes unbeknownst to its wearers—to clocks being sold for patches and later reassembled, the story maintains an air of mystery that keeps the reader steadily engaged. Zixi is nuanced; she’s not wicked, but she is vain and will stop at nothing to achieve her desire for a beautiful reflection.
The story begins in the fairy kingdom of Burzee, where the fairy queen Lulea and her attendants create a marvelous magic cloak. This cloak grants its wearer a single wish—but only if they receive it as a gift. The fairies, amused by the idea of seeing how mortals handle such power, decide to send the cloak into the human world. They decree that the first person to whom it is given as a gift must be someone who is suffering and in need of the cloak.
The fairy soon comes upon a 14-year-old orphan named Bud, who is traveling with his younger sister Fluff and there short tempered Aunt Rivette who has been the legal guardian of the kids. Despite housing the kids she beats them whenever they misbehave and Fluff believes she will never be happy again. When gifted the cloak she makes a wish to be happy once more and finds herself cheerful. Her Aunt is unable to steal the cloak as the fairy warns her of the consqeunces she may face from the fairies of Burzee.
Meanwhile, in the neighboring kingdom of Noland, the long-reigning king has died without an heir. Following an old law, the kingdom’s High Council devises a peculiar method to choose the next ruler: the forty seventh person to enter the city gates after sunrise will become king. By sheer chance, Bud is the 47th person to arrive and he is thereafter crowned King of Noland, with his sister becoming Princess Fluff. Despite his initial reluctance and inexperience, Bud proves to be a just and clever ruler.
Although Aunt Rivette is given a comfortable home within the palace, she is not granted a title and is relegated to an upper room, which frustrates her. While Bud and Fluff embrace their new royal status, Aunt Rivette is eager to show off her good fortune to her old acquaintances. One day, she asks Fluff if she can borrow the magic cloak, unaware of its powers. As she walks through the palace, she becomes tired and casually wishes she could fly. Instantly, two large wings sprout from her back. Initially horrified, she panics and flaps about uncontrollably. However, she soon grows accustomed to flying and begins soaring gracefully over the palace, enjoying her newfound ability.
When Aunt Rivette asks Jikki, the valet of the late King of Noland, to return the cloak to Princess Fluff, he drapes it over his shoulders, intending to attend to this and multiple other requests from people in the palace. In his desperation, he wishes for several more servants to assist with his daily duties. Instantly, several other valets are conjured, all of whom must serve Jikki. Amidst the confusion of delegating tasks to the five valets, he carelessly leaves the cloak on a bench in the palace gardens. There, Tollydob, a general in the Noland army, tries on the cloak and is still wearing it when summoned to the King’s chambers. However, he also makes a wish, wishing to be ten feet tall, thinking it would make him a formidable fighter. To his dismay, he becomes a giant.
Next to inherit the cloak is the Lord High Executioner, who, in an effort to reach an apple, wishes he could stretch his arm to great lengths. His wish is granted, but in his excitement, he drops the cloak. Then the Lord High Steward, Talldab, picks up the cloak and tries it on. Curious about how it looks, he asks his dog for an opinion. When the dog remains silent, Talldab wishes the dog could talk. To his amazement, the dog begins speaking and comments that Talldab looks silly in the cloak. Embarrassed, Talldab leaves the cloak on the bench once again.
The next to unknowingly make a wish is the Lord High Purse Bearer, Tillydib, who wishes that the royal purse would always be full so that he could pay everyone in the kingdom. To his astonishment, the purse never empties, no matter how much he gives out. It is only when Tillydib rushes around to pay the kingdom that Princess Fluff finally reunites with the cloak.
In the neighboring kingdom of Ix, news of this magical cloak shenanigan’s reaches the ruler via minstrel Quavo from Noland. Queen Zixi, is a sorceress who has ruled for 683 years with and is beloved by her kingdom. Though she appears young due to her magic, her reflection in a mirror reveals her true age as an old toothless crone. Desperate to change this, she resolves to obtain the cloak, knowing that her own magic cannot alter reflections.
Zixi disguises herself and enters Noland, establishing a school of witchcraft in the capital. She hopes to lure Fluff in and obtain the cloak. Although Fluff enrolls, when Zixi demands she wear her best cloak to class, Fluff begins to suspect this new stranger is after the magic it holds. Zixi is thereafter quickly discovered and expelled from the city. Frustrated, Zixi rallies the army of Ix and invades Noland. However, the High Counselors, using their wish-granted abilities, such as giant height and long arms, repel the invaders. Zixi is forced to retreat, but she remains determined to possess the cloak.
Once again she disguises herself and comes back to the city to be hired as a serving maid for princess fluff. Over the coming weeks she works at gaining her trust and even gains access to see the magic cloak up-close. Zixi then summons imps to make a replica of the magic cloak and seeks to replace the Princess’ magic cloak with a false one. The trick works and Zixi is able to leave successfully with the magic cloak. Unfortunately for her the magic wish will not work as she stole the cloak and did not ask to wear it. Believing that its power is gone, Zixi leaves the cloak in the forest. The queen of Ix is sorrowful until she realizes through encounters with an alligator that wants to climb a tree, an owl that wants to swim like a fish, and a girl who wants to be a man, that she has been foolish to be unhappy with her lot.
Meanwhile, above Noland and Ix, on a high plateau, live the Roly-Rogues—round, rolling creatures who love to fight among themselves. One accidentally bounces into Nole, sees its splendor, and convinces his fellow Roly-Rogues to conquer it. They attack the capital, overwhelming the people with their indestructible, bouncing forms.
King Bud, Princess Fluff, Aunt Rivette, and the High Steward Tallydab flee. Knowing the cloak is their only hope, they attempt to recover it, believing it is still in the palace. Aunt Rivette carries Bud and Fluff past the Roly-Rogues into the city, but when Bud dons the cloak and wishes the invaders away, but to his dismay nothing happens. With no other choice Aunt Rivette uses her wings to carry Bud and Fluff to Ix, where they seek Queen Zixi’s aid. Zixi, now having abandoned her selfish desires, confesses that she stole the cloak but left it in the forest. She vows to help them find it.
The group searches for the cloak, only to find that it was taken by Edi, a shepherd, who gave it to Dame Dingle, a seamstress. Dame Dingle reveals that she cut the cloak in patches and gave pieces away for other patches of different fabrics. The group tracks down the missing pieces, but one remains lost—the recipient sewed it into a necktie for her sailor son, who is now at sea.
Without the full cloak, Bud cannot wish away the Roly-Rogues. Instead, Zixi uses a potion from her Silver Vial to mix into their food, causing them to fall asleep. While they slumber, her army ties them up and sends them floating down a river. With Noland freed, Bud and Fluff reclaim their throne, and peace is restored.
Months later, the missing sailor returns home, but he lost the enchanted necktie at sea. Furious, Bud nearly punishes the sailor and his mother. However, Queen Lulea appears, declaring that the cloak has caused too much trouble. She removes all foolish wishes granted by the cloak but allows the wise ones to remain. Before taking the cloak away, she grants Bud one final wish. Which he uses to become the best king Noland has ever known.
As Queen Lulea departs with the cloak, she refuses Zixi’s request to change her reflection, stating that fairies do not favor those who practice witchcraft. Zixi, though disappointed, returns to her kingdom with a new outlook, ruling Ix with wisdom and kindness. Yet, she remains forever wary of mirrors.
Queen Zixi will return in The Road to Oz during Ozma’s grand birthday.
0.2 Dot and Tot of Merryland
“Dot and Tot” is a peculiar addition to L. Frank Baum’s fairy lore. It lacks the grandeur of Queen Zixi of Ix and the narrative nuance found in the Land of Oz series. Though enjoyable, the story reads as somewhat mediocre compared to his later works. W. W. Denslow’s illustrations add charm to the characters, though certain racially insensitive elements make it harder to fully embrace the book today.
The story introduces Evangeline Josephine Freeland, known as Dot to her family, who is traveling from the city to Roselawn to spend the summer with Miss Bombien. Her father believes it will be good for his young daughter and hopes it will improve her health, fearing she may end up like her invalid mother. Dot is a cheerful child, and soon she befriends Tot, the gardener’s son. Together, they make plans for a picnic lunch by the river and come across an abandoned rowboat, which they decide to use for their picnic.
However, while enjoying their lunch, they realize they’ve drifted out into the water. The boat passes through dark cliffs and caves, eventually emerging into a strange new place. There, they meet the watchdog of Merryland, a man covered in long, flowing whiskers, who has been guarding the pass to prevent anyone from entering. Dot reasons that if people don’t heed his advice and choose to proceed, it’s not his fault. She explains that they aren’t strong enough to fight the tide and must continue down the river.
So, they press onward into the first valley of Merryland: the land of the clowns. Flippityflop, a local guide, shows the children around and helps them moor their boat. The land is full of absurdities and silliness. According to Flippityflop, all the decent clowns who make children laugh come from Merryland; they roll down the mountains into the real world to search for circuses. Those who are less funny, he claims, are mere human imitators. After a pleasant stay with the clowns, Dot and Tot continue to the next valley by boat.
The second valley is the land of the Bon Bons, a place where everything is made of candy. Dot and Tot stop to meet the candy inhabitants and enjoy a grand feast of sweets. This chapter is perhaps the strangest—and most unsettling—of all. The Bon Bon people appear to be made of marshmallows and white powder, while the servants are made of chocolate. There’s something disconcerting about it as the reader, and the most disturbing part is the Bon Bon customs surrounding death: when an inhabitant dies, they are consumed by the others. This macabre tradition creates a haunting atmosphere that lingers unsettlingly in the reader’s mind. After the candy feast, they continue down the river in the boat.
The third valley is filled with babies, who are cared for by storks that feed them milk, sing lullabies, and then deliver them to new parents. The babies bloom from a fleecy, flower-like bud known as the “baby blossom.”
The fourth valley is the heart of Merryland and is ruled by the Queen of Merryland. The boat drifts toward a giant gate guarded by tiny wooden soldiers who prevent them from entering. However, Dot once again reasons that she cannot help the way the boat has taken them and implores the soldiers to ask the queen for counsel. They are granted temporary access to a magical toy kingdom, where a beautiful wax doll lives. The Queen of Merryland, a beautiful wax doll is distressed at having visitors in her land and tries to figure out what to do. In the meantime, she invites them to her palace.
The queen decides that the best course of action is to adopt Dot and Tot, as they should not leave Merryland. Making them Prince and Princess of Merryland, they are allowed to tour the doll kingdom and meet the various types of dolls that reside there. Meanwhile, the queen resolves to turn the guard into a rock that will block anyone from entering. In her absence, Dot implores the queen to use her magic to awaken the dolls of the kingdom, though she’s warned they can become unruly when kept alive for an entire day. Dot and Tot soon realize it was a mistake, as the dolls grow mischievous and cause mayhem, which is only undone when the wax queen doll uses her magical wand to restore order upon her return.
Having visited three of her valleys, the queen decides to visit the other three and allows Dot and Tot to join her.
The next valley is the Valley of the Pussycat, a land inhabited solely by cats, ruled by King Felis, the largest of the cats. After meeting some of the cats and sampling the milk from the island, they move onward. The sixth valley is governed by Mr. Split, who ensures all the wind-up toys stay wound up. Mr. Split is named for his unique condition: he is only half a man, split down the middle with only one eye, one ear, and so on. However, when he can join his two halves together, he becomes a whole man.
The final valley is the Valley of the Lost Things, where all the forgotten and lost items end up, resulting in pyramids of thimbles and large piles of pennies. Tot finds an old doll he owned as a baby, and he is overjoyed to have it back.
After exploring all the valleys, the queen offers them the option to return to her valley, but Tot voices how much he misses his mother and wishes to go home. Feeling sympathy for him, the queen agrees to let them return through the archway they came through on the boat, but she vows to close it off afterward so no other visitors can come again. Since the valleys are arranged in a circle, they are able to continue onward and arrive back the same way they came, with ease.
Upon arriving back at Roselawn, Dot sees that her father has returned after hearing of her disappearance. He is relieved to see her healthy and happy again and it appears the trip to Merryland truly helped her.
The Wax Doll and other inhabitants will return in The Road to Oz during Ozma’s Birthday.
The Dorothy Gale Years
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum Illustrated by W.W Denslow
The one that started it all. Words cannot fully capture the significance of this text for me. Not only did I learn my ABCs through The Wizard of Oz, but I also managed to read the book entirely on my own. It’s a true testament to the power of literature. Like many, I was first introduced to the story through the MGM film, but the book immersed me even more deeply in the magical land of Oz, which stretched far beyond the film’s portrayal. Dorothy’s journey, where she spends weeks on the yellow brick road, ignited a hunger in me for more. It marked the beginning of my long-term fascination with the United States of America, a country I would later immigrate to. This classic American tale shows that gumption and determination will always triumph.
We meet Dorothy in her gray prairie home. Kansas is a desolate, open space where the grueling labor of farm work and the unrelenting sun turn everything a dull gray. Her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry marvel at the fact that Dorothy retains her joy, despite the harshness of farm life. Her small dog, Toto, may be partly responsible for Dorothy’s ability to find joy in the little things. But her optimism isn’t enough to save her when a cyclone heads straight for their small house. Despite her aunt and uncle’s efforts to get them to the storm cellar, Toto, terrified by the situation, runs under Dorothy’s bed. Not wanting to lose her precious dog, Dorothy leaves the safety of the cellar to retrieve him. Before she can reach him, however, the house is swept into the air, carrying her off into the unknown.
When the house lands with a jarring thud, Dorothy and Toto discover they are no longer in Kansas. They’ve arrived in a colorful new land, where they meet several strangely dressed people who are the same height as Dorothy. Three are men in unusual blue clothing, and the other is an older woman dressed in a white gown. The group stands in awe of her, and the older woman initially mistakes Dorothy for a sorceress, claiming she has freed the Munchkins from the tyrannical rule of the Wicked Witch of the East. To Dorothy’s shock, she learns that her house has landed on the Wicked Witch, leaving only her feet sticking out from under the house. The old woman explains that Dorothy has landed in the Land of Oz. The deceased Witch of the East had been so old that she dried up in the sun, leaving behind a pair of magical silver slippers. The Munchkins share that the Witch had treasured the slippers, though they never knew what magic they contained. The land is divided into four regions: the East, where the Munchkins live; the South, where Glinda the Good Witch resides; the West, ruled by the Wicked Witch of the West; and the North, where Dorothy comes from, as she is the Good Witch of the North. At the center lies the Emerald City, where the Wizard of Oz resides. Eager to return home, Dorothy asks how she can get back to Kansas. The Good Witch of the North advises her to follow the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City and ask the Wizard for help. Before she sets off, the Witch kisses her forehead for protection and insists that Dorothy wear the silver slippers for her journey.
After preparing for her long trip, Dorothy bids farewell to her house and begins her journey to the Emerald City, wearing the silver slippers. Her first night is spent with a Munchkin farmer named Boq, who throws a party in her honor for freeing the Munchkins. The next day, as she ventures deeper into the Munchkin territory, Dorothy comes across a scarecrow stuck on a pole in a cornfield. When she explains that she’s on her way to see the Wizard, the scarecrow reveals that he’s tired of being stuck and wishes he had a brain, as the crows mock him for being brainless. Dorothy decides to help him down, and he joins her on her journey.
The second companion they meet is a man made entirely of tin, rusted solid while chopping wood. They soon realize he needs oil to move, and after lubricating him with an oil can, the Tin Woodman explains how he came to be made of tin. He was once a Munchkin woodchopper who loved a servant of the Wicked Witch of the East, named Nimmie Amee. The Witch, unwilling to let the Munchkin marry Nimmie, enchanted his axe, causing him to lose each of his limbs one by one. Eventually, he was entirely made of tin, and in the process, he lost his heart and the love he had for Nimmie. Saddened by his story, Dorothy invites him to join them on their quest to meet the Wizard so that he may ask for a heart.
As they continue their journey, they’re ambushed by a lion. When the lion tries to attack Toto, Dorothy rushes to protect her dog, slapping the lion on the nose. To everyone’s surprise, the mighty beast begins to weep. The lion admits he is terrified of everything and only roars to frighten others, living in constant fear of being discovered as a coward. Feeling pity for the lion, Dorothy invites him to join them on their journey and ask the Wizard for courage.
The four companions continue down the Yellow Brick Road, encountering various challenges along the way. They must leap across giant gulfs, with the lion carrying his friends on his back. They face terrifying creatures like the Kalidahs—beasts with the head of a tiger and the body of a bear—that try to eat them. At one point, they come across a river, where the Tin Woodman must build a raft for everyone to cross. However, the Scarecrow gets stuck on the steering pole and must be rescued by a friendly stork. Later, they traverse a deadly poppy field that puts Dorothy and the Lion into a deep sleep. Thankfully, the Tin Woodman and Scarecrow are unaffected by the poisonous poppies. As they figure out how to save Dorothy, the Tin Woodman rescues a field mouse from a yellow wildcat. The mouse turns out to be the queen of the field mice and, in gratitude, offers her loyalty and the help of her many subjects. Seizing the opportunity, the Scarecrow devises a plan to have the queen’s mice pull the Lion to safety in a cart while the Tin Woodman and Scarecrow carry Dorothy. With the mice too small to be affected by the poppies, they succeed in pulling the Lion to safety, and the queen promises to remain loyal to the Tin Woodman.
When they reach the Emerald City, they request an audience with the Wizard, only to discover that he has never been seen by any of the city’s subjects. To their surprise, he agrees to meet them—but only individually in his throne room. The Wizard appears to Dorothy as a giant head, to the Scarecrow as a lovely maiden, to the Tin Man as a terrible beast, and to the Lion as a great ball of fire. The Wizard tells them that he will not grant their requests unless they first kill the Wicked Witch of the West, who rules over Winkie Country.
Determined, though without a clear plan, the four companions journey west to Winkie Country. Along the way, they face the full wrath of the Wicked Witch’s forces. The Tin Man defeats her army of wolves, the Scarecrow fends off her ferocious crows, and they are forced to contend with her killer bees and Winkie Guards. With each obstacle they overcome, their courage grows, and their friendship deepens. However, in a fit of rage, the Witch uses her Golden Cap to summon the Winged Monkeys, who capture both Dorothy and the Lion.
Dorothy is taken as a prisoner, and the Lion is locked in a cage, while the Tin Man is left broken and scattered across a jagged rock cliff. For a while, Dorothy and the Lion fear they may remain in the Witch’s castle forever. But one night, when the Wicked Witch steals Dorothy’s silver shoes, Toto rouses Dorothy from her sleep. In a desperate act of defiance, she throws a bucket of water on the Witch. To her horror and astonishment, the Witch melts away before their eyes.
With the Wicked Witch gone, the Winkies, who had long been oppressed, rejoice in their newfound freedom. They eagerly help rescue the Scarecrow and Tin Man, restoring them to their former shapes. Once everyone is safe and back together, Dorothy expresses her desire to return to the Emerald City. Stocking her basket with food for the journey, she discovers the Witch’s Golden Cap. Unaware of its power, she places it on her head, thinking little of it.
When they get lost on their way back to the Emerald City, the group calls upon the field mice for help. It is then that they learn the Golden Cap holds the power to command the Winged Monkeys with three magic words. Summoning the monkeys she requests them to fly them back to Emerald City. During the flight, the kind relays his own story.
The King of the Winged Monkeys explains that many years before the events of Dorothy’s adventure, the Winged Monkeys were free creatures having no master and no obligations. They were not enslaved and lived joyously, flying around the land and generally being carefree.
However, their freedom was taken from them by a powerful sorceress named Gayelette, who lived in the North. Gayelette had acted in anger when the Monkey’s threw her Prince in the river as a practical joke. Conjuring a magical Golden Cap, which had the power to control the Winged Monkeys. She had enchanted the cap with a spell that bound the monkeys to serve whoever possessed it, forcing them to obey the commands of the wearer. But only for three times. The enchantment was so powerful that it could compel the monkeys to do the bidding of whoever controlled the cap, regardless of their own will. Until it eventually landed in the hands of the wicked witch of the West.
When Dorothy and her companions finally return to the Emerald City, they are eager to see the Wizard, hoping he will fulfill their wishes and grant them what they seek. However, they are in for a shocking revelation. When they are granted an audience with the Wizard, they discover that he is not the magnificent, all-powerful figure they imagined. Instead, he turns out to be a humbug. A mere mortal man from Omaha, with no real magic or grand abilities.
The Wizard, who had been hiding behind curtains and using elaborate illusions to maintain his mysterious persona, admits to the group that he is just an ordinary man who ended up in the land of Oz by accident. He had arrived many years ago in a hot-air balloon, which was blown off course during a storm. When his balloon landed in the Land of Oz, the people of the Emerald City, believing him to be a great and powerful wizard, asked him to rule over them. With no way to return home, he played along with their belief, using tricks, smoke, mirrors, and various contraptions to keep up the illusion of power.
Despite his gruff demeanor, the Wizard decides to help Dorothy’s friends. The Scarecrow receives a “brain” in the form of a mixture of bran, pins, and needles inside a silk bag. The Wizard tells him this will make him smart, but the Scarecrow has already demonstrated cleverness throughout the story. The Tin Man is given a “heart,” which is a symbolic heart made of red satin. The Tin Man believes he lacks compassion, but his acts of kindness along the journey show that he already has a heart. The Cowardly Lion is given a “courage” potion to drink. However, like the others, the Lion has already shown bravery in various situations, despite thinking of himself as cowardly.
The Wizard plans to take Dorothy and Toto back to Kansas, while he returns to Omaha in his balloon. Before they leave, he names the Scarecrow as his successor, who agrees to rule in his place once he has helped Dorothy get home. But just as Dorothy chases Toto, who is off chasing a kitten in the crowd, the ropes holding the balloon snap, and the Wizard drifts away.
Dorothy calls upon the winged monkeys to fly her home, but they explain they cannot cross the deadly desert that surrounds Oz. The soldier with the green whiskers suggests they seek help from Glinda, the Good Witch of the South. So, once again, the four friends set off together toward the south of Oz, journeying deep into Quadling Country. Along the way, they encounter new oddities, such as the Land of the Dainty China People, where everything is made of China, and the inhabitants move around with ease and joy. Dorothy wishes to take the China Princess with her, but learns that anyone who leaves Dainty China Land becomes still and unable to move.
Shortly after, the Lion, using his newfound courage, kills a giant spider that has been terrorizing the South’s forest, vowing to return and rule over the beasts once Dorothy is safely home. They then must battle their way through the Mountain of Hammer Heads to reach Glinda’s castle.
Glinda, a beautiful and kind witch, lives in a castle with loyal maidens who serve her. She welcomes the travelers warmly, listens to their stories, and then reveals that the silver shoes Dorothy has worn all along have the power to return her to Kansas. All Dorothy needs to do is click her heels three times and ask to go home. Glinda asks Dorothy to give her the Golden Cap so she can use it to return the Scarecrow to rule over the Emerald City with his new brains, the Tin Man to rule the Winkie Country, and the Lion to rule the Forest of the South. Afterward, Glinda will return the cap to the King of the Winged Monkeys, freeing them from their curse.
Dorothy bids farewell to her friends, clicks her heels, and is soon whisked into the air, finding herself back on the grassy plains of Kansas. Though she loses her shoes on the flight, she is happy to be reunited with Aunt Em and Uncle Henry.
2. The Amber Flute of Oz by Donald Abbot Illustrated by Donald Abbott
Set during the days when the Scarecrow rules over the Emerald City, this story captures a unique chapter in Oz’s storied history. A charming aspect of this book is its attempt to replicate W.W. Denslow’s iconic illustrations, famously featured in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The nostalgic artwork enriches the narrative and pays homage to Oz’s visual legacy.
Five hundred years ago Ozgood the Magnificent created the Sand Serpent to shield Oz from external threats. However, the serpent is resurrected by Blinkie, the former Wicked Witch of the South, as part of her vendetta against Glinda, who had stripped her of her witchcraft. When the Sand Serpent wreaks havoc across the Quadling Country, Glinda flees to the Emerald City. She informs the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and Lion about the threat and implores them to stop Blinkie. Glinda reveals that only the amber flute, hidden by Ozgood the Magnificent, can subdue the serpent.
The heroes seek out Ozwaldo, a mischievous magician who they had recently defeated during his attempt to conquer the Munchkin Country. Despite his resentment, Ozwaldo’s knowledge is vital, as only he knows where his ancestor Ozgood hid the amber flute, the sole artifact capable of returning the Sand Serpent to its slumber. Reaching Ozgood the Magnificent’s hidden tomb, the group must solve a series of riddles and puzzles to unlock the amber flute. This chapter reveals Ozwaldo’s lineage as a descendant of Ozgood, further complicating his motivations. Blinkie ever one step ahead arrives just as the flute is uncovered, and a battle ensues. Blinkie unleashes the Sand Serpent on the heroes, forcing them to retreat to the Emerald City.
The Scarecrow devises a plan to use the flute, but Ozwaldo struggles with his loyalty, torn between helping the group and seizing power for himself. Ozwaldo ultimately redeems himself by using the flute to lull the Sand Serpent back to sleep, but the effort drains him of his magical abilities. Blinkie’s power is undone as the serpent’s magic dissipates, leaving her a powerless old woman. Glinda shows mercy to Blinkie, banishing her from Oz rather than imprisoning her. Blinkie wanders into exile with Ebony, now an ordinary cat without its magical ribbon. The book ends with Ozwaldo departing to find a new purpose, while the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and Lion reflect on their adventure, ready to face whatever challenges Oz may bring next.
Blinkie’s actions set the stage for her eventual return in The Scarecrow of Oz.
3. The Speckled Rose of Oz by Donald Abbot
The Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion are reunited to judge the annual Oz Flower Show in the Emerald City, an event where people from all four corners of Oz gather to present their flowers. Among the contestants are Gaylette from Quadling Country, Boq from Munchkinland, and a mysterious new resident of Emerald City, who has taken up residence in an ancient tower once ruled by a tyrannical king of Oz. The stranger grows furious when his plant fails to win. Unbeknownst to the trio, this man is Sir Wiley Gyle, the younger brother of the Wicked Witches of the East and the West, who has vowed revenge on them for his sisters’ demise.
However, Sir Gyle’s sinister plans are not the only threat at hand. The flower show is soon brought to an abrupt end when all the flowers suddenly turn to dust. Glinda, busy preparing a magical performance for the event, is alerted by the warning bells in her Chamber of Magic. Consulting her Great Book of Records, she learns that all the flowers of Oz are being destroyed by the evil magician Poison Oak.
Poison Oak is a sentient tree brought to life by dark magic. He resides in the Sulphur Swamp at the heart of Winkie Country, a dreadful land filled with suffocating fumes, bogs, and quicksand. Poison Oak seeks to erase the beauty of Oz and transform it into a vast, uninhabitable swamp under his command. His power is linked to a cauldron filled with a strong yellow brew, and after years of toiling, he has finally discovered a way to destroy the flowers. His only companion is a pet spider who remains loyally by his side. When Glinda attempts to reason with Poison Oak, she quickly realizes that he is beyond persuasion. Determined to stop him, she enlists the help of the famous trio.
She presents them with the legendary Speckled Rose of Oz, a magical flower with multicolored petals. Glinda explains its significance: when the Fairy Lurline first created Oz, she saw its potential as a great fairyland. At that time, it was a desolate wasteland, so her fairies gathered flowers from all over the world. To protect Oz, she created the Speckled Rose, embedding every type of flower within its petals. As long as the rose remains alive, Poison Oak cannot turn Oz into a swamp. However, the flower is protected only by a fragile glass dome, which is already beginning to crack under the magician’s relentless attacks. While Glinda uses her magic to reinforce the dome, the three friends set off to confront Poison Oak.
Sir Gyle, having overheard their plan, schemes to thwart them. Disguising himself as a ferryman, he offers them passage across the river to Winkie Country. As they set off, the boat begins to leak, but the Lion quickly tethers a rope and pulls them to shore, saving them from drowning.
Once in Winkie Country, they encounter Lady Moonstruck, the daughter of the Man in the Moon. A beautiful maiden, she is searching for her husband, who once had the duty of cleaning moonbeams and moondust. Growing bored with his work, he abandoned his post and magically disguised himself as various creatures, from flowers to animals. Only Lady Moonstruck’s crown of enchanted moonstones can break his deception.
The friends press on toward the Sulphur Swamp, where Poison Oak attempts to stop them using magical traps. This includes thorny forests, earthquakes, and other treacherous obstacles. Yet, they persevere and finally reach Poison Oak’s lair. In the climactic battle, the Lion topples the cauldron, spilling its contents and stripping Poison Oak of his magic, reverting him back into an ordinary tree. However, his pet spider, Spindly, reveals that he had long been waiting for Poison Oak to destroy the flowers so he could take over. He suddenly transforms into a giant spider, and it seems the heroes are doomed—until Lady Moonstruck arrives. Her magical moonbeams reveal Spindly’s true identity: he is her lost husband. Realizing his folly, he returns to his true form and reluctantly departs with Lady Moonstruck to the moon.
Through her crystal ball, Glinda witnesses the trio’s triumph. Leaving the Speckled Rose in the care of the Soldier with Green Whiskers, she prepares the incantation to restore all of Oz’s flowers. However, Sir Gyle seizes this moment to summon a horde of bees using the Wicked Witch of the East’s enchanted flute, stealing the rose in the ensuing chaos. By the time the trio returns, they learn of Sir Gyle’s identity and his quest for vengeance. Unlike his sisters, Sir Gyle possesses no inherent magical power, relying instead on the stolen artifacts of his wicked siblings. He offers a cruel bargain: he will return the Speckled Rose only if the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion surrender themselves to him. Though willing to sacrifice themselves for the safety of Oz, they know better than to trust Sir Gyle.
Upon arriving at Sir Gyle’s tower, the trio appears to be bound in chains as he hands the Speckled Rose over to Glinda’s soldiers. However, as soon as the soldiers are out of sight, he reveals the flower is a fake and declares his intention to rule over Oz. But the Scarecrow, having foreseen his treachery, speaks the magical code words: “Long Live Oz!”—causing the chains to vanish. Sir Gyle attempts to escape, but Glinda’s guards quickly apprehend him. With Sir Gyle locked away, Glinda finally restores the magic of the Speckled Rose, bringing life back to all the flowers of Oz.
4. The Marvelous Land of Oz by L. Frank Baum Illustrated by John R. Neil
Sequels to any series often struggle to measure up to the original, and it’s no secret that Baum never intended to create a series for Oz. However, Baum had a unique way of connecting with his audience, and in response to the demands of his young fans, he obliged by creating another story. As a young pre-teen who first encountered this book online, I remember being slightly disappointed when Dorothy, the main character from the first book, did not appear. Despite being thrown into Oz with new characters, there was still a sense of wonder that kept me reading. By the time I reached the last chapter, I was in awe and had fallen in love with the Oz series. The transformation of Tip into Ozma was perhaps the most groundbreaking storyline in the entire Oz saga. Even as a young reader, I recognized themes of gender identity and the positive affirmations of transgender experiences. The anti-patriarchy message also resonates throughout the story, from General Jin Jir’s desire to dismantle the male-dominated rule of the Emerald City to the eventual resolution with Queen Ozma herself. Scarecrow and Tinman emerge as the primary stars of this book, a result of their popularity in the 1903 Broadway show that had been running in New York at the time. While it was initially odd not to see the Lion, the absence forced me to focus on the new characters in the story
The story begins in Gillikin Country, where a young boy named Tip lives with a mean old witch named Mombi. For as long as Tip can remember, he has been a slave to the witch, enduring many of her cruel tricks. In response, he decides to return the favor. While Mombi is away, Tip constructs a man out of wood, giving him a pumpkin carved face for a head. Though Mombi is initially frightened by the figure, she decides to use a magical powder of life she received from a crooked magician. When the powder is sprinkled over the wooden man and three magical words are spoken, he comes to life. Jack Pumpkinhead becomes animated and able to talk and walk. Tip is fascinated and amused by his creation now being alive revleaing his hiding spot. Furious, Mombi vows to get revenge on Tip, threatening to turn him to stone with a potion and use Jack as a new slave. The potion must cool overnight, and while the witch sleeps, Tip seizes the opportunity to run away, stealing Mombi’s basket of magical tricks and taking Jack along with him. Jack, grateful to be rescued, sees Tip as his father, having been created by him, and approaches life with a newfound childlike wonder.
When Jack Pumpkinhead spots a Saw Horse in the woods and believes it to be a real horse Tip sees the opportunity to use the powder of life to bring the Saw Horse to life. Using the newfound steed Tip decides they should make there way to Emerald City. Unfortunately, during a rapid gallop Tip falls off the horse sending Jack and the Saw Horse off to the city without him. Whilst Jack Pumkinhead arrives at the city and follows through with Tip’s advise to meet the King of Oz, the scarecrow, Tip follows the yellow brick road by foot. However, he is not alone for long. Soon he meets General Jinjur and her army of girls. Jinjur has grown angry at the rule of men in Emerald City and has created her own army of women who will overthrow the city with their knitting needles as weapons.
Chaos erupts in the city as General Jinjur’s army seizes control by force, for the men have no weapons to defend themselves. Tip manages to slip away and helps the Scarecrow escape on the Sawhorse. This time, he fastens everyone securely to the horse with rope to ensure they stay on during its fierce gallops. They travel to Winkie Country to seek the aid of Nick Chopper, the Tin Woodman. The Emperor of the Winkies agrees to help his friend reclaim the throne and sets off with the assembled group.
Meanwhile, Mombi arrives at the Emerald City and joins Jinjur in her efforts to prevent the Scarecrow from reclaiming the throne. She also hopes to capture Tip for herself. The witch invokes powerful charms to stop their journey, but they manage to overcome the obstacles.
On their way back to the Emerald City, they encounter a giant bug with a high opinion of himself. He introduces himself as Mr. H.M. Woggle-Bug, T.E. He was once ordinary bug who had spent his days observing a school professor and educating himself. One day, after being accidentally magnified, he chose to embrace his new form as the Highly Magnified and Thoroughly Educated Woggle-Bug. Since he is also headed to the Emerald City, he decides to join their quest. They also summon the Queen of the Field Mice using the silver whistle and arrange for a dozen mice to hide inside the Scarecrow’s body to aid in their battle against Jinjur’s army of revolt.
Upon reaching the Emerald City, the Scarecrow releases the mice, which terrify many of Jinjur’s soldiers and drive them away. However, their victory is short-lived, as they become barricaded inside the palace once the mice have fled. With no means of escape and the Tin Woodman unwilling to harm the young girls in Jinjur’s army, the Scarecrow devises a plan. The group constructs a flying machine using various objects found in the throne room. This includes two sofas, palm tree leaves, a broom, and the head of a Gump, all tied together with clotheslines and rope. Using the Powder of Life, they animate the creation and fly off to seek Glinda’s aid.
When they arrive at Glinda’s palace, she reveals that there is indeed a rightful ruler of Oz, but it is not the Scarecrow. Many years ago, before the Wizard’s arrival, King Pastoria ruled the Emerald City. When the Wizard took the throne, the royal family mysteriously vanished, including his heir, Princess Ozma. All that Glinda can deduce is that Mombi and the Wizard had several meetings and she wishes to know why. With this revelation, Glinda and the group return to the Emerald City to confront Mombi.
Back in the city, General Jinjur agrees to let them enter on the condition that they leave peacefully if they cannot find Mombi. A thorough search ensues, but she is nowhere to be found. By chance, the Tin Woodman plucks a rose from his lapel, unaware that it is Mombi in disguise. When Glinda uncovers the truth, a fierce chase follows, but Mombi is no match for her power. Under Glinda’s pressure, Mombi confesses: the Wizard visited her three times, and on one occasion, he brought her a baby girl, Princess Ozma, whom Mombi transformed into a boy and raised as her own slave. Non other than Tip himself.
The revelation shocks Tip, but he is quickly restored to his true identity as Ozma, the rightful ruler of Oz. As punishment, Mombi is stripped of her magic and made mortal. With Ozma’s ascension, Jinjur is forced to relinquish the city. This marks the end of male rule in Oz. The Tin Woodman invites the Scarecrow to live with him in Winkie Country, while the Gump, at his request, is dismantled, though his head remains displayed in the palace. The Sawhorse becomes Ozma’s trusted steed, and the Woggle-Bug stays on as a royal advisor. Loved by her people, Ozma restores peace to the land.
5. Ozma of Oz by L. Frank Baum Illustrated by John R. Neil
I remember the joy of discovering that Dorothy was back in the story of Oz. L. Frank Baum listened to his audience, who were eager to know what had happened to the little girl from Kansas after she returned home. So, he decided to bring her back.
Personally, I find her return essential, especially this early in the Oz lore. Without her, the story feels disjointed. Dorothy’s presence restores a sense of grounding in reality—the idea that children from the ‘normal’ world can go on magical adventures. In many ways, she represents the reader, the child yearning to escape into a fantastical world. Her return not only reconnects us with familiar characters but also allows for new ones to be introduced and explored.
This is possibly one of my favorite books in the Oz series. Perhaps I’m biased because it served as the main inspiration for the Return to Oz movie (1985). However, there’s plenty to love even without thinking about the film. Tik-Tok is one of the earliest examples of robotics in children’s literature. Princess Langwidere, with her interchangeable heads, and the Wheelers are genuinely nightmare-inducing, even without the eerie atmosphere of the ’80s adaptation.
The introduction of the Lion and his best friend, the Hungry Tiger, has always read as a slight romance to me. What’s the backstory here? They met in the forest in the south, but why are they so close—bromance or romance? It’s Oz, after all, so everything is rainbow-tinted.
However, the most fun character to follow might be Billina, the yellow hen. A hen who refuses to be labeled as “Billinia,” she instead prefers the name “Bill,” given to her by the farmer who once owned her. Billina represents that often-confused label of non-binary identity. She lays eggs every day but feels no obligation to raise them and is perfectly content with them being used as food. It is her right to live as she pleases. Billina is also scrappy, even getting into fights with other hens. And, in the end, it is Billina who inadvertently saves the day.
The Nome King is one of the more terrifying villains in the Oz book series. Unlike the witches in previous books, he possesses a level of cunning that feels all too familiar when compared to real-world villains. He presents himself as friendly, yet his motives are ultimately self-serving. His nomes, almost like omnipresent spirits of the mountains and rocks, make his underground domain an even more frightening place to be imprisoned.
This story begins aboard a ship traveling to Australia. Uncle Henry has been overworked and sick and has decided to visit relatives in Australia with Dorothy. However, during a tumultuous storm where Dorothy goes looking her her Uncle she is whisked off the boat by the wind. Using a chicken coop she stays afloat the ocean and drifts along the waves.
The next day, Dorothy awakens to the sound of a chicken clucking. She is even more surprised when the hen begins responding to her questions. Reasoning that if a hen—who introduces themselves as Bill—can talk, they must be in a fairyland, for only in such places do animals speak.
Dorothy and Bill appear to have washed up on a beach, and they decide to explore this unfamiliar land. Upon the shore, Dorothy notices a key and, out of curiosity, pockets it. As they become better acquainted, Dorothy insists on calling the hen “Billina” to match her sex, but Billina is unfazed by the change and continues referring to themselves simply as Bill.
While exploring, they notice words written in the sand: “BEWARE THE WHEELERS.” Dorothy has no knowledge of these creatures. Stopping to pick lunch from a lunch-pail tree, she and Billina eat together. However, their meal and exploration are soon interrupted by the arrival of the Wheelers—a tribe of brightly dressed men with wheels instead of hands or feet. They roll toward Dorothy and Billina menacingly, accusing them of breaking the law by stealing a lunch pail. The punishment, they declare, is death.
Dorothy and Billina flee up a rocky mountain where the Wheelers cannot follow. While waiting in hopes that their pursuers will eventually give up, Billina discovers a door in the mountainside. Using the key she found earlier, Dorothy unlocks the door and steps inside a cavern, where she finds a peculiar copper man. After inspecting the figure, Dorothy discovers a card on his shoulder that identifies him as a Smith & Tinker Mechanical Man—capable of speaking, acting, and doing everything but truly living. He runs on clockwork springs, which must be wound periodically, with separate windings for thought, action, and speech. He is guaranteed to function perfectly for a thousand years.
Dorothy winds up all the relevant clockworks, and the copper man introduces himself as Tik-Tok. He explains that they are in the Land of Ev, a kingdom neighboring Oz, separated by the same deadly desert. Dorothy also learns that in her absence, a new ruler—Princess Ozma—has ascended the throne of Oz.
Tik-Tok recounts his tragic past: he once served the King of Ev, a cruel man who beat his servants to death. When the king grew jealous of Tik-Tok’s inability to die, he made a terrible bargain—trading his five sons, five daughters, and his wife to the Nome King in exchange for eternal life. Using his magical arts, the Nome King transformed the royal family into ornaments for his collection. However, the king soon regretted his decision and, in despair, threw himself into the sea—after first locking Tik-Tok away in the cavern.
Now loyal to Dorothy, Tik-Tok joins her and Billina as they return to the shore. Using his mechanical strength, he fends off the Wheelers. In return, the Wheelers provide information about the current ruler of Ev—Princess Langwidere—a mysterious woman who appears in many forms.
Determined to learn more, Dorothy, Billina, and Tik-Tok visit the princess. They soon discover that Langwidere is a vain ruler with little interest in anything beyond herself. She possesses a collection of interchangeable, detachable heads, which she swaps at will. When Dorothy refuses to give up her own head to the princess, Langwidere flies into a rage and locks her in a tower.
Tik-Tok, having exhausted his action winding during his fight with the Wheelers, is unable to rescue Dorothy. However, salvation arrives in the form of Princess Ozma and her Royal Court of Oz, who are seen crossing the deadly desert on a magical carpet that continuously unrolls beneath them, allowing safe passage. Among Ozma’s company, Dorothy recognizes her old friends, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion.
Ozma swiftly takes charge, securing Dorothy, Billina, and Tik-Tok’s release from Langwidere’s custody. The royal army of Oz is on a diplomatic mission to the Kingdom of the Nomes, where they hope to free the royal family of Ev from their enchanted imprisonment. The three quickly join this expedition entering the Nome Kings vast and complicated lair.
The Nome King reveals his vast army of Nomes, which far outnumbers the army of Oz. Eventually, he agrees to a bargain: each member of the party may enter his chambers and attempt to identify any of the ornaments that the royal family of Ev has been transformed into. To succeed, they must touch an ornament and say the word “Ev.” If they choose correctly, the enchanted person will be restored to their true form; if they fail, they themselves will be transformed into an ornament.
Reluctantly, Ozma, the Tin Woodman, the twenty-seven soldiers of the Royal Army of Oz, Tik-Tok, and the Scarecrow all enter the chambers but fail to locate the family of Ev. One by one, they are turned into ornaments. It is only Dorothy who manages to guess correctly, successfully restoring a young prince.
Thankfully, Billina overhears the Nome King bragging to his Nome comrades about his powers and learns the secrets he holds. His magic comes from his enchanted belt, which he has used to turn the royal family of Ev into purple ornaments and the people of Oz into green ones. When Billina enters the chambers, the Nome King is infuriated to see her saving everyone. Despite his fury and vow to destroy them all, Billina once again saves the day—this time by laying an egg. Eggs, symbols of life and rebirth, belong to the world above and are therefore poisonous to Nomes. By exploiting their fear of eggs, they are able to obtain the magic belt, ensuring everyone can escape safely. Everyone except the Tin Man, who remains missing, having been transformed into something more unique.
It is only when they are marching toward the palace of Ev that they realize that the young prince of Ev possesses a small silver whistle, which he had taken for himself. Upon saying the word “Ev,” they are delighted to be reunited with the Tin Man. With the royal family of Ev restored to the throne, a grand celebration follows. After the royal family is restored to power Dorothy joins Ozma and her friends to make their way back to Oz via the magical carpet.
Upon arriving in the Emerald City, Dorothy meets many new characters, including the Woggle-Bug. After several weeks of joyous adventures, she discovers Ozma’s magical painting. This is a magical painting that shifts to reveal any place in the world upon request. Dorothy uses it to check in on her Kansas farm, finding her aunt in good health. However, when she asks to see Uncle Henry, he appears sickly and visibly distressed over Dorothy’s disappearance into the ocean. Determined to return home, Dorothy decides to use the Nome King’s magic belt.
Glinda advises her not to use it herself, warning that it may lose its enchantment or be lost forever, much like the silver shoes. Instead, Dorothy entrusts the belt to Ozma, and they agree that should she ever wish to return to Oz, she may signal her new friend on an agreed-upon day of the week. With this arrangement in place, Dorothy bids farewell to her friends and returns home to Uncle Henry.
6. Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz by L. Frank Baum Illustrated by John R. Neil
This story was very intentionally tailored to the desires of Baum’s young fans, who were eager to know what became of the Wizard of Oz. While it’s hard to imagine a time before Wicked or even the shocking revelations in The Marvelous Land of Oz, one must remember that in the original story, the Wizard never truly presents himself as a villain. Rather, he is more of a humbug and a charlatan; closer to Frank Morgan’s portrayal in MGM’s classic film.
As a child reading this book online, I found it oddly jarring not to know the Wizard’s fate. I hadn’t picked up on the subtle hints that Baum may have intended him to be somewhat of a villain. Re-reading the series now, especially with the context of Gregory Maguire’s work, it’s difficult not to see him in a more sinister light. His reintegration into Ozian society feels mentally jarring, despite his redemption arc and the apparent rewriting of his history.
It’s important to remember that these books were written for children, and as a child, I devoured this book with a greedy appetite. The introduction of multiple new characters and settings creates an action-packed story that moves so quickly it was difficult to write a concise synopsis. Is this the best book in the series? Probably not. Yet, there’s something undeniably thrilling about the darker, more gothic landscapes and the sassy behavior of Eureka and Jim. It serves as a reminder that not everyone will fall in love with a place you cherish.
We begin this tale in the United States of America, but this isn’t Kansas anymore. Dorothy is still traveling with her Uncle Henry, this time visiting relatives at Hugson’s Ranch in California. There, she meets her second cousin, Zeb, who is her age. She also brings with her a new pet cat whom she found on her recent travels. Dorothy explains to her cousin how she discovered the wild cat and claimed her as a pet, aptly naming her Eureka.
Dorothy, Zeb, and Eureka are all riding in a buggy pulled by Zeb’s trusty steed, Jim, when a terrible earthquake begins. Despite Jim’s valiant efforts, they are all sent tumbling down into the dark crevices of the earthquake, falling deep into the earth.
As they plunged into what seemed like an endless abyss, Zeb was stunned when his horse, Jim, suddenly voiced his dismay, the first words he had ever spoken. To everyone’s relief and surprise, they floated gently downward, eventually touching down in a breathtaking landscape with towering mountains, expansive plains, and sparkling lakes, all bathed in the light of six differently colored suns. Every building in this strange land was made of glass, much of it shattered and damaged by falling rocks.
They land on a glass roof that has been shattered by the impact. The commotion of their arrival awakens Dorothy’s cat, Eureka, who has turned pink under the lights and is now loudly voicing her hunger. Observing their surroundings, they notice that the inhabitants of this land seem to float safely to and from the ground. After Eureka bravely descends in search of food, Dorothy and the others realize they can also float effortlessly to the ground.
Upon arrival, they discover that the people of this land are not human like them. The Mangaboos, as they are called, are hostile and immediately blame Dorothy and her companions for the destruction of their domain. After being escorted to the royal palace to face judgment, the Prince and the sorcerer of the Mangaboos deliberate on who is responsible for the damage to the city. Just as they are about to deliver a verdict of punishment, a new arrival is announced to be falling into the land.
Once everyone is gathered outside the palace to see who it is, Dorothy immediately recognizes the balloon descending from the sky because it belongs to the once-proclaimed Wizard of Oz. After landing, the Wizard explains that his balloon had been caught in the same earthquake while returning from a flight. Ever the clever humbug, he proclaims himself to be a powerful wizard to the Mangaboos.
When taken to Gwig, the sorcerer of the Mangaboos, the Wizard quickly deduces that Gwig is also a fraud, especially when the sorcerer demands to see his powerful magic. The Wizard performs an illusion, making one piglet appear as nine, impressing the Mangaboos, who now believe he possesses real magic and wish for him to become the new sorcerer. Gwig, Now enraged, vows to stop the Wizard’s breath, but the Wizard quickly intercepts him, drawing a giant sword and slicing him in half. To everyone’s shock, Gwig is revealed to be a vegetable because he splits apart just like a root vegetable. The travelers then learn that all the Mangaboos are, in fact, plant-based beings.
The prince shows the group around the land, explaining that the Mangaboos grow from the earth and sprout as fully formed beings, ready to be picked once ripe. When an old Mangaboo reaches the end of its life, it is placed back into the soil to sprout new Mangaboos. Such is the fate of Gwig. They are shown this first hand as the prince leads them to the royal garden where he was picked. In the royal garden they notice that the princess is now ripe and ready for harvest. However, the prince is not ready to relinquish his throne and become fertilizer.
Furthermore, he also plans to have everyone destroyed, except for the Wizard, whom he believes can serve as a sorcerer until a new one is ripe enough to take over. Fearing for her friends’ lives, Dorothy makes a bold decision: she picks the princess despite the consequences. The princess, grateful for her rescue, wastes no time in deposing the prince. However, the new ruler proves to be no more friendly than her predecessor and insists that the outsiders must still be destroyed.
Dorothy, undeterred, explains her arrangement with Ozma and how she only needs to send a signal for rescue. Unfortunately, the signal can only be sent on Saturdays, and the Wizard calculates that two full days remain before she can call for help. With no other choice, they flee from the Mangaboos, using the strange floating ability granted to them in this land. The Mangaboos pursue them relentlessly and eventually trap them in a cavern, sealing the entrance with boulders. This leaves them trapped with only one option to continue into the deep caverns. Surprisingly through this peculiar underground passage, the group stumbles into a lush valley filled with exotic fruits.
At first, the valley seems like a safe haven, until they discover that the piglets vanish after eating the strange fruit. It is only when the piglets speak that they realize they have not disappeared entirely but have instead turned invisible. The land seems seemingly empty of any creatures forcing them to explore more. Further exploration of the land leads them to a household where utensils and food appear to float in midair. They soon learn that most of the valley’s inhabitants are invisible due to consuming the delicious but cursed Damma Fruit. The friendly invisible family welcomes them, offering food that does not cause invisibility and advising them to climb the steps of Pyramid Mountain if they wish to reach the surface world. However, they warn that the land above is ruled by fearsome gargoyles.
After resting, the travelers ascend the Pyramid Mountain’s steps, encountering a peculiar man with dozens of braids in his beard and hair. He amuses himself by creating rustlers and flutters. They decide to trade items with the peculiar man before carrying on up the steps.
Upon reaching the surface, they find themselves in the land of the gargoyles, a fearsome place where everything, including the gargoyles themselves, is made of wood. Despite the wizard’s many tricks, the flying gargoyles swiftly capture everyone and take them hostage in their own domain.
Held captive atop a mountain, they survey their surroundings and notice a tunnel on the ground below that might serve as an escape route. Zeb also observes that the gargoyles’ wings are attached with hinges and are removed when they sleep. Determined to free them all, he sneaks into the city at night, stealing as many wings as possible while the creatures slumber. Using the stolen wings, they attach them to the buggy and Jim, allowing them to glide safely down and escape into the tunnel.
After encountering a family of baby dragons living in the cavern, they reach a dead end with no apparent way out. Fortunately, it is finally time for Dorothy to signal to Ozma, and the group is magically transported to the Emerald City.
Their return to Oz is met with some apprehension, as the people of Oz are hesitant about the wizard reclaiming any position of power. Seeking redemption for his past mistakes, the wizard meets with Ozma and offers to learn real magic from Glinda the Good so that he may serve as a true wizard for the royal court. He even gifts one of his piglets to Ozma, who takes a liking to the small creature.
However, not everyone is enchanted by the wonders of Oz. Jim, the horse, takes an immediate dislike to the Sawhorse, feeling insulted that a wooden creature can bear the title of “horse.” To settle their dispute, Jim challenges the Sawhorse to a race, which is eagerly observed by the citizens of Oz. The competition grows tense, and in a fit of frustration upon realizing he is losing, Jim breaks the Sawhorse’s leg.
Eureka, the cat, also finds herself in repeated trouble. Her sassy behavior had been a source of mischief throughout the journey from her constant desire to eat the piglets to even attempting to eat Billina. However, matters take a more serious turn when Ozma’s piglet mysteriously disappears, and Eureka becomes the prime suspect. A court case ensues, with the Woggle-Bug overseeing the proceedings. The wizard attempts to save Eureka by offering one of his other piglets as a replacement, but the cat quickly points out that Ozma’s piglet had an emerald necklace.
Stubbornly maintaining her innocence, Eureka finally reveals that while chasing the piglet through the palace, it had fallen into a vase. Once the piglet is found and returned to Ozma, Eureka is freed. It appears she just wanted all the commotion and attention.
Later, Dorothy and Ozma peer into the magic painting and see that Uncle Henry has returned to Kansas with Aunt Em. They are both dressed in black, mourning Dorothy’s assumed death in the earthquake. Realizing she must return home immediately, Dorothy decides to leave. Zeb and Jim, having grown weary of fairyland, also choose to return. With the aid of the magic belt, they all safely journey back home.
7. Dorothy and the Seven Leaf Clover By Dorothy Haas Illustrated by David Rose
This is one of several small books that were published in the 1980s. These books were written for a younger Oz audience hoping to attract kids back to Oz. The stories take place in the periods between Baums original books and so are counted in the chronology of the Oz story. Based on the facts this story takes place after Dorothy and the wizard in Oz. Dorothy is now settled back in Kansas after her travels with Uncle Henry.
Dorothy, feeling weary of her life in Kansas, wishes for another adventure in Oz. Using her signal to contact Ozma, she checks the Magic Picture at the designated hour and finds herself transported back to the magical land. Reunited with her close friends—the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion—the group quickly embarks on a new journey.
Their adventure begins with the discovery of a mysterious corn maze that leads to an unexplored part of Oz. At the heart of the corn maze, they discover a mystical golden summerhouse, but their excitement is cut short when Toto darts inside and they are unable to follow. Inside the mystical house is enchanted and he cannot exit. Dorothy and her friends discover Toto is not alone—inside the summerhouse is a Golden Boy who has been cursed by the Wicked Witch of the West.
The Golden Boy reveals that the Wicked Witch turned his body and heart to gold so he may be beautiful and admire himself. He feels no empathy for the situation and wishes to keep Toto trapped with him forever. Thankfully, a talking caterpillar informs them that the only way to break the curse is to find a seven-leaf clover hidden somewhere in Oz.
Dorothy and her friends set off on a perilous journey, encountering mischievous weasel-foxes, remnants of the Wicked Witch’s former followers, who pledge their loyalty to Dorothy after a discovering she melted the Wicket Witch of the West. Along the way, they are guided by a wise cow who leads them to the magical glade where the seven-leaf clover grows.
With the clover in hand, Dorothy and her friends return to the summerhouse to break the spell. The Golden Boy is restored to his true form. A Popcorn Boy. He was tricked into becoming gold because he believed it would make him beautiful. With his heart thawed Toto is freed from the enchantment. As the spell lifts, the caterpillar transforms into a Corn Silk Girl, who had been stayed loyally around vowing to save the Popcorn boy.
Grateful for their rescue, the Popcorn Boy and Corn Silk Girl vow to protect the enchanted summerhouse and its magical cornfield. As corn pops around them in celebration the Lions sends a flurry of flowers into the air as he slumps to the floor in satfifaction she fetches her handerkiech to sneeze. Accidently this indicated to Ozma she wishes to leave and she promptly returned to Kansas. Dorothy resolves to be more attentive next time she goes to Oz, but is grateful to have Toto and herself home again.
8. Mister Tinker in Oz By James Howe Illustrated by David Rose
It’s a stormy night in Kansas and Aunt Em asks Dorothy to close the gate that she left open. To Dorothy’s amazement she sees a ladder descending from the sky and a strange man climbing down to her farm. When he enquires if this is the Land of Ev, Dorothy quickly explains this is Kansas but knows of the land of Ev. The stranger quickly introduces himself as Mr Ezra P. Tinker who has been living on the moon many years. His compass has lead him to the wrong place and he was hoping to find Tik Tok as his 1000 year guarantee is about to end. In her haste of worry about her old friend Dorothy agrees to join Mr Tinker and help guide him back to Oz. Promptly Mr Tinker shrinks Dorothy and himself into an enevlope addressed to go to Oz.
After being shrunk by Tinker for their journey to Oz, Dorothy is separated from him and ends up in the Winkie Country. Here, she encounters the Widdlebits; tiny, intelligent babies who are hilariously adorable yet quite helpless. They are plagued by an infestation of aggressive ants. Julius Quickscissors, one of Tinker’s remarkable inventions (essentially an autonomous pair of oversized scissors), heroically saves the Widdlebits by snipping through the ants’ forces.
This part of the story emphasizes Dorothy’s compassionate and maternal nature, as she helps protect the vulnerable Widdlebits until she reunites with Tinker. Together, they restore Dorothy and themselves to normal size, but the adventure is far from over.
To reach the Emerald City, Dorothy and Tinker must traverse the perilous Bottomless Swamp. Here, they meet Princess Astoria, the last of seven royal sisters, all queens except her. She recounts a tragic tale of her past attempt to cross the swamp to petition the Wizard to make her a queen. Her companion was lost to the terrifying Wumpguppies—grotesque creatures that lurk beneath the swamp and cause anyone who sees them to faint, leading to their doom.
Astoria now warns travelers of the danger and has taken it upon herself to prevent others from suffering the same fate. Tinker devises a clever solution using a mirror to deflect the Wumpguppies’ hideous visages, allowing the group to cross the bridge safely. Astoria’s soothing lullaby puts the Wumpguppies to sleep, adding a poignant touch to her character as a protector and guide.
Upon arriving in the Emerald City, Dorothy and Tinker find the citizens stricken by a mysterious depression. Even the typically joyful characters like the Scarecrow and the Cowardly Lion are affected. Tik-Tok, who is finally found, reveals an amusing twist: Tinker’s belief that Tik-Tok’s guarantee was expiring was off by a whopping 924 years, as Tik-Tok was actually manufactured in 1879.
Ozma assigns Tinker the daunting task of creating an invention to cure the widespread melancholy. However, Tinker, doubting his own abilities, struggles to produce something meaningful. His eventual invention turns out to be a placebo, but it ultimately isn’t the device that solves the problem. The Widdlebits and Astoria are summoned to the Emerald City, and prove to be the unexpected solution. Their unrestrained laughter of the Widdlebits and sheer joy at seeing Tik-Tok and the Scarecrow inadvertently break the depressive spell.
For her bravery and wisdom, Ozma names Astoria Empress of the Nursery, a title that honors her nurturing role and deep connection to the Widdlebits. Meanwhile, Mr. Tinker decides to remain in Oz. Though he initially feels insecure, he comes to understand that his true worth isn’t just in his inventions but in his willingness to help others. As a parting gift, he gives Dorothy his pocket watch, one he has repaired, to guide her back to Kansas. The watch only works one way, but when Dorothy returns home, she discovers that it has been set so that no time has passed since she closed the gate.
9. Ozma and the Wayward Wand By Polly Berends Illustrated by David Rose
The story begins with a carnival in Kansas, where Dorothy is eager to escape the monotony of life on the farm. While exploring the carnival, she notices a sign offering a prize for the yellowest hen, which brings fond memories of her friend Billina from Oz. Dorothy’s excitement leads her to a fortune-teller’s tent, where Madam Zsa Zsa invites her to gaze into a crystal ball. To Dorothy’s amazement, she sees Ozma, Billina, and the magical Land of Oz. Moved by the vision, Dorothy instinctively signals her desire to return to Oz.
However, Dorothy’s focus soon shifts when she decides to ride in a hot air balloon. Chaos ensues when the balloonist leaps out to catch Toto, leaving Dorothy stranded as the balloon spirals out of control. Meanwhile, in Oz, Ozma uses her magical picture to observe Dorothy’s plight, discovering that the balloon is dangerously drifting over the deadly desert and running out of air.
Determined to save Dorothy, Ozma takes action. She commissions her trusty Sawhorse and red wagon to travel to the desert and also reassembles the Gump with sofas to carry Scarecrow and Billina by air to Dorothy. The Scarecrow cleverly helps keep Dorothy’s balloon afloat by using his straw as kindling for fire. At the same time, Ozma arrives at the deadly desert and unrolls a magical carpet just in time to rescue Dorothy.
While these daring rescues unfold, back in the Emerald City, trouble is brewing. A curious young boy named Speck sneaks into the palace and discovers Ozma’s wand unattended. Unable to resist its allure, Speck begins to play with the wand, setting off a series of magical mishaps that threaten to complicate matters further.
When Ozma and her friends arrive at Emerald City there is a dark cloud emminating from the palace and hail cromming from the sky. When they arrive at the throne room they are shocked to see a giant toad and a young boy distressed. He explains he tried to use the want and each thing he asked for turned out to be the exact opposite of what he wanted and he was unable to undo the magic. Ozma regains the wand and restores order. After spending time at the castle Dorothy decides to return to Kansas.
During the course of the last few books there is no mention of the Wizard leading to the theory he is being trained in sorcery by Glinda in the south.
10. Dorothy and the old King Crow By Dorothy Haas and Illistrated by C. S. Ewig
This delightful 47 page children’s book is designed for young readers, featuring a simple story and enchanting illustrations on nearly every page. It has five sections and 47 pages.
Dorothy is upset about being bad at spelling in school. Wishing to forget her troubles and take a break, she waves her magic handkerchief and is transported back to Oz. In moments, she is reunited with the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion.
Excited to be together again, the Scarecrow sets off to gather berries for Dorothy’s lunch but is quickly whisked away by a flock of crows. Using his quick thinking, the Scarecrow leaves a trail of straw for Dorothy and her friends to follow. Sadly, when they find him, he’s under a spell that forces him to sing praises of the King Crow.
The King Crow, who despises scarecrows, casts the spell as revenge. He smugly offers to undo it—if Dorothy can correctly spell the word “bamboozlement.” He gives her one hour and flies away.
Thankfully, Dorothy encounters a spelling bee who teaches her the word just in time. When the King Crow returns, Dorothy confidently spells the word, breaking the spell and restoring the Scarecrow. The friends celebrate their victory by laughing at the King Crow’s foiled plan.
As Dorothy wipes away tears of laughter with her handkerchief, — just as she did in the seven-leaf clover story—she accidentally waves it again. In an instant, she is transported back to Kansas. Along the way, Dorothy learns that even something as frustrating as spelling can lead to magical adventures and fun.
11. Dorothy of Oz By Roger Baum
Written by L. Frank Baum’s great-grandson. He took on a similar mantle of writing children’s stories with his first book, Long Ears And Tailspin In Candy Land (1968). In the 1980’s the International Wizard of Oz Club asked Roger to pen original Oz stories. Which would result in a string of successful Oz stories. This was the first he would publish in 1989 which would continue to gain recognition, including a film adaption entitled Legends of Oz Dorothy’s Return.
Illustrated by Elizabeth Miles. Her refreshing take on the land of Oz gives a fresh look to the fairytale.
The story begins with a familiar setting of Kansas. Dorothy looks out of her window to see a beautiful rainbow on the horizon and promptly resolves to run toward it. Hoping she can touch it. As they near the rainbow, Dorothy notices that Glinda is inside the rainbow and has used it to reach out to Dorothy. Her three friends (Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion) are in grave danger and she must return immediately. Glinda then promptly disappears, leaving behind only the rainbow. Yet left beneath the rainbow are the silver slippers from her first trip to Oz. There is a note inside from Glinda and Princess Ozma that informs her that the shoes have been retrieved from the deadly desert. However, due to the toxicity of the dessert, there is only enough power to bring her back to Oz and return her home one final time. Without hesitation, Dorothy places them back onto her feet clicking them three times and saying Take me to Oz.
Moments later, she flies over the rainbow and lands in an unknown part of Oz. It is only after she meets Wiser, an owl covered in molasses that she learns she is in Gilikn County and is next to Candy County. Wiser advises her to ask the Royal Marshmallow of the land to get directions to her friends. Giving her a warning to watch out for molasses. To Dorothy’s amazement, she comes to a land made entirely of candy from chocolate rivers and molasses puddles. Without thinking Dorothy and Toto begin eating the lollipops and other confectionary of the land. They are soon arrested by a giant candy apple who informs them they have broken the rules of Candy County. She is escorted directly to the Royal Gaint Marshmellow. The poor ruler of this land has a dreadful stomach ache that causes him and his people immense misery. Dorothy quickly deducts that this is due to the ruler eating too many sweets and that he must stick to only eating marshmallows. With a resolution to the king’s pain, he dismisses the charges of Lollipop picking and tells her she is close to Gaylette’s Palace and her Prince Quelala. After the candy people provide her with some treats for her journey she takes refuge in a large oak tree before continuing on with her journey.
The next day, Dorothy is awakened by a peculiar jester dressed in purple and white, wearing a pointed hat with bells. The jester introduces himself as the court jester to Gaylette, explaining that something strange is happening at the castle. However, once Dorothy enters the castle, the jester’s true nature is revealed. She meets her old friend, the China Princess, who explains that the jester is a common trickster who has lured many people to the castle for his amusement. He had once been a jolly jester, but after coming into possession of the Wicked Witch of the West’s wand, he began to turn as wicked and cruel as she had been. Realizing Toto has wandered off, Dorothy agrees to take the China Princess with her in her dress pocket. However, it’s too late when she finds Toto—he has been turned into a porcelain dog. The jester reveals his collection of porcelain dolls, including Princess Gaylette and her three friends. Forced to become the jester’s maid, Dorothy devises a plan to escape.
Using the jester’s greed to expand his collection of porcelain dolls, Dorothy convinces him to let her leave the castle to bring back Glinda the Good for his collection. She even manages to persuade him to allow Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion to join her, though he holds Toto as collateral. Her friends are puzzled by her plan, but Dorothy resolves that if Ozma and Glinda did not come to their aid, there must be a deeper reason, and she needs to consult with the sorceress.
Upon leaving the castle, Dorothy encounters Wiser again, who advises them to build a boat using wood from the Talking Trees Forest nearby. The trees are persuaded to spare a few limbs, resulting in a tugboat-like craft. They name the boat “Tugg,” and with a painted mouth, it can speak.
As they journey down the Munchkin River, they encounter many obstacles. The first occurs when they dock the boat for the night. When Scarecrow and Tin Man go to search the land nearby and fail to return, Dorothy and the others set off to find them. They soon meet a gamekeeper, who tells them they must win a magical maze game within 24 hours, or they will become victims of the gamekeeper’s spell. Thankfully, with the help of Tugg’s foghorn, they find the exit, and Lion leaps them across the notorious boulders that block the path. The gamekeeper reveals himself as a schoolteacher who has been enchanted for many years, along with his town, by the Wicked Witch of the West. After a meal in the town, they continue on the river and find themselves in a cavern full of dragons. The dragons agree to let them live if they find them a better home. The third obstacle arises as they reach Munchkinland, where the rain pours heavily along the river. Dorothy is greeted by her friend Boq, who tells her that terrible storms have been ravaging Munchkinland for months, making farming impossible. Worse, the Yellow Brick Road is no longer yellow. Boq explains that the Witch of the North used a spell to capture sunshine, requested by the Wizard of Oz to guide travelers to the Emerald City. Without sunshine for months, the road lost its color. Scarecrow deduces that the storm is emanating from where Dorothy’s house landed, from the Wicked Witch of the East. They find a spike tree blocking the Yellow Brick Road, and the Tin Man cuts it down. They discover a loose brick on the road and replace it, restoring the road and breaking the curse..
Heading further south down the river, the China Doll Princess finally returns to her people in Dainty China Country. Meanwhile, Tugg returns to the talking trees to seek further advice on where to house the dragons. Dorothy and her friends are greeted by the Sawhorse, who carries them past the Hammer-Heads’ hill to Glinda’s Palace. Glinda and Princess Ozma learn about the Jester using the Wicked Witch of the West’s wand in violation of Ozma’s laws. However, they cannot battle with their own magic, as the power of the Wicked Witch’s wand matches that of Glinda and Ozma.
They devise a plan to create life-sized replica china dolls of Glinda, the Lion, the Scarecrow, and the Tin Man to hide in, using the craftsmanship of the people from Dainty China Country. With the Sawhorse’s help, moving at a speed fast enough not to break the china, the group soon returns to Princess Gaylette’s castle. Wiser greets Dorothy upon her arrival and even helps her unload the china. Unfortunately, despite all the planning, the Jester quickly catches onto the ruse. Dorothy then remembers what Glinda and Ozma had said about overcoming evil with love. She forces the Jester to see himself and realize how the wand has warped the joy he once had. In a moment of realization, he hands the wand to Dorothy, and she breaks it in half. This action breaks the china enchantment over the subjects of the palace and on Toto.
The Jester is left remorseful for his wicked deeds under the influence of the wand and vows to serve Princess Gaylette as a loyal jester. Dorothy entrusts the remains of the wand to Glinda, so the wicked magic may never harm anyone again. The Wizard, Ozma, and Glinda arrive at Princess Gaylette’s palace to rejoice in this triumph. Tugg’s foghorn alerts everyone that he has returned up Munchkin River with a newfound home for the dragons near Princess Gaylette’s palace.
Dorothy then uses her silver slippers one final time to return to Kansas. Aunt Em and Uncle Henry look toward the rainbow stretching across the Kansas prairie, and Dorothy knows it is her magical friends in Oz signaling a goodbye to her.
12. The Road to Oz by L. Frank Baum Illustrated by John R. Neil
This is the shortest of all L. Frank Baum’s books and features a fast-paced setting. It is the last in his series to focus solely on Dorothy and her magical journey to Oz. By this point, the formula was beginning to feel a bit tired—especially when considering the non-canonical books that have Dorothy returning to Oz multiple times.
Moving forward, the Oz stories take on a new tone, shifting the focus to new lands within Oz and introducing new protagonists. While these changes feel necessary, there is still something oddly missing when Dorothy is not included.
Though often considered one of the weaker entries in the series, I personally enjoy its brisk pacing and the cheerful, comforting storytelling. The final scene, featuring a grand parade of characters all gathered in one chapter, feels almost like a “Marvel assembled” moment—a spectacular send-off for Dorothy’s adventures.
Dorothy is playing with Toto on the farm when a kindly hobo passes by, asking for directions to Butterfield. He introduces himself as the Shaggy Man because he dresses in rags. His philosophy in life centers on love and an aversion to material possessions. His only proud possession is a magnet that seemingly makes anyone unconditionally love him. Indeed, even Dorothy finds herself charmed by the peculiar man. She learns that he wishes to know the way to Butterfield to avoid a gentleman who owes him fifteen cents. Dorothy agrees to show him the way, bringing her dog along for the walk. However, despite her bearings of the prairie, she finds herself completely lost when the road splits into seven paths. Confused, she decides to take the seventh path, which leads to a different dimension.
Following the path, they meet a young boy dressed in a sailor outfit named Button Bright, who, despite being quite lost, seems perfectly calm. Button Bright innocently knows very little about anything and often responds with “Don’t know,” much to Dorothy’s frustration. The Shaggy Man suggests that they look after him for the time being and bring the boy along with them.
Venturing onwards, they enter Foxville, a town made up of finely dressed, talking foxes. Dorothy realizes they are on a fairy adventure and feels a sense of calm. The wanderers are introduced to the King of Foxville, who wishes to receive an invitation to Ozma’s royal birthday upon learning who Dorothy is. She promises to invite him once she sees Ozma again. Meanwhile, the Fox King takes a liking to Button Bright, whom he believes to be astute due to his simple mind. As a result, he transforms Button Bright’s head into that of a fox, which causes the young boy much anguish.
Leaving Foxville, they encounter Polychrome, a fair maiden who claims to be one of the Rainbow’s daughters. She had been dancing at the rainbow’s end and was left behind when her father lifted the rainbow back to the sky. Dorothy recommends she join them on their travels, as they will certainly reach Oz, where she can ask Ozma to return her home to her father.
A familiar set of events transpires when they enter Dunkiton. The town consists only of donkeys, who take an instant disliking to Button Bright due to his fox head, as foxes are their sworn enemies. However, the Shaggy Man is able to soothe the donkeys and gain an audience with King Kik-a-Bray, who bestows upon him a donkey’s head as a reward for his cleverness. Despite living at odds with the foxes, the donkeys also ask for an invitation to Ozma’s party.
With a now cranky Shaggy Man sporting a donkey’s head, they continue along their way and meet the strange Musicker, a man who produces music simply by breathing because his lungs function as organs. Then, they meet the Scoodlers, strange creatures who remove their heads and throw them as weapons. The Scoodlers are far less welcoming than the other inhabitants they have encountered, and their queen wishes to turn the traveling party into soup. The Shaggy Man quickly comes to the rescue, grabbing many of the Scoodlers’ heads and tossing them into a gulf.
Leaving the domain of the Scoodlers, they reach the edge of the Deadly Desert that surrounds Oz. The Shaggy Man uses a magical incantation to summon his old friend, Johnny Dooit, who helps them cross the desert by building a sandboat. Upon reaching the borders of Winkie Country, they discover the Truth Pond. A parched Button Bright falls into the water and emerges with his normal head, prompting the Shaggy Man to take a plunge inside as well. The happy company is soon greeted by Tik-Tok and Billina, who have come to escort them to the Tin Castle of the Tin Woodman. There, they rest for the night before venturing on to the Emerald City for Ozma’s party.
After seeing Jack Pumpkinhead’s cemetery of spoiled heads and his new home, the group enters the Emerald City. The Shaggy Man takes a liking to the city and its happy people and is pleased when, after washing up, his new clothes remain shaggy to match his preference.
Ozma reveals to Dorothy that she had conjured the roads in Kansas to guide her toward Oz for her birthday party. However, it was by chance that she met her new friends along the way. The Shaggy Man, having bathed in the Truth Pond, admits that he had stolen the Love Magnet from a girl in Butterfield, but he is without remorse, as he did so to allow her to fall in love with her true sweetheart and be married. Nevertheless, eager to be a good subject to the princess, he agrees to Ozma’s decree that the Love Magnet be donated to her and hung over the city gates.
Ozma’s birthday party includes a wide array of guests, including Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, the Cowardly Lion, the Hungry Tiger, the Wizard, the Good Witch of the North, Jellia Jamb, Glinda, Jack Pumpkinhead, the Sawhorse, the Woggle-Bug, Tik-Tok, Billina and her new hens, Queen Zixi of Ix, the Queen of Merryland, four wooden soldiers, the Candy Man from Merryland, the Braided Man from Boboland’s Pyramid Mountain, the Queen of Ev, King Evoldo and his nine siblings from the Land of Ev, and even Santa Claus.
After a marvelous celebration, the Wizard showcases his new magic by creating soap bubbles for many of his guests to return to their respective homes. Dorothy, on the other hand, opts to go home the next day via the Magic Belt.
13. The Sea Fairies by L. Frank Baum Illustrated by John R. Neil
This was one of many attempts from L. Frank Baum to create a new fairytale story set outside the magical land of Oz. The Sea Fairies was not as successful as the Oz books and despite his attempt to make this into a series by writing a sequel entitled Sky Island it never became a commercial success. He would eventually intergate the main characters Trot and Cap’n Bill into the Oz universe in the later book The Scarecrow of Oz. A story that upon reading forced me to read the Sea Fairies to provide context. Though to book is a fun read it is easy to see how this did not measure up to Oz.
The Sea Fairies tells the story of a young girl named Mayre Griffiths, affectionately known as Trot, who lives by the sea in California. Trot is a small, adventurous child with an insatiable curiosity about the ocean and a deep love for its waves. Her best friend and guardian is Cap’n Bill, a retired sailor with a wooden leg who once captained the Anemone, a trading schooner that sailed the coastal waters.
Cap’n Bill and Trot share a special bond. He had been a close friend of Trot’s father, Charlie Griffiths, and the two men had sailed together for many years. After Cap’n Bill lost his leg in an accident, Charlie took over as captain of the Anemone, and Cap’n Bill retired to live peacefully ashore with the Griffiths family. Trot was born shortly after the accident, and Cap’n Bill grew very fond of the little girl.
Though her real name was Mayre, as a young toddler, she was always running around taking busy little steps. Her mother and Cap’n Bill began calling her “Trot,” a nickname that stuck, and she became known as Trot, the energetic, curious child who loved the sea.
One day, Trot and Cap’n Bill decide to take a rowboat out onto the water. As they row along the coast, they come upon a mysterious cave hidden among the rocks. Curiosity piqued, they venture inside, where they encounter a mermaid named Clia. She takes an immediate liking to Trot and offers to show her the wonders of life beneath the sea.
Clia explains that, because they cannot breathe underwater, they cannot join her in the ocean. However, she assures them that she has a way to help them. Cap’n Bill, ever cautious and protective of Trot, insists that he will only allow her to go if he can accompany her to ensure her safety.
To their astonishment, instead of struggling for breath or drowning, they find themselves able to breathe underwater effortlessly. As they descend into the depths, they are surrounded by the most beautiful and ethereal beings—mermaids, or more accurately, sea fairies. The sight is nothing short of magical, with shimmering creatures who greet them warmly and lead them through their underwater world. Cap’n Bill particularly enjoys his newfound agility with his new tail.
The sea fairies inform Trot and Cap’n Bill that, while they are impervious to harm, they must remain cautious of dangerous creatures who might pose a threat. Guided by Clia, they swim toward the palace of Queen Aquareine, the regal ruler of the mermaids, who welcomes them into her undersea kingdom. Queen Aquareine, a graceful and wise monarch, explains that the sea fairies have chosen to reveal themselves to Trot because of her pure heart and kind nature. The queen’s chief attendant is Princess Clia.
Queen Aquareine grants them access to meet various sea creatures, including King Anko, a sea serpent several thousand years old, Mummercubble, a disagreeable sea pig, and the aristocratic codfish, who pride themselves on their noble pedigree. They also meet the fiddler crabs, who play enchanting music, and the bashful octopus, whom Trot immediately dislikes due to her associations with the Stannerd Oil Company on land. However, the queen reassures her that the octopus is truly a gentle creature. King Anko is a particularly revered creature in the sea and they promise to visit him in his own kingdom.
Despite the peacefulness of the kingdoms, they are warned about Zog, a fearsome creature—part fish, part man, part beast, and part serpent. Centuries ago, the sea cast Zog into the depths, where he has caused trouble ever since. Zog once waged a terrible war against King Anko, but the sea serpent ultimately defeated him, forcing him into his castle where he remains trapped. Anko, ever watchful, knows that if he catches Zog outside his enchanted castle, he will destroy him—and Zog is fully aware of this.
As Trot and Cap’n Bill continue their journey through the sea, they marvel at the vibrant coral reefs, shimmering schools of fish, and the mystical creatures that inhabit the depths. Queen Aquareine shares the laws of the sea, explaining how the mermaids protect it from those who seek to exploit its riches for selfish gain.
However, their journey is abruptly interrupted when sea devils surround Trot, Bill, Queen Aquareine, and Clia, trapping them in a treacherous situation. Soon, the party finds themselves imprisoned in the dark, foreboding castle of the evil Zog, where he holds dominion over the sea. Among Zog’s servants is a young human boy who, through magic, can walk freely in the sea. He was once Prince Sacho of Sacharhineolaland, but after his ship sank, he was captured by Zog and forced into slavery, kept alive by magic that prevents him from drowning.
Zog harbors a deep grudge against Queen Aquareine, seeking to destroy her as an act of revenge against King Anko, whom he cannot defeat. Within Zog’s sinister palace, Trot and Cap’n Bill are held prisoner. However, during their captivity, Cap’n Bill discovers that his long-lost brother, Cap’n Joe Weedles, is also a slave in Zog’s castle. Joe, now equipped with gills to breathe underwater, claims that he will never return to the surface.
Queen Aquareine is forced to endure a series of trials to prove her strength in Zog’s twisted games. In the first trial, she faces the Yell-Maker, a creature that emits deafening sounds. Thanks to her fairy magic, she remains unharmed. In the second trial, Zog attempts to boil everyone with hot water, but they remain unscathed. While locked away, Queen Aquareine devises a plan to craft a golden sword to defeat Zog. Using the palace’s slaves—some of whom are skilled in working with furnaces and metals—Cap’n Bill trades some of his land trinkets to Agga-Groo in exchange for the golden sword. Meanwhile, Zog attempts to freeze them while they sleep, but they use their magic to thaw out the freezing cold.
Once the sword is complete, Queen Aquareine prepares to face Zog. However, to everyone’s dismay, the sword fails to defeat him, and even her magic wand proves useless. Just as all hope seems lost, King Anko appears, using his immense power to defeat Zog. Taken by surprise, Zog’s great fear of Anko strips him of his magical abilities. When Anko releases his deadly coils, Zog is reduced to a mass of jelly-like pulp, lifeless and formless.
With Zog defeated, the sea is finally safe. The new undersea kingdom is left without a ruler, and Sacho is offered the position. However, Sacho declines, believing he is more useful as an aide, given his long years of service. It is then decided that Cap’n Joe will become the new ruler of this domain.
With Zog vanquished and the ocean restored to peace, Trot and Cap’n Bill are celebrated by the sea fairies. However, despite the wonders they’ve witnessed, they realize they must return to the surface. Before they leave, Queen Aquareine gives Trot a golden ring, telling her that if she ever finds herself lost or in need of help at sea, she need only call her name, and the mermaids will come to her aid. Queen Aquareine and Princess Clia escort them back to the surface, restoring them to their natural forms.
Trot and Cap’n Bill, forever changed by their incredible adventure, row back to shore, wondering if anyone will believe the fantastical tale they have to tell. They decide that, while life on land may be safer, the marvels beneath the sea are unforgettable.
14. Dorothy and the Magic Belt by Susan Saunders Illustrated by David Rose
In the last of the short stories written for younger audiences, we see the familiar formula in which Dorothy returns to Oz once more. This particular story is one of the better ones among the four, incorporating lore from previous books, such as Dr. Nikidik, the creator of the magic Powder of Life and the magical wishing pills in The Marvelous Land of Oz.
Unfortunately, the story contains a few inconsistencies that may contradict later Oz books. For example, Dorothy travels to Oz right before her aunt and uncle’s eyes, leading them to believe Oz is real. However, in The Emerald City of Oz, they are under the impression that Oz is merely a fabrication of Dorothy’s mind. Further inconsistencies involve Mombi and Dr. Nikidik. While The Marvelous Land of Oz briefly mentions Dr. Nikidik, this story expands on his background. However, in The Patchwork Girl of Oz, another magician named Dr. Pipt is also depicted as creating the Powder of Life, raising uncertainty about whether the two are meant to be the same character or separate individuals. We also have Mombi turned into a child by the end of this book when in truth she is still old and bitter in the Ruth Plumley Thompson’s books.
The story begins in autumn, with Dorothy explaining Oz to her skeptical aunt and uncle. When she demonstrates her signal to Ozma, an unexpected reaction whisks her back to Oz, as Ozma mistakenly believes it to be a genuine call for help. Meanwhile, in the Gillikin Country, a young boy named Nik has grown tired of eating turnips for dinner every night. His father, the once-famous wizard Nikidik, had traded in magic for farming after Ozma and Glinda forbade the practice of sorcery. Frustrated with their current life, Nik, named after his father, resolves to steal Ozma’s Magic Belt so he can practice magic freely and protect himself from Glinda’s potential wrath. Packing his father’s old magical tricks—rescued from a bonfire—he prepares for his mission, bringing along an ancient tome of spells, Nikidik’s Aging Powder, and Youthing Powder.
Back at the Emerald City, Dorothy wakes early and takes a ride on the Sawhorse. While she is away, Nik sneaks into the palace and uses the Youthing Powder to de-age its inhabitants. He first transforms the Guardian of the Gates into a child before blowing a generous amount of powder into the air. Upon reaching the throne room, he turns the Hungry Tiger and Cowardly Lion into cubs and, in the process, inadvertently reverts Ozma back into her original form as the young boy Tip. Amidst the ensuing chaos, Nik seizes the Magic Belt and escapes to Gillikin Mountain.
When Dorothy returns from her ride, she notices a large purple cloud hanging over the Emerald City. Upon entering, she discovers that most of the inhabitants have been turned into infants. Searching for Ozma, she realizes that everyone affected—including Ozma—continues to age backward. However, Tik-Tok remains unaffected, though his clockworks have been damaged by the powder. All he can say is “Kidikin,” which Dorothy does not immediately understand.
Fearing what might happen if the city’s residents continue to regress, Dorothy and the Sawhorse consider who could help them the fastest. They decide to seek out the Tin Man in the Winkie Country, where the Scarecrow and Jack Pumpkinhead are also visiting. At the Tin Castle, Dorothy explains what has happened, including Tik-Tok’s strange utterance. The Scarecrow, using his wit, deduces that “Kidikin” is simply “Nikidik” spelled backward. Jack recalls that Nikidik was the creator of the Powder of Life and was rumored to live near Mombi’s former home. With this clue, the group sets off toward Nikidik’s mountain, while the Sawhorse is sent to Glinda’s palace for magical aid.
After a day’s journey, they arrive at Gillikin Mountain and see an opulent purple castle standing at its base. Meanwhile, Nik struggles to wield the power of the Magic Belt. His father, fearing Glinda’s wrath, refuses to join him, choosing instead to flee. Without his father’s guidance, Nik cannot read many of the spells in his ancient tome. Desperate, he seeks out Mombi, the former witch who has been stripped of her magical abilities. He reasons that if he restores her youth, she may regain her magic. Sure enough, the spell works, and Mombi becomes a younger, mean-spirited witch once more. However, she tricks Nik into trading a genuine spell that turns anything into stone for a false one, hoping to uncover his true secrets.
At this point, Dorothy and her companions arrive at the castle, unaware of Mombi’s presence. As they confront Nik and reveal that the belt is the source of his power, Mombi commands a stone cow to attack him in an attempt to seize the belt for herself. In the commotion, Jack accidentally trips Nik, causing him to spill the remaining Youthing Powder. The powder engulfs Nik, Mombi, and the stone cow, transforming them all into babies.
Dorothy retrieves the Magic Belt, and Glinda soon arrives with the Sawhorse. Glinda confronts the elder Nikidik, who truthfully explains that he had no involvement in his son’s scheme. He expresses regret that his family’s magical legacy was taken away and offers to raise Nik again with the hope of teaching him to respect the laws of Oz. Glinda agrees but suggests that instead of magic, he could practice the art of fireworks, a skill described in his ancient book, which would bring him greater prosperity than farming ever did.
With the Magic Belt, Dorothy restores everyone in the Emerald City to their original selves. With order restored, she decides to return home to Kansas.
15. The Emerald City of Oz By L. Frank Baum Illustrated by John R. Neil
The story begins with the Nome King, Roquat the Red, seething with rage after being defeated in Ozma of Oz. He had been humiliated by Dorothy and Ozma and lost his vast collection of magical prisoners. Determined to take revenge on Oz, he summons his minions and allies himself with a collection of wicked creatures, including the powerful Whimsies (beings with tiny heads but large, artificial ones to appear menacing), the Growleywogs (giant, brutish monsters), and the Phanfasms (powerful shape-shifting demons who live on Mount Phantastico). Roquat’s ultimate goal is to lead this vast army into Oz, destroy its inhabitants, and reclaim the Magic Belt that Ozma had taken from him. To ensure secrecy, Roquat plans to tunnel under the Deadly Desert, the natural barrier that surrounds Oz and turns intruders to dust. He orders his Nome subjects to dig an underground passage so that his army can march right into Oz undetected.
Meanwhile, Dorothy faces a crisis in the real world. Her beloved Aunt Em and Uncle Henry are facing financial ruin. A severe drought has left them unable to pay their mortgage, and they are at risk of losing their farm. Heartbroken, Dorothy tells Princess Ozma about their troubles, and Ozma, ever generous, offers to bring them to Oz permanently.
With a wave of her Magic Belt, Ozma transports Aunt Em and Uncle Henry to the Emerald City. While they are initially confused and overwhelmed, Dorothy reassures them that Oz is a paradise where they will never have to work or worry about money again. However, the simple Kansas farmers struggle to adjust to a land where magic and strange creatures abound.
In an effort to help them feel more comfortable, Dorothy takes them on a grand tour of Oz, introducing them to its diverse and whimsical inhabitants.
Dorothy, Aunt Em, and Uncle Henry, accompanied by the Shaggy Man, Tik-Tok, and Billina the Hen, embark on a journey across Oz. Along the way, they encounter many eccentric communities, including:
- The Cuttenclips – A society of paper-thin people, all beautifully cut from paper by their leader, Miss Cuttenclip. These beings are delicate and graceful but easily torn, making them highly vulnerable.
- The Fuddles – A race of people who are like living jigsaw puzzles. They constantly fall apart into pieces and must be reassembled before they can function properly.
- Utensia – A kingdom where all inhabitants are animated kitchen utensils. They have their own civilization, with spoons, forks, and knives forming the ruling class.
- Bunbury – A land where the people are made of baked goods, such as gingerbread and cake. They are highly delicate and must be careful not to crumble or be eaten.
- The Rigmaroles – A group of people who talk in endless, roundabout sentences without ever getting to the point.
- The Flutterbudgets – Inhabitants who worry about everything, no matter how trivial. They are constantly in a state of anxiety over imagined disasters.
These whimsical lands serve as a humorous contrast to the real-world struggles that Aunt Em and Uncle Henry faced in Kansas, showing the endless diversity of Oz.
While Dorothy and her companions explore Oz, the Nome King and his army complete their tunnel under the Deadly Desert. On the verge of launching their attack, Roquat is confident of victory, believing that the peace-loving Ozites are unprepared for war.
Unbeknownst to him, Ozma has been quietly observing everything through her magic. She remains determined not to use violence against the wicked Nome King and tries to resolve the plan peacefully. With her peaceful determination and The Scarecrow’s brain they devise a plan together. First they conjure the tunnel the Nome’s have been digging become extremely dusty so that when they are venturing through they will become unmeasurably thirsty.
As the Nome King and his army burst into Oz, through the Emerald City gardens instead of rushing to attack they all rush to the Water of Oblivion to drink the water. The enchanted water washes away all memories of their hatred and plans for conquest.
Now, completely unaware of their past identities and intentions, the Nomes and their allies wander aimlessly, having forgotten why they were even in Oz in the first place. Without their memories, they are rendered harmless, and they peacefully return to their own lands. Roquat, stripped of his vengeful ambitions, becomes docile. His once fearsome army disbands, and the invasion is effectively neutralized without a single act of violence.
After the threat is resolved, Aunt Em and Uncle Henry decide to settle permanently in the Emerald City. While they initially found Oz’s oddities unsettling, they come to appreciate the security and magic of their new home. Ozma decides to seal off Oz from the outside world after realaizing the threat from the Nomes and the technological advances of the outside world. Glinda casts a powerful spell that prevents further contact with the outside world, ensuring that no one from Kansas (or anywhere else) can ever visit again.
This was intended to give The Emerald City of Oz a sense of finality, as Baum had originally planned to end the series here.
The Royal Age of Oz
16. Sky Island By L. Frank Baum Illustrated by John R. Neil
This new fairytale sees the return of Trot and Cap’n Bill from The Sea Fairies, as well as Oz characters Button-Bright and Polychrome. In this book, Button-Bright seems to have aged since his previous appearance in The Road to Oz and takes a more active role in problem-solving. We also gain insight into his background and the possible reason he was lost in the magical road to begin with.
However, what strikes me most about Sky Island is how infinitely superior it is to The Sea Fairies, which took a softer, more whimsical approach to storytelling. The mermaids’ underwater world in the previous book felt vastly safer compared to Sky Island, where there is genuine peril, and the characters face real dangers.
Trot, a young girl living near the California coast, is playing on the beach when she meets a curious boy named Button-Bright. The boy clings to a peculiar umbrella, which he claims holds the magic to transport people anywhere. When opened and a destination is spoken aloud, it instantly carries its holder to that place. Button-Bright is cheerful but absentminded, often getting lost.
Trot allows Button-Bright to stay at her parents’ house and introduces him to her good friend Cap’n Bill. Button-Bright explains how he came to her part of America. His family lives in Philadelphia and comes from wealth and good fortune. One rainy day, he found the magic umbrella and wished to visit his uncle, unknowingly activating its powers. His uncle, realizing what had happened, revealed that the umbrella was the source of the family’s good fortune and scolded Button-Bright, instructing him to return home. Fearing punishment, Button-Bright used the umbrella again—this time to Chicago. From there, he took several unplanned trips across the United States, eventually landing near Trot’s home.
Cap’n Bill is skeptical of the tale, but Button-Bright demonstrates the umbrella’s power by taking Trot to a nearby town to fetch yarn for her mother. After witnessing this, Cap’n Bill is reluctantly convinced to embark on an adventure. To accommodate all three of them, he constructs a seat with two ropes attached to the umbrella.
When Button-Bright activates the umbrella, Trot and Cap’n Bill decide to visit a small island they had previously spotted and nicknamed Sky Island, because it seemed to float halfway in the sky from where they lived. However, once they lift off, they quickly realize the umbrella has its own plans—soaring far beyond their intended destination.
The trio ascends high into the sky, marveling at the world below. As they drift through the clouds, they notice that the ocean has disappeared, replaced by a mysterious floating landmass. Their excitement soon turns to unease when they realize the journey is taking longer than expected. When they finally descend, they find themselves in an entirely unknown realm.
They land in a breathtaking region covered in lush, blue-colored vegetation. The ground, trees, and even the air have a distinct bluish tint. Almost immediately, they encounter strange blue-skinned people, known as the Blueskins—a grumpy and unpleasant race ruled by the tyrannical Boolooroo of the Blues.
The Boolooroo, believing himself superior to all, immediately captures the travelers, declaring them his prisoners. Unlike most rulers of the Blue Country, who serve for six years, the Boolooroo has refused to step down, holding power unlawfully for centuries. He enjoys bullying his subjects and finds amusement in tormenting outsiders.
His most gruesome punishment is known as “patching.” Victims are sliced in half with a massive guillotine-like knife and then sewn back together with mismatched parts, creating grotesque, unhappy hybrids. The Boolooroo announces his plan to patch Trot and Cap’n Bill while keeping Button-Bright as a servant.
Trot and Cap’n Bill are soon introduced to the Boolooroo’s six identical and rather unattractive daughters—the Snub-Nosed Princesses of the Blues (Cerulia, Turquoise, Sapphire, Azure, Cobalt, and Indigo). They are just as mean-spirited as their father and delight in tormenting Trot.
Meanwhile, the Boolooroo steals the magic umbrella, ensuring the visitors cannot escape. He assigns Trot as a slave to his daughters, forcing her to serve them, while Button-Bright and Cap’n Bill are made to work mixing neck ties in the palace gardens.
Despite the mistreatment she suffers—being beaten and bullied by the Snub-Nosed Princesses—Trot remains kind-hearted. She befriends the princesses’ pets, who take a liking to her, especially a parrot that proves to be a valuable ally.
Meanwhile, Button-Bright attempts to recover his magical umbrella from the King’s Treasure Chamber by tricking the guard, Boolooroo, into believing he is running an errand for the King. However, despite his thorough search, he cannot find the umbrella. Instead, he discovers the royal record book and decides to take it with him. The Boolooroos quickly realize they’ve been deceived, and Button-Bright rushes to warn his friends that they must flee. Desperate to escape, they take the risk of entering the fog bank—a place most Boolooroos believe leads to certain death.
Inside the fog, they find themselves in a damp but safe land, though the thick mist makes navigation nearly impossible. Fortunately, a giant frog comes to their aid, guiding them to the Pink Country. Trot, Cap’n Bill, and Button-Bright quickly notice the stark contrast between this land and the oppressive Blue Country. The Pinkies, a cheerful and kind-hearted people, welcome them at first. Unlike the Blues, the Pinkies are ruled by a queen, Tourmaline, who must live in poverty to prevent arrogance and corruption.
Although the Pinkies are friendly, their laws regarding strangers are unclear. After much debate, they decide that all outsiders must be thrown off the edge of Sky Island. Trot, Cap’n Bill, and Button-Bright are taken to the island’s edge, facing what seems like certain doom.
Just as the Pinkies prepare to enforce their law, Polychrome, the daughter of the Rainbow, descends from the sky. She recognizes Button-Bright from The Road to Oz and intervenes. Using her wisdom and persuasive abilities, Polychrome convinces the Pinkies to reinterpret their law, allowing the visitors to stay.
Note on Representation:
A problematic element in this part of the story is the reasoning behind the Pinkies’ law: the fairest complexion determines who rules. Since Trot is the fairest, she is declared the new Queen. While this may seem harmless within the context of Sky Island, where only blue, pink, and white skin tones exist, it can be uncomfortable when viewed through a modern lens—especially given the lack of diverse racial representation in Baum’s works.
As the Pinkies celebrate their new guests, Polychrome notices an unusual detail in their laws—whichever person in the kingdom has the palest skin must become Queen. Since Trot is fairer than Tourmaline, she is immediately declared the new ruler. Tourmaline, relieved to be free of her burdensome role, happily steps down to live as an ordinary citizen.
Now Queen, Trot decides to use her newfound power to recover Button-Bright’s magic umbrella from the Boolooroo. She rallies the Pinkies to mount an invasion of the Blue Country. Though gentle by nature, the Pinkies are willing to help, and they prepare for battle.
As they launch their attack on the Blue City, chaos erupts. During the battle, Cap’n Bill is captured by the Boolooroo, who immediately decides to carry out his gruesome “patching” punishment. The only available “patching partner” is a goat—meaning Cap’n Bill is at risk of being sewn together as a half-man, half-goat hybrid.
Determined to save her friend, Trot sneaks into the Blue City using a ring of invisibility given to her by a helpful Pinkie witch. As she navigates the treacherous palace, she finds unexpected allies—a kind-hearted Blueskin who secretly opposes the Boolooroo’s rule, as well as the very goat intended for Cap’n Bill’s patching.
Using clever strategy and the help of her allies, Trot manages to rescue Cap’n Bill just in time. Together, they overthrow the Boolooroo, capturing him before he can escape. Once his rule is over, the Blueskins refuse to continue fighting, and the war comes to a peaceful end.
After the Boolooroo is gone, Trot is declared the “Booloorooess” of the Blues, now ruling both the Pink and Blue Countries. For the first time in history, peace is established between the two lands, and the cruel traditions of the Blues are abolished. Using the Royal Book of Records, they determine who the next ruler of the Blues should be—someone who will no longer enforce the harsh practices of the past. Meanwhile, in Pinkie Land, Trot hands over the royal duties to the witch Pinkie.
With order restored and the magic umbrella recovered, Trot, Cap’n Bill, and Button-Bright bid farewell to their new friends. They return safely to the California coast, forever changed by their thrilling adventure.
Button-Bright finally returns home, though the magic umbrella is confiscated, indicating that he may not be embarking on any more adventures for a while.
17. Little Wizard Stories of Oz By L. Frank Baum Illustrated by John R. Neil
This is Baum’s attempt to bring the Oz books to younger readers. The stories are short and easy to read and have no overarching storyline that ties them together. The following is are several short stories that take place in the land of oz.
Story One: The Cowardly Lion and The Hungry Tiger
In this tale, the Cowardly Lion and the Hungry Tiger have grown bored of their dull duties protecting Ozma, who is seemingly never in danger in the peaceful land of Oz. Restless, they decide to give in to their primal urges and become true beasts. The Tiger vows to eat the first fat baby he finds, while the Lion pledges to tear apart the first man or woman he meets. As they search the grounds of the Emerald City, the Hungry Tiger stumbles upon an abandoned baby, crying out for its mother. However, instead of feasting on the child, he decides to comfort it and help find the mother. Miraculously, the mother is nearby and becomes frantic upon seeing the tiger. She falls over, and the Lion quickly assists her, taking pity on the distressed woman. Together, they realize that they are far too noble and respectful to harm anyone in Oz.
Story Two: Little Dorothy and Toto
Despite the Wizard’s concerns about Dorothy exploring Oz alone, she continues to venture off on her own, this time with her faithful dog, Toto, by her side. She heads southeast, where she encounters a sign warning of the Crinklink. Ignoring the warning, Dorothy believes that Oz is mostly safe now. She soon finds a large lake she cannot cross, and a tiny man claiming to be a ferryman offers to help. Though she doubts his ability due to his size, Dorothy agrees. To her surprise, the tiny man turns into a giant and scoops her up in his hand, racing off with her despite her pleas for him to stop. It is revealed that the “Crinklink” is the Wizard playing a trick on Dorothy to teach her a lesson about being more cautious while adventuring alone. The Wizard had turned into a giant and planned to keep Dorothy as a maid to wash his dishes, but in the end, he simply wanted to instill a sense of awareness in her.
Story Three: Tik-Tok and the Nome King
Tik-Tok heads to the Nome King to request new steel for his worn-out clockwork mechanisms that help him function. However, as expected, the Nome King is not accommodating. In a fit of rage, he hurls his mallet at Tik-Tok, reducing him to a heap of scrap metal. Kaliko, the king’s loyal subject, fears that Ozma will retaliate with an all-out war on the Nomes, so he secretly repairs Tik-Tok. When Tik-Tok is restored and announced before the Nome King, the king believes him to be a phantom. However, upon learning that Kaliko restored him, the king realizes his temper was unwise. To make amends, he allows Tik-Tok to leave with some jewels as a peace offering.
Story Four: Ozma and the Little Wizard
Ozma decides to explore the lands beyond the Emerald City to ensure her people are living happy and content lives. Taking the Wizard with her for assistance, they journey across the country and end up in an unknown part of Oz. There, they discover mischievous imps harassing the locals. Determined to help, the Wizard uses his bag of magical tricks to turn the imps into bushes. Unfortunately, this only makes them angrier, and they begin jeering thorns at him. He then turns them into pigs, but they grow even more furious and trip him up. Exasperated, he transforms them into doves, but the birds try to peck out their eyes. At last, Ozma decides they must become inanimate objects, so the Wizard turns them into buttons. He declares that they will remain buttons until they can prove themselves useful and kind, sewing them onto his coat as a reminder.
Story Five: Jack Pumpkinhead and the Saw Horse
Ozma learns that two young children are being held captive in a distant forest in Oz. She sends her loyal friend Jack Pumpkinhead on his trusty steed, the Saw Horse, to rescue them. Upon arrival, Jack discovers that the children are being held prisoner by the King of the Squirrels as punishment for stealing from the royal storehouse of winter nuts. Despite this, Jack resolves to free them, which enrages the squirrels. As he unties the children, the squirrels retaliate by breaking off a tree branch and smashing Jack’s head, leaving him headless. The Saw Horse instructs the children to mount Jack’s headless body onto him and climb on themselves so he can rush them to safety. Watching the events unfold through the Magic Picture, Ozma sends the Wizard, riding the Cowardly Lion, to bring Jack a replacement head.
Story Six: The Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman
While enjoying a pleasant boat ride together, the Tin Woodman has the unfortunate luck of falling into the water. The Scarecrow, unable to swim, struggles to save him until he encounters a murder of crows. Though they initially mock him, they agree to help by tying strings around various birds to lift the Tin Woodman out of the water. Unfortunately, the mischievous crows drop both the Tin Woodman and the Scarecrow into a forest, landing them on top of a tree. Thankfully, the Wizard is nearby with the Saw Horse. Using his magic, he rescues both of them and brings them safely back to land.
18. The Patchwork Girl of Oz By L. Frank Baum Illustrated by John R. Neil
The Patchwork Girl of Oz is the seventh book in The Oz series by L. Frank Baum, first published in 1913. This whimsical adventure introduces new characters while also featuring familiar ones from earlier books. The story follows a young boy named Ojo, his quest to save his beloved uncle, and the peculiar companions he meets along the way.
Ojo is a young Munchkin boy who lives in poverty with his silent and reserved uncle, Unc Nunkie, in a secluded part of the Blue Forest of the Munchkin Country. They live an isolated existence, often struggling with hunger. Ojo believes he is cursed with bad luck, calling himself Ojo the Unlucky.
One day, faced with an empty food supply and worsening conditions, Ojo and Unc Nunkie decide to leave their home in search of food and a better life. Their journey leads them to the home of Dr. Pipt, a legendary magician who specializes in creating powerful magical formulas, including the Powder of Life, which can bring inanimate objects to life. He has been working on this particular batch for several years.
At Dr. Pipt’s home, they meet his wife, Margolotte, who is preparing a new servant—a Patchwork Girl made of colorful fabric scraps. She intends for the Patchwork Girl to be a mindless, obedient worker once she is brought to life. Dr. Pipt brews a brain-enhancing formula, which is meant to provide the Patchwork Girl with only basic servitude traits. However, Ojo, out of curiosity and a desire to improve her existence, secretly adds extra qualities to the brain mixture, including intelligence, cleverness, and curiosity.
When the Powder of Life is sprinkled, the Patchwork Girl comes to life, full of energy, humor, and mischief. She names herself Scraps and immediately proves to be anything but obedient. However, during the magical process, a terrible accident occurs: a bottle of the Liquid of Petrifaction is knocked over and spills onto both Unc Nunkie and Margolotte, turning them into statues.
Ojo is devastated and begs Dr. Pipt for a way to undo the petrification spell. The magician explains that an antidote exists, but it requires five rare and difficult-to-obtain ingredients:
- A six-leaved clover
- The wing of a yellow butterfly
- A drop of oil from a live man’s body
- A piece of a gill from a pink fish
- Three hairs from a Woozy’s tail
Determined to save his beloved uncle, Ojo embarks on a journey to collect these ingredients, joined by Scraps and Bungle, a vain Glass Cat that Dr. Pipt had previously brought to life.
As they travel through Oz, the trio encounters various challenges and befriends new companions. One of these is the Woozy, a strange, box-shaped creature who reluctantly joins their quest. The Woozy has the three hairs they need, but removing them proves to be a difficult task.
Their journey eventually leads them to Dorothy Gale, who decides to take them to the Emerald City to seek Princess Ozma’s help. Upon arrival, they meet Ozma, the ruler of Oz, along with the Wizard of Oz and other familiar characters from previous books. However, Ojo faces an unexpected setback. Ozma has outlawed the picking of six-leaved clovers in Oz, believing that magic should not be used for personal gain. Desperate to complete his quest, Ojo secretly picks a six-leaved clover, but he is immediately caught and arrested.
Ojo is brought before Princess Ozma for breaking the law by picking a forbidden six-leaved clover. He admits his guilt, explaining he did it to save his uncle. Ozma forgives him, understanding his intentions, and allows him to keep the clover.
Ozma agrees to let the Crooked Magician use magic one last time to restore Unc Nunkie and Margolotte, then strips him of his powers. Ojo still needs to find, a gill of water from a dark well.
Dorothy, the Scarecrow, and Scraps volunteer to help him on his quest, and they prepare to leave the next day, hopeful but uncertain where to find the dark well. Ojo and friends visit Jack Pumpkinhead, who tells them to search for the dark well in the dangerous Quadling Country. On the way, they meet playful Tottenhots who toss the Scarecrow and Scraps. Dorothy stops them, and they agree to let the group sleep in one of their houses. In the morning, the journey continues.
Dorothy, Scarecrow, Ojo, and Scraps ask a Tottenhot man about a dark well and the people living in the nearby mountains, but he warns them to stay away. As they climb into a rocky canyon, they encounter warnings about a creature called the Yoop. They find the Yoop in a large cave behind iron bars, a huge, pink-clad giant who is ferocious and hungry but captive. The group tries to sneak past him, but the Yoop grabs the Scarecrow and Scraps, throwing them at Dorothy and Ojo, but everyone escapes unharmed. They continue their journey relieved to be free and thankful the giant is caged.
Dorothy and friends climb rocky hills and find a hidden path to the Country of the one-legged Hoppers. They meet Hip Hopper, a strong Hopper wrestler, who tells them about his people’s war with the two-legged Horners. He offers to guide them to the Horners’ land, and they follow him.Dorothy and friends visit the one-legged Hoppers, who are at war with the two-legged, horned Horners. The Scarecrow gets stuck on the fence between their lands, and Scraps meets Jak, the Horner chief. The war began over a misunderstood joke about the Hoppers’ single leg. They decide to wait for the joker to explain and prevent the war. Scraps visits the Chief Horner’s radium-lit home, meeting his strictly raised daughters. A joke causes tension with the Hoppers, but Diksey clears it up, avoiding war. The Horners help rescue the Scarecrow stuck on a fence, and the group plans to explore a nearby dark well in the radium mine.Diksey leads the group through a dark, slippery mine tunnel to find the dark well. Scraps slips, causing everyone to tumble but no one gets hurt. They reach a dimly lit cave where Ojo fills a flask with water from the well. Carefully, they all climb back safely, happy to have secured the precious water.
Dorothy and friends try to reach Winkie Country but are blocked by a river with no bridge. A lazy Quadling agrees to help build a raft for food tablets. They finish the raft, calm his angry wife, and stay overnight before crossing the river.
The next morning, they floated down the river on a raft, but the current kept reversing, carrying them back and forth. The Scarecrow and Ojo used a pole to steer and hold the raft steady. Eventually, the river flowed steadily toward the Winkie Country. They landed safely and walked carefully through fields of yellow lilies, mindful of the Tin Woodman’s kindness.
They reached the shining tin castle, where the Tin Woodman warmly greeted them and admired the Patchwork Girl. The Tin Woodman warmly welcomed Dorothy and friends. Ojo had gathered almost all items to revive his uncle except the left wing of a yellow butterfly, which the Tin Woodman forbade harming. They traveled to Ozma for help. Ozma revealed the butterfly wing quest was impossible and that Dr. Pipt would make no more Powder of Life.
Just when it seems like all hope is lost, the Wizard of Oz announces that he has a way to restore the petrified figures—without needing the forbidden clover.
The Wizard successfully reverses the spell, bringing both Unc Nunkie and Margolotte back to life. Overjoyed, Ojo learns a valuable lesson about trust, patience, and respecting the laws of the land. Grateful for his perseverance and good heart, Ozma grants him a new name: Ojo the Lucky.
With Unc Nunkie restored, Ojo is no longer poor or alone. Ozma invites them to live in the Emerald City, ensuring they will always have food and a home. Scraps continues her lively and adventurous existence, while Bungle the Glass Cat remains as proud and egotistical as ever.
Ojo, who once considered himself unlucky, realizes that luck comes not from chance but from perseverance and the kindness of others
19. Tik Tok of Oz By L. Frank Baum Illustrated by John R. Neil
Tik-Tok of Oz is the eighth book in the Oz series written by L. Frank Baum. It was heavily influenced by his earlier theatrical production, The Tik-Tok Man of Oz, which had failed to achieve the same financial success and acclaim as The Wizard of Oz on Broadway a few years earlier. The novel also draws elements from Baum’s previous works, Ozma of Oz and King Rinkitink, with familiar themes running throughout.
Young Betsy, much like Dorothy, finds herself lost at sea, ultimately landing in the land of Ev. The narrative twists and turns with whimsical elements, yet it feels more centered on the Shaggy Man than on Tik-Tok or Betsy herself. Once again, the notorious Nome King returns, proving himself to be the enduring villain of the Oz universe.
The story begins with a dissatisfied monarch ruling in the small and isolated Winkie Country of Oogaboo. Queen Ann Soforth is yearning for grandeur, so she decides to raise an army and conquer all of Oz. However, her “army” consists of only sixteen officers and a single private, Jo Files, who is the only one capable of actual combat. Determined to overthrow Ozma and claim power, Ann leads her soldiers out of Oogaboo.
Thankfully, Glinda the Good Witch has been keeping an eye on Ann’s plans through her Great Book of Records. Using her magic, Glinda ensures that Ann’s path is diverted toward an unknown village. The army becomes disoriented in a mysterious fog conjured by Glinda, and they encounter a fierce Rak—a strange and dangerous creature—that forces them to reconsider their adventure.
Meanwhile, a young girl named Betsy Bobbin and her mule, Hank, survive a storm at sea, ending up floating on a raft in the ocean. They spot a beautiful country that appears deserted and begin searching for shelter. Before long, they arrive in the Rose Kingdom, where talking flowers declare that strangers are forbidden in this domain. The Royal Gardener orders their punishment by death. Thankfully, the Shaggy Man crashes through the greenhouse roof to save them.
The Shaggy Man explains that he is searching for his long-lost brother, who disappeared while mining in Colorado. He suspects that the Nome King, Ruggedo, has captured him. This news is all rather mystifying to Betsy, who learns about the Love Magnet, the Nome King, and the Land of Oz in mere minutes. The three new friends buy time by requesting to see the royal garden before their execution. The Rose people, much like the Mangaboos, are “picked” when they are ripe. They are shocked to see that the princess is ripe but not being picked, as the people only want a male ruler. So, they resolve to pick a new rose princess—Ozga—hoping to escape a horrible fate. Unfortunately, the flowers do not take kindly to this and refuse to accept Ozga forcing them to flee.
The sight of rainbow in the land brings the travelers Polychrome, the Rainbow’s Daughter, who once more becomes lost on Earth by dancing of the rainbow. She joins their journey to the Nome Kingdom, hoping to find a way back to her home. The adventurers also discover Tik-Tok, the mechanical man, trapped in a well. He was thrown into the well by Ruggedo after he went to approach him for having taken hold of Shaggy’s Man’s brother, after being transported by Glinda to aid in his search.
Betsy and her friends cross paths with Queen Ann and her army. Queen Ann tries to conquer them, but once the Shaggy Man removes the Love Magnet from his pocket, all talk of conquering is forgotten. Ann, instead, decides to conquer Ruggedo and makes Tik-Tok her new private.
The adventurers cross the Rubber Country and continue toward the Nome Kingdom’s caverns, while Ruggedo, his Chief Magician, and his minions plot their strategy. They make the entrance to the Hollow Tube invisible in an attempt to thwart the travelers. After a long journey, the adventurers find themselves sliding down a giant tube, which leads them to the other side of the world. There, they meet a gardener named Tubekins, who commands them to follow him to the castle.
They land in the realm of Tititi-Hoochoo, the powerful Jinjin, who is angered by Ruggedo’s misuse of the Hollow Tube and decides to punish the Nome King. After leaving the castle, Betsy and Polychrome go to the palace of Queen Erma, Queen of Light. There, Betsy gets a good night’s sleep and meets Queen Erma’s attendants—Daylight, Sunlight, Moonlight, Starlight, Firelight, and Electra—in a magical interlude.
Tititi-Hoochoo declares that Ruggedo must be punished. He sends the travelers back with his Instrument of Vengeance, Quox the dragon. Quox, a seemingly lazy but powerful dragon, overhears Ruggedo’s plans, giving the travelers an advantage in their impending confrontation.
Ruggedo and the Royal Chamberlain look through a magic spyglass and see the adventurers and the dragon approaching through the tube. The Nome King and his Chamberlain set out to attack when the adventurers emerge from the tube.
Led by General Guph, the Nome soldiers attempt to capture the adventurers, but the dragon lifts them higher than the Nomes can reach. Queen Ann orders Tik-Tok to attack the soldiers, but they retreat into the caverns. Queen Ann and her officers fall into a pit in the cavern. Tik-Tok tries to conquer Ruggedo, while Betsy is locked in the Chamberlain’s room. Hank attacks Ruggedo, knocking him against a wall. Meanwhile, Jo Files, the Shaggy Man, Polychrome, and the Rose Princess wait outside.
Shaggy and the others decide to attack. Shaggy, Files, and Ozga are instantly captured. Polychrome attempts to wake the sleeping Quox. Ann and her officers find an escape passage from the pit. Shaggy Man is transformed into a dove, and Ozga is transformed into a fiddle. After successfully waking Quox, Polychrome and the dragon decide to join the fight. However, Quox is soon captured. Upon seeing the dragon’s ribboned locket, Ruggedo’s magical powers are nullified. Quox opens the locket, and eggs appear, frightening Ruggedo and chasing him away from his kingdom.
Shaggy and Ozga are restored to their normal forms. Kaliko, the Chamberlain, leads Betsy to her friends. Quox names Kaliko the new Metal Monarch, and Shaggy asks him to release his brother. Kaliko explains that Shaggy’s brother is in the Metal Forest.
As the adventurers continue their journey, Quox, the dragon, quietly says goodbye and returns to the Hollow Tube. Meanwhile, Ruggedo, wandering aimlessly, recalls the Metal Forest and the riches it holds. Overhearing his plan, Polychrome flies back to the group and informs them about the way to the Metal Forest. The adventurers decide to follow her lead and make their way there.
When they reach the Metal Forest, they discover Queen Ann and her officers capturing Ruggedo. Upon learning about the shift in power, they free the former King, allowing him to fill his pockets with gems and depart. Shaggy Man is finally reunited with his brother, the Ugly One, who wears a mask to hide his ugliness. The reunion is a joyous moment for Shaggy, but the group knows they still have more challenges ahead.
Before leaving the forest, the adventurers notice a trail of gems leading out of the forest and discover Ruggedo at the end of the trail. He agrees to help Shaggy’s brother if a mortal maid kisses him. Betsy volunteers, but her kiss doesn’t break the spell. The Rose Princess, who was once a fairy, tries and fails as well. It is only when Polychrome, with her magic, kisses the Ugly One that the spell is broken, and he is restored to his true form.
Kaliko, the Chamberlain of the Metal Kingdom, agrees to let Ruggedo stay as long as he stays out of trouble. With that, Betsy and her friends say their goodbyes to Polychrome, who continues her journey to find her way home. The group prepares to return to Oz.
Back in Oz, Queen Ann expresses her homesickness and regret for her failed attempts to conquer the world. Ozma and the Wizard, observing the whole situation through their magic picture frame, feel sympathy for Queen Ann and decide to help. The Wizard instantly transports Queen Ann, her officers, Jo Files back to Oogaboo. The Rose Princess also goes to live in Oogaboo having gotten close to Jo Files. Meanwhile Tik-Tok is sent back to Oz. Ozma then consults with Dorothy about the strangers and the situation in the land of Oz.
The Wizard summons Betsy, Hank, Shaggy Man, and his brother to the Emerald City, where they are welcomed by Ozma. Hank finds himself in a stable next to the Cowardly Lion, the Hungry Tiger, and the Sawhorse, and Toto, for the first time, speaks. Ozma greets their new friends with warmth, and the adventurers are invited to stay in the Land of Oz, where they are sure to find new adventures and live in peace.
20. The Scarecrow of Oz By L. Frank Baum Illustrated by John R. Neil
The Scarecrow of Oz is the ninth book in L. Frank Baum’s Oz series, first published on July 16, 1915. Baum considered it his personal favorite of all the Oz books. The story follows Cap’n Bill and Trot as they finally make their way into the Oz universe after their previous adventures in The Sea Fairies (1911) and Sky Island (1912). In this novel, they join forces with the Scarecrow to overthrow the corrupt King Krewl of Jinxland.
This book may have been Baum’s attempt to bridge his Oz series with his non-Oz works, encouraging readers who loved the Oz books to explore his other stories. At the same time, it could have been an effort to introduce readers unfamiliar with Oz to the magical world Baum had created. The plot itself is a reworking of Baum’s 1914 silent film His Majesty, the Scarecrow of Oz, adapted into a whimsical novel that both deepens the Oz saga and introduces fresh characters and settings.
The story begins with Cap’n Bill and his companion Trot on a peaceful rowboat ride in California. But their journey takes a dangerous turn when they are swept into a whirlpool, which capsizes their boat and pulls them under the water. They are then rescued by mermaids (who they had built alliances with during the sea fairies), who carry them to a cave.
In the cave, Cap’n Bill and Trot encounter a flying creature called an Ork, who will become an important ally. The trio exits the cave and passes through a dark tunnel that leads them to an island. There, they meet Pessim the Observer, a gloomy man who lives alone on the island and constantly observes the world in a pessimistic manner. While on the island, Cap’n Bill and Trot encounter some magical shrinking berries, which, when eaten, cause them to shrink in size. The Ork then carries them away from the island, and they travel to the land of Mo. Upon arrival, they eat another type of magic berry, which causes them to return to their normal size.
Once in the land of Mo, they meet the Bumpy Man, a strange character who specializes in making sugar and molasses and has a peculiar appearance. After some time, they also run into Button-Bright, a boy who previously appeared in The Road to Oz, and as usual, has gotten himself lost again. The group then calls upon the native talking birds of the region, who help transport them across a desert by using a special growing berry that makes the birds large enough to carry them all to the land of Oz.
After crossing the desert, Cap’n Bill, Trot, and Button-Bright find themselves in Jinxland, a land separated from the rest of Oz by high mountains and a bottomless crevice. Jinxland is a kingdom in turmoil due to a series of political intrigues. The rightful king of Jinxland, King Kynd, was overthrown by his prime minister, Phearse, who was in turn overthrown by Krewl, the current ruler. Meanwhile, Googly-Goo, an unpleasant, wealthy man, seeks to marry Princess Gloria, the daughter of King Kynd. However, Princess Gloria is in love with Pon, the gardener’s boy, who is the son of the first usurper, Phearse.
Krewl and Googly-Goo decide to hire a witch named Blinkie to cast a spell on Princess Gloria. Blinkie freezes Gloria’s heart to prevent her from loving Pon, leaving Gloria unable to love anyone. When Googly-Goo proposes to Gloria, she coldly rejects him because, with her heart frozen, she cannot love anyone.
At this point, the Scarecrow, who is at Glinda’s palace in the Quadling Country, learns of these events through Glinda’s Great Book of Records, a magical book that records all events as they happen. The Scarecrow wants to help Cap’n Bill, Trot, and Button-Bright, and Glinda sends him to Jinxland with some magic to aid them.
Once in Jinxland, the Scarecrow joins forces with Cap’n Bill (who has been turned into a grasshopper by Blinkie), Trot, and the Ork. The Ork flies off to gather reinforcements from his homeland. Meanwhile, the Scarecrow tries to overthrow Krewl, but he is captured by the ruler’s forces. Googly-Goo suggests that the Scarecrow be burned, but just in time, the Ork returns with fifty other Orks. The Orks attack Krewl’s forces and turn the tables on him.
The group then travels to Blinkie’s house, where they make her undo her spell on Cap’n Bill and Princess Gloria. Using a magical powder, Blinkie is shrunk in size, and she undoes the magic that had frozen Gloria’s heart. With her evil spells broken, Blinkie is kept small, loses all her magic powers, and is rendered harmless.
After these events, Princess Gloria ascends to the throne of Jinxland and marries Pon, who becomes her royal consort. With peace restored to Jinxland, the Scarecrow, Button-Bright, Cap’n Bill, Trot, and the Orks return to the Emerald City in Oz, where a grand celebration awaits.
21. Rinkitink of Oz By L. Frank Baum Illustrated by John R. Neil
This is probably my least favorite Oz story by L. Frank Baum. While it markets itself as an Oz book, it often feels more like a traditional fairy tale with Oz characters thrown in at the last moment. Although I appreciated the change of pace with outsiders visiting new lands, the story feels somewhat disjointed from the rest of the Oz series. That said, Rinkitink in Oz has certainly found a fanbase within the Oz community, with many readers focusing on the great storyline and adventurous spirit that Baum weaves throughout.
The story begins with Prince Inga, the son of King Kitticut and Queen Garee, who rule the island kingdom of Pingaree. Kitticut shares the kingdom’s secret defense with Inga: three magical pearls, each with unique powers. These pearls were used to defeat past invaders from Regos and Coregos. Inga learns about the significance of these pearls as he grows older.
King Rinkitink of the neighboring island of Gilgad arrives in Pingaree for a royal visit, bringing his grumpy, talking goat Bilbil. He is a jolly, rotund king who enjoys life’s pleasures. His stay, however, is cut short by an unexpected attack from Regos and Coregos.
Invading forces from Regos and Coregos arrive in Pingaree. King Kitticut is captured before he can access the magic pearls. Inga, who evades capture, witnesses the devastation of the island and the enslavement of its people.
Inga and Rinkitink manage to escape, along with Bilbil. They leave Pingaree behind and embark on a dangerous journey to free the people of Pingaree. Inga secretly hides the pearls in his shoes to keep them safe.
Inga reveals the powers of the three magic pearls to Rinkitink. Together, they travel to Regos. With the pearls’ strength and protection, Inga easily defeats the forces of King Gos, who retreats to Coregos.
The trio sets sail from Regos to Coregos, seeking to defeat Queen Cor, the ruler of Coregos. Along the way, Inga uses the magic pearls to overcome obstacles. They rely on the boat for their journey, though they face many challenges.Inga and Rinkitink arrive at Coregos, but things begin to go wrong. The pearls are accidentally lost when one of Inga’s shoes is thrown by Rinkitink at a howling cat, and the other is discarded by a servant.
With the pearls gone, Inga and Rinkitink struggle to face Queen Cor, who is more cunning and devious than they anticipated. Queen Cor quickly captures the two and begins plotting to keep them imprisoned. Meanwhile, the shoes containing the pearls are discovered by Nikobob, a poor charcoal burner from Regos. He gives them to his daughter, Zella. Unaware of their magic, Zella wears the shoes while delivering honey to Queen Cor.
Queen Cor captures Inga and Rinkitink, and they are brought back to Coregos. Zella’s innocent trip to the palace inadvertently becomes part of the plan that leads to Inga regaining the pearls. Zella, now in possession of the shoes, travels to the palace to sell honey to Queen Cor. Inga, recognizing his shoes, trades with her, regaining the magic pearls. With newfound strength, he defeats Queen Cor, who flees back to Regos, taking Inga’s parents as prisoners.
Bilbil plays a pivotal role in the journey. Along with Rinkitink, he helps Inga escape Coregos, but Bilbil’s character becomes even more intriguing as the adventure progresses. Zella’s kindness and the shoes’ power come to the forefront when she helps Inga by trading shoes. Inga, now armed with the pearls again, overpowers Queen Cor, but his parents are still held captive. Inga, Rinkitink, and Bilbil manage to escape Coregos. They follow a trail leading to the Nome Kingdom, hoping to free King Kitticut and Queen Garee. Their journey becomes more dangerous as they enter Nome territory.
Inga and his companions find themselves deep within the Nome Kingdom, where the Nome King Kaliko holds the rulers of Pingaree captive. They must use the pearls to survive the Nome King’s traps and schemes. Nikobob, the humble charcoal-burner, is offered a crown for his loyalty but refuses it, preferring his simple life. Meanwhile, Inga and his group continue their quest to rescue the royal family.
Kaliko, the Nome King, becomes the central antagonist. He is allied with Queen Cor and King Gos and tries to thwart Inga and his companions at every turn. They use the magic pearls to survive his numerous traps. Inga faces a critical decision regarding the Pink Pearl, which grants invulnerability. He must part with it temporarily to ensure the safety of his companions. In a surprise twist, Dorothy from the land of Oz appears to help. She, along with the Wizard of Oz, intervenes and forces the Nome King to release King Kitticut and Queen Garee, reuniting them with their son.
The Wizard of Oz investigates the mystery of Bilbil, discovering that he is actually Prince Bobo of Boboland, cursed into the form of a goat. Glinda works to lift the enchantment, restoring Bilbil to his true form. A celebration is held in the Emerald City in honor of the successful rescue of the rulers of Pingaree. Princess Ozma hosts the banquet, and Inga and his companions are treated to a grand feast.
With the royal family of Pingaree safe and the magic pearls secured, Inga and his companions return to Pingaree. The kingdom begins its rebuilding process, and the people are freed from the tyranny of Regos and Coregos.
The book concludes with the royal family’s return to Pingaree. Rinkitink, though reluctant, returns to his own kingdom with Bilbil (now Prince Bobo), and the people of Pingaree live in peace once more. The narrative wraps up with a sense of closure and resolution for the characters.
22. The Lost Princess of Oz By L. Frank Baum Illustrated by John R. Neil
Ozma has vanished without a trace. Dorothy frantically searches the palace grounds, asking all her closest friends, but no one knows what happened to her. When Betsy suggests they use The Magic Picture to locate Ozma, everyone is stunned to find that it, too, has disappeared
Meanwhile, in Quadling Land, Glinda awakens to discover that the Great Book of Records has vanished from her castle. She immediately sends a messenger to the Emerald City to inform them of the theft. Upon hearing the news, the Wizard quickly offers his magical tools to aid Glinda, only to find that they, too, are missing
Further afield in Oz other mysterious things are vanishing. In the southwestern corner of the Winkie Country on a plateau belonging to the Yips, Cayke the cookie cook has had her magic gold dishpan stolen. Cayke seeks the advise of the self-proclaimed adviser to the Yips, a human-sized dandy of a frog called the Frogman.
The Frogman, originally an ordinary frog from the Winkie Country in Oz, was captured by a bird and accidentally dropped into a hidden, enchanted pool on the Yip tableland. This magical pool, containing a substance called skosh, made the frog grow unusually large and intelligent. Eventually, he left the pool and joined the Yips, who had never seen a frog before. He stood upright, wore fine clothes, and impressed the Yips with his knowledge—real or feigned. Over time, he became their respected advisor and a figure of pride in the community. The Yips even built him a fancy house by a regular pool, where he swam in private and held court during the day, dressed in elaborate, colorful attire that enhanced his wise and distinguished image.
The frogman hears Cayke’s story and offers to help her find the dishpan offering the leave the confines of Yipp land and discover more of the land of oz.
Back in Emerald City a search party is devised to search for Ozma. Ojo the lucky, Unc Nunkie and Dr. Pipt into the Munchkin Country, which they are well acquainted with; the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman into the Quadling Country, for they are fearless and brave and never tire; and to the Gillikin Country the Shaggy Man and his brother, with Tik-Tok and Jack Pumpkinhead. Dorothy, Trot Bestie, Scraps. the cowardly lion and the Wizard head to the Winkie Country.
The travelers face challenges, including crossing the Merry-Go-Round Mountains, whose spinning peaks and deep gulfs initially thwart their progress. However, Scraps, the Patchwork Girl, devises a plan using the Sawhorse’s harness to swing across, and one by one, the group makes it to the other side. Together, they push forward, reaching a mysterious city surrounded by a dense field of painful thistles, which they cross using blankets and the Woozy’s help. Scraps discovers that the city wall is an illusion, leading them to the city of Thi, home to strange beings called Thists, who eat only thistles.
The Thists are surprised by the travelers’ appearance and knowledge of Ozma, but they welcome them with a ride in a dragon-chariot and a thistle banquet. Despite the odd customs, the travelers refuse the banquet and press on, warned by the High Coco-Lorum of the fearsome Herku—beings stronger than giants—who inhabit lands beyond the city.
After navigating further obstacles, the group finds an orchard where they replenish their supplies. Button-Bright goes missing again, wandering off to eat a magical peach that causes a delay in the search for Ozma as they are forced to also look for him. The group continues, eventually reaching the City of Herku, where they are greeted by giants who serve as guards. They learn of the powerful substance, zosozo, that gives the Herku strength. The city’s ruler, Vig the Czarover, though frail in appearance, demonstrats tremendous strength by crumbling marble with his bare hands and explained that the giants were his slaves and denied zosozo to prevent rebellion. When asked about Ugu the Shoemaker, the Czarover revealed Ugu’s past as a cobbler-turned-magician who had isolated himself in a wicker castle in the western mountains after discovering his magical lineage. The visitors suspected Ugu had stolen Ozma and decide to seek him out despite the Czarover’s warnings. After a night’s rest and a gift of zosozo from their host, they depart Herku the next morning, determined to confront the mysterious magician and rescue Ozma. Despite being warned by the ruler, Vig the Czarover, the group decides to press on toward Ugu the Shoemaker’s castle, suspecting him of having captured Ozma.
Meanwhile, Cayke and the Frogman continue their quest to find her stolen dishpan. The Frogman baths unknowingly in the Truth Pond. To his horror that he can no longer lie about his exaggerated intelligence. Conflicted but honest at last, he confesses to Cayke he was not the wisest creature in the world, as he had claimed. Cayke refuses Frogman’s suggestion to also bathe in the Truth Pond, arguing that truth can be hurtful and she prefers the freedom to speak kindly, even if not always truthfully.
After receiving advice from a kind Winkie woman, they journey east toward the Emerald City on the advise the Ozma might help them find the missing dishpan. Taking her advice, they set off eastward and soon reached the Winkie River. There, they encountered a strange ferryman—silent and unwelcoming. Cayke learns that he had once been cruel to animals and had been punished by the Tin Woodman: now, he could no longer understand or speak with animals, including the Frogman. However, he is able to aid them across the river by not looking at the Frogman.
As they make their way through a foreign forest, they meet a stuffed bear named Corporal Waddle, who leads them to a city of animated toy bears ruled by the Lavender Bear King. The king, along with the magical oracle the Little Pink Bear are able to cast a spell to see where Cayke’s dishpan has gone. It is revealed Ugu the Shoemaker, a sinister magician, has taken the dishpan and kept it in his wicker castle. The King decides to aid them on there quest to regain the dishpan and travel to Ugu’s castle.
With all the travelers now bound to the same place, Cayke and Frogman cross paths with Dorothy’s group, and the two parties unite, forming a plan to face Ugu together.
The group encounter several magical barriers on their way to Ugu’s castle, including a ring of fire, which the Wizard extinguished with a match, and a wall of steel spikes, which the Frogman leapt over to destroy with a pin. After overcoming these obstacles, they face an army of fierce-looking girl soldiers, which turned out to be an optical illusion. Once past them, they arrived at the open gates of Ugu’s castle, ready to confront the magician.
Ugu the Shoemaker, despite his wicked actions, did not see himself as evil; he simply desired power and greatness. Blinded by ambition, he believed that anyone who was as clever as he would act the same way, seeking to dominate all of Oz. Discontent with his humble shoemaking life in the City of Herku, he discovered his family’s magical heritage and set out to master magic. After learning of Ozma’s invincibility and the magical possessions of Glinda the Good and the Wizard of Oz, Ugu formulated a plan to steal these treasures, including the powerful Magic Dishpan. After stealing the dishpan from Cayke the Cookie Cook, Ugu used it to transport himself to Glinda’s and Ozma’s domains, stealing their magical possessions and capturing Ozma in the process. He locked her in his wicker castle, believing he had secured the power to rule Oz. However, Ugu’s greed and overconfidence would soon be challenged, as two parties set out to confront him and reclaim what he had stolen.
When they arrive, they find Ugu lounging in a golden cage, taunting them. Ugu uses his tricks to make the entire room start to tilt and flip upside down, trapping them in a strange position. Dorothy secretly uses the Magic Belt and with a wish, she reverses the room’s spin and restores them to their proper position. Giving them the upper hand Ugu is transformed into a giant dove by Dorothy’s wish. However, he uses his newfound wings and the power of the magic dishpan to flee, disappearing into the Quadling Country.
The group turns to Ozma’s Magic Picture but finds a mysterious black spot instead of her image, leading them to suspect Ugu has transformed Ozma. With the help of the Pink Bear, they discover that Ozma is trapped inside Button-Bright’s pocket, hidden inside a golden peach pit. The group rejoices as Ozma is restored, and Toto, finally finding his growl.
Meanwhile, Ugu, now a dove, contemplates his actions in the Quadling Country. The Scarecrow and Tin Woodman stumble upon a golden dishpan, which they bring to Ozma as a token of joy for her return. Ozma, in turn, gives it back to Cayke, who is overjoyed to have her beloved treasure restored.
Weeks later, Ugu, still in dove form, appears before Dorothy and her friends, expressing regret for his past actions. They forgive him, and Ugu, now content with his transformation, flies away, grateful for their compassion.
23. The Tin Woodman of Oz By L. Frank Baum Illustrated by John R. Neil
In the Land of Oz, the Tin Woodman rules peacefully from his gleaming tin castle, joined by his loyal friend, the Scarecrow. One evening, a curious boy named Woot the Wanderer arrives, eager for adventure and answers. Welcomed inside, he asks how the Tin Woodman came to be made of tin. This prompts a tale of love, loss, and magic, as the former woodcutter reveals how a wicked witch’s curse turned him from man to metal.
When Woot the Wanderer points out the injustice of abandoning Nimmie Amee, the young Munchkin maiden he had planned to wed once he got his heart back, the Tin Woodman is struck by a new sense of duty. Inspired, he vows to find her and make things right. He sets off on a new journey with the Scarecrow and Woot by his side. As they travel through the Winkie Country and into the Northlands, the Tin Woodman confides that he is determined to fulfill his duty—even if he cannot love the girl he once promised to marry. For this reason, their route avoids the Emerald City, aiming for a discreet reunion. However, Woot questions whether kindness alone can make a marriage right.
Venturing into the mysterious Gillikin Country, Woot, the Tin Woodman, and the Scarecrow stumble upon Loonville—a hidden forest dome full of strange, round, puffed-up creatures called Loons. Unfortunately, the inhabitants are mean-spirited as well as quite mad. They are soon captured and bound by the bouncy, warty beings and taken to King Bal, a floating monarch with little sense. When one of the Loons pricks Woot with a thorn, the boy kicks back, starting a chaotic chain reaction of popping puff-people. Seizing the moment, Woot frees himself and his friends, then pricks his way to victory as the Loons scatter in panic. Sparing the bizarre balloon-king, the trio retreats—wiser and sorer—from the explosive encounter.
Shortly after escaping Loonville, they discover a purple castle marked Yoop Castle. Believing it abandoned, they enter—only to be magically trapped inside. There, they meet Mrs. Yoop, a giantess and powerful Yookoohoo (a magician who transforms things). She casually reveals she had turned the fairy Polychrome into a canary and planned to transform the three travelers into new, unrecognizable forms by morning. Despite their protests, she transforms the Tin Woodman into a Tin Owl, the Scarecrow into a Brown Bear, and Woot into a Green Monkey.
Polychrome, now trapped as a canary, uses her time in captivity to observe the evil Mrs. Yoop and reveals that only Mrs. Yoop’s Magic Apron can open the enchanted castle’s doors and windows. She suggests Woot try to steal the apron while the giantess sleeps. Woot agrees, despite the risk that Mrs. Yoop could read his thoughts. During the day, Woot, now a monkey, tries to befriend the giantess, who enjoys his company. Learning the lay of her room, Woot waits for the moment when Mrs. Yoop goes to bed and hangs her Magic Apron on the bedpost. He quietly slips into her bedroom, grabs the apron, and ties it around himself.
With the apron’s power, the friends open the castle’s main door and escape into the fresh night air, finally free. Though they escape safely, they are still trapped in their enchanted forms. Polychrome suggests seeking Glinda to break the spells. However, they are not long traveling through the forest when a jaguar attacks, targeting Woot the Monkey. Woot falls, tangled in the Magic Apron, but shouting “Open!” causes the earth to swallow him, saving him from the jaguar. Polychrome uses her fairy magic to appease the beast by magically creating a breakfast, which allows him to leave the rest of the group peacefully. However, Woot vanishes underground.
Woot finds himself in a vast underground cave inhabited by enormous, ancient dragons who are annoyed at being disturbed. The dragons debate on how to punish him, but the smallest one wants to eat him. Woot narrowly avoids their fiery attacks and escapes by shouting “Open!” to create a hole in the cavern roof, climbing to safety. Outside, the jaguar reappears, now satisfied after his magical breakfast, and directs Woot back to his friends waiting nearby.
After hearing Woot’s tale, the group decides to leave the dangerous Gillikin Country and head south toward Glinda’s castle to break their enchantments. Cutting through to Munchkin Country, they meet Tommy Kwikstep, a boy with twenty legs caused by a wish gone wrong. Tommy explains his situation and how he’d been searching for the witch who gave him this shape. With help from Polychrome’s magic, Tommy’s legs are mostly restored, and he promises to be more careful with his wishes. He then sets off to deliver an important note, leaving the group to continue their journey.
Meanwhile, in the Emerald City, Dorothy and Ozma discover the transformations of their friends through the magic painting and rush to aid them using the Saw Horse Chariot. The group rests at Jinjur’s house and is soon overjoyed to find Ozma and Dorothy have come to their aid. With the silver wand, Ozma begins breaking the enchantments, restoring the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman to their original forms.
However, Woot remains a Green Monkey. Ozma explains that his transformation is permanent unless someone else takes his form. Polychrome then suggests a clever plan: to transfer the Green Monkey form to Mrs. Yoop, the giantess who cast the spells, as a just punishment, restoring Woot to himself.
They enter Jinjur’s house and watch quietly as Ozma prepares a magical ceremony. She boils water, adds special powders, and stirs, creating a silver, mirror-like broth. Waving her wand, the broth shows Mrs. Yoop in her castle, uneasy and plotting revenge. Then, using magic, Ozma swaps Mrs. Yoop’s form with Woot’s—transforming the giantess into a Green Monkey and restoring Woot to his true self. Everyone is relieved and amazed.
Ozma explains that Mrs. Yoop will remain a powerless Green Monkey, unable to use magic, but likely to manage on her own. Dorothy feels it is deserved justice, and though the Tin Woodman worries about her survival, the Scarecrow is confident she’ll adapt. With all enchantments broken, their ordeal is finally over.
The Tin Woodman finally commits to finding Nimmie Amee and asking to marry her. Ozma promises a grand wedding if she agrees. The Tin Woodman, Scarecrow, Woot, and Polychrome set off, while Ozma and Dorothy return home.
In the Munchkin forest, the group finds a rusted Tin Soldier, who looks just like the Tin Woodman but with a sword. Polychrome oils him free, and he happily sings a marching song. Woot asks the rusted tin figure if he is really a soldier. The Tin Soldier explains he was enchanted by a witch while trying to marry Nimmie Amee, losing his flesh and becoming tin piece by piece thanks to Ku-Klip, the tinsmith. He loved Nimmie Amee but lost his ability to feel love after becoming tin. The Tin Woodman reveals he was Nimmie Amee’s original sweetheart.
They agree Nimmie Amee should choose between them, so the two tin men set off to find her. When they reach her abandoned cottage, it becomes clear she had moved away. They decide to visit Ku-Klip, the tinsmith who made them, for answers and find his workshop, waiting for him to return.
The Tin Woodman discovers his original head stored in a cupboard, which surprisingly can see and speak. The head, once part of a living body, has little memory of its past and shows little interest in reuniting with the Tin Woodman, who now has a tin body. Soon after, Ku-Klip arrives and recounts how he used leftover parts from both to create a new being named Chopfyt. Although Chopfyt is a curious mix of the two, he is an unsuccessful assistant and eventually leaves on his own adventures.
The group discusses their quest to find Nimmie Amee, a Munchkin girl tied to both the Tin Woodman and Tin Soldier by past promises. Ku-Klip reveals that Nimmie Amee has moved to Mount Munch, prompting the companions to set out there to continue their search.
While traveling to Mount Munch, Woot and his friends suddenly become invisible due to a magical enchantment. Navigating cautiously, they encounter a strange beast called a Hip-po-gy-raf, who demands the Scarecrow’s straw as payment to help them cross a ditch. After reluctantly agreeing, the beast assists them, and the group replaces the Scarecrow’s straw with hay. Polychrome uses her fairy magic to repair the Tin Soldier’s leg and the Tin Woodman’s dent, and the friends continue their journey together despite the challenges.
Woot and his friends journey toward Mount Munch, where they discover a tiny blue Munchkin house in a hollow, surprisingly inhabited by a pig couple, Professor Grunter Swyne and Mrs. Squealina Swyne. Though wary at first, the travelers are welcomed to rest in the garden and helped themselves to straw to refill the Scarecrow. The pigs explain their nine piglets live in the Emerald City under the Wizard’s care, where they remain forever young and happy. After a peaceful night and morning spent refreshing themselves, the group bids farewell and continues their trek toward the growing mountain.
As the travelers near Mount Munch, they spot a charming house surrounded by a magical, invisible wall of solid air that blocks their path. A friendly blue rabbit explains that the wall was created by Nimmie Amee to keep strangers away and offers them passage through his burrow under the barrier. Polychrome uses her magic to shrink the group small enough to crawl through, but once inside, the Tin Woodman and Captain Fyter worry they are now too tiny to be taken seriously by Nimmie Amee. After considering their options, the group returns to full size, thanks the rabbit, and prepares to approach the house.
When the group arrives at Nimmie Amee’s house and reveals themselves, they find her cold but polite. Inside, they meet a man named Chopfyt, who shockingly wears the Tin Soldier’s head and the Tin Woodman’s arm. He declares these parts as his own, provoking anger from the tin men, who accuse him of being a mere patchwork impostor created by Ku-Klip. Nimmie Amee intervenes, explaining that Chopfyt is her husband—whom she married after the other two sweethearts, the Tin Woodman and Tin Soldier, had “rusted” and abandoned her. Though imperfect, Chopfyt resembled them and was trained to help her with household chores, which made her prefer him despite his flaws. The tin men offer to dismantle Chopfyt and reclaim their parts, but Nimmie Amee refuses, preferring the familiar—even if quarrelsome—husband she had. She expresses contentment with her simple life and asks her old lovers to leave her be. Though disappointed, the Tin Woodman and Tin Soldier accept her decision, thankful that she is happy and that their own fate was not to perform mundane tasks under Chopfyt’s condition. Polychrome, the Rainbow’s Daughter, cheerfully notes that rain might be coming, hinting that her adventure is drawing to a close.
Facing an approaching storm, the group decides to leave Nimmie Amee’s house despite the Tin men fearing rust and the Scarecrow worrying about getting soggy. Polychrome leads them to the Blue Rabbit’s burrow, where she shrinks them to pass safely through the Wall of Solid Air. They wait out the storm inside the tunnel while Polychrome bids them farewell. When the rain stops, a brilliant rainbow appears. Polychrome joins her sisters on it and vanishes as the sun comes out. Woot and the others watch, waving goodbye to their beautiful friend.
The adventurers’ return to the Emerald City is uneventful. To avoid the Hip-po-gy-raf, they take a different route, bypassing the Invisible Country. Upon arrival, they are warmly welcomed by Ozma, who entertains them royally. At a banquet, they share the story of finding Nimmie Amee happily married to Chopfyt, a confusing mix of their cast-off parts. Ozma advises them not to worry, since Nimmie Amee is content. Dorothy and others agree it is better than wasting those parts.
Ozma then offers Captain Fyter a position as her soldier, which he gladly accepts, sending him to keep order in the Gillikin Country. Woot is free to wander as he pleases, with Ozma’s protection promised. With matters settled, the Tin Woodman returns to his castle, accompanied by the Scarecrow, and the two friends look forward to many hours of conversation about their adventures.
24. The Magic of Oz By L. Frank Baum Illustrated by John R. Neil
At the far corner of Munchkinland lies Mount Munch, a land isolated due to its steep mountains, making it difficult for the Munchkins to climb and dangerous for its inhabitants to descend. The people who live there are known as the Hyups. One of their number, a Munchkin named Bini Aru, discovered a method of transforming people and objects by merely uttering the word “Pyrzqxgl.” However, following Princess Ozma’s decree that no one in Oz may practice magic, Bini resolved to lock away the secret and destroy all his magical artifacts.
Bini’s son, Kiki Aru, does not approve of his father’s decision and craves adventure. Determined to find his father’s old magical items, he trips over a loose floorboard and discovers the directions for the word “Pyrzqxgl.” He transforms himself into a hawk to escape Mount Munch, flying out of Oz to avoid the wrath of Glinda and Ozma. Kiki travels to various lands outside Oz, including Merryland and the Land of Ix, before finally reaching the Land of Ev.
In Ev, Kiki learns that he needs money to pay for a night’s lodging (a concept unknown in Oz). He transforms into a magpie and steals a gold piece from an old man. A sparrow confronts the human Kiki Aru with knowledge of the theft, and Kiki admits that he didn’t know what it was like to be wicked before. He expresses that he is now glad to understand it.
Ruggedo, the former Nome King, who has been forced to wander Ev since being dethroned, overhears Kiki and takes a liking to him. Ruggedo attempts to trade jewels for the secret word, but Kiki wisely keeps the secret, recognizing its power. However, the former Nome King convinces Kiki to join him in taking over Oz, promising that Kiki could rule as king once they’ve satisfied their revenge. Using his magic, Kiki and Ruggedo fly over the deadly desert and return to Oz.
Meanwhile, in Oz, Dorothy and Trot are discussing a gift for Ozma’s birthday. Cap’n Bill suggests an idea. The Glass Cat, known for roaming around Oz, has told him about an enchanted flower that blooms into various species of flowers. They enlist the cat’s help to find this mysterious plant, which is located north of Munchkinland, where few people venture. Trot, Cap’n Bill, and the Glass Cat set off to find the flower, while Dorothy contemplates another gift for Ozma.
After consulting several of her friends, Dorothy turns to Glinda, who suggests Dorothy prepare a cake for Ozma’s birthday. Although initially hesitant, Dorothy seeks the Wizard’s help to create monkeys that will be made small and emerge from the cake. To find these monkeys, Dorothy and the Wizard must travel to the Gugu Forest in the Gilikin Country. They enlist the Cowardly Lion and the Hungry Tiger to guide the red wagon through the woods.
Ruggedo and Kiki arrive back in Oz and make their way to the Gugu Forest, hoping to gain the assistance of the beasts who live there. They transform themselves into Li-Mon-Eags (part lion, part monkey, part eagle) and approach the Council of Beasts, led by Gugu, the Leopard King. They persuade the animals that the people of Oz intend to attack and enslave them, using their abilty to turn any creature to whatever they wish via magical transformations to gain their trust.
All the while, Trot and Cap’n Bill are led by the Glass Cat to the enchanted flower. After besting a Kahildah, they build a raft to cross to the magical isle where the flower is planted. Upon reaching the island, they find the flower in a golden pot, only to be surprised when they cannot approach it. In fact, their feet have become rooted to the spot. With no way to leave the island, it is up to the unaffected Glass Cat to travel back to the Emerald City and ask for help.
Meanwhile, Dorothy and the Wizard arrive in the Forest of Gugu, accompanied by the Cowardly Lion and the Hungry Tiger, for a council of war. They request to be trained in time for Ozma’s upcoming birthday party. Kiki panics at the sight of the new guests and begins transforming people and animals left and right. Among her transformations, Kiki turns Ruggedo into a goose—a form the Nome dreads because he fears he might lay an egg. Dorothy becomes a lamb, the Wizard a fox, the Lion a Munchkin boy, the Tiger a rabbit, and Gugu herself is transformed into a woman. Amidst the confusion, Kiki runs off with the Wizard’s bag of magical tricks, which the Wizard soon realizes are useless to him without knowledge of magic.
Dorothy and the others resolve to return to the Emerald City to warn of the strangers who can transform at will, but first, they must figure out what happened to the Wizard’s bag. Meanwhile, the Glass Cat arrives in the Emerald City to find that Dorothy, the Wizard, and the magical bag have all disappeared. After Eureka and Toto explain their whereabouts, the Glass Cat decides to track them down. Using its swift speed, the Glass Cat races to the Forest of Gugu and learns of the recent events. The group then agrees to search for the cantankerous goose in the hope of obtaining some answers.
Ruggedo eventually finds Kiki and convinces her to turn some of the forest monkeys into giant human soldiers. Kiki climbs up a tree to escape Ruggedo, but the Wizard, in the form of a fox, is hiding in the tree and overhears the magical words she uses to transform the monkeys. The Wizard masters the words and uses them to turn both Kiki and Ruggedo into helpless little hickory nuts. He then restores everyone to their original forms.
Meanwhile, on the magical island, Trot and Cap’n Bill discover that an enchanted plant can transform into anything they wish and even produce fruit for them to eat. They enlist the help of a lonely duck to conjure seating so that they no longer have to stand forever.
Back in the Forest of Gugu, the Glass Cat successfully locates the Wizard’s bag of magic. At the same time, the Wizard makes a deal with the Gray Ape to restore the monkeys from giants to their original forms if he can borrow them for Ozma’s birthday as a small party trick. Guided by the Glass Cat, Dorothy, the Hungry Tiger, the Cowardly Lion, the Wizard, and several shrunken monkeys make their way to Gilikin Country and the magical isle.
The Wizard uses the word “Pyrzqxgl” to transform Cap’n Bill and Trot into honeybees, allowing the roots of the island to change along with them. When they are human again, they discover that Cap’n Bill’s wooden leg wasn’t affected by the magic of the island. So, Cap’n Bill straps a wooden plank onto his good leg, walks with both legs onto the island, and retrieves the flower.
Returning to the Emerald City, they celebrate Ozma’s grand birthday. The monkeys spring out of the cake prepared by Dorothy and the Wizard, while Trot and Cap’n Bill present the magical flower. The next day, Ozma hears all about the adventures to acquire her presents and learns about the transforming magicians and the magic word. Ozma reasons that they must be returned to their natural forms.
Dorothy suggests that when the Wizard transforms them back, he should make them thirsty and place them near the Fountain of Oblivion. The Wizard uses the word “Pyrzqxgl” to change Kiki Aru and Ruggedo back, making them thirsty enough to drink from the Fountain of Oblivion, which causes them to forget everything they’ve ever known.
As Ruggedo is prone to returning to his menacing ways in the Land of Ev, Ozma deduces that he must remain in Oz where they can watch over him and ensure he stays in a more peaceful disposition.
25. Glinda of Oz By L. Frank Baum Illustrated by John R. Neil
This is the final story to be written by L. Frank Baum and it certainly has a great closure on his wonderful world building. We get explaintions on who magic works between the various witches or fariers and use of the vast array of characters he had introduced throughout his time with the series.
The story opens with Ozma and Dorothy ridining to visit Glinda in the south via the charriot drawn by the trusty sawhorse. Upon arriving Dorothy decides to check out the great book of records to see what is happening in oz and is suprised to read the following.
The Skeezers of Oz have declared war on the Flatheads of Oz, and there is likely to be fighting and much trouble as the result.
None of them know of the Skeezers or of the Flatheads, but Ozma decides she wants speak with them and try to prevent a war breaking out between them. Dorothy insists on joining Ozma on this mission and Glinda imparts Dorothy with a ring that she need only turn should she get in any trouble. Ozma feels a sense of duty to know more of the land she rules and takes great pride in getting to know new parts of the land.
Before long they are halted in there journey by a giant purple spider who entraps them in his web. He claims to be the spider king and although he fears Ozma’s magic wand he decides he will not free them unless they can break the web enchantment. Thankfully, they find some crabs who are able to cut through the enchantment. Escaping the spider fury they run hasitly into the Mist Valley where they are guided to so escape by aid of the mist maidens to saftey.
Upon reaching safety Ozma conjures a tent with a magical feast for them to eat. Ozma explains that Oz magic is not all-encompassing or uniform. As a fairy, she has the power to use magic that brings happiness, like creating tents and providing food, but her magic is different from sorcery or wizardry. While she is more powerful than other fairies, there are beings like Glinda, the Sorceress, and the Wizard of Oz who possess different kinds of magic, with abilities that Ozma doesn’t have. Ozma’s magic is unique to fairies, and each type of magic, whether fairy magic, sorcery, or wizardry, has its own limits and strengths. She appreciates the diversity in magical powers, which helps her remain humble and allows her to keep marveling at the world around her.
Moving onwards, Ozma and Dorothy reach the mountain of the Flatheads, accessible only by a towering stairway guarded by a giant. At the summit, they encounter an invisible wall designed to repel invaders, forcing them to feel around blindly until they locate a hidden entrance—proving themselves more capable than expected.
Upon entering the land, they quickly realize the name “Flatheads” is quite literal: the people’s heads are perfectly flat on top, as if sliced off just above the eyes and ears.
The Flatheads are an odd species who were once entirely brainless, until compassionate fairies granted each of them a can of brains to carry in their pockets. Ozma and Dorothy meet their tyrannical leader, Su-dic—short for Supreme Dictator—who has begun confiscating other Flatheads’ brain-cans at will to maintain his power. His main grievance with the Skeezers began when they refused to let the Flatheads fish in their lakes. In retaliation, Su-dic’s wife vowed to poison the water and destroy all the fish. The Skeezer Queen intercepted the plot, turning the wife into a golden pig and stealing her cans of brains. Now Su-dic seeks revenge.
Ozma attempts to reason with Su-dic to prevent war, but he refuses to listen. Fearing danger, she uses magic to secretly escape with Dorothy and head toward the Skeezers, hoping for better diplomacy.
The Skeezers live on a magical, glass-domed island in the middle of a lake, ruled by Queen Coo-ee-oh, a proud and power-hungry sorceress who rebuffs Ozma’s diplomatic mission. Though the Skeezers seem kinder in demeanor than the Flatheads, they are clearly Ozians suffering under another cruel ruler. When Ozma requests peace, Coo-ee-oh refuses, confident her magic is sufficient to defeat the Flatheads without assistance.
Lady Aurex, a noble Skeezer, confides in Ozma and Dorothy that long ago, the Skeezers and Flatheads were once allies. At the time, the Flatheads were ruled by three wise Adepts in Sorcery—beautiful women from outside the mountain who taught both peoples to live better lives through kindness and magic. Coo-ee-oh, once a magic-less noble, grew envious and betrayed the Adepts during a banquet, stealing their magical tools and transforming them into three fish—a gold, silver, and bronze one. Before they were cast into the lake, the Adepts warned her that if even one of them were harmed, she would lose all the power she had stolen. Fearing this, Coo-ee-oh hid them beneath the waters.
The betrayal shattered the alliance. The Flatheads, furious, turned against the Skeezers, and Su-dic and his wife rose to power by stealing magical relics and others’ brains.
Now, in a fit of paranoia and pride, Queen Coo-ee-oh uses her magic to submerge the entire island beneath the lake to protect it. But in doing so, she accidentally traps herself and her people underwater, with no way to return to the surface. Using her magical boat to take her to shore with three Skeezer boys, she confronts Su-dic and loses the battle. He transforms her into a Diamond Swan. As the only one who knew the secret spell to raise the island, her transformation leaves everyone permanently trapped. Worse still, Coo-ee-oh now cares only about her swan-like beauty.
With Ozma and Dorothy trapped underwater among the Skeezers, panic begins to spread.
Glinda the Good learns of the situation through the magical ring Dorothy was bestowed and assembles a rescue party made up of Ozma’s allies: the Wizard, Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, Scraps, Uncle Henry, Aunt Em, Tik-Tok, Shaggy Man, Jack Pumpkinhead, Cap’n Bill, Trot, Professor Wogglebug, the Frogman, Betsy, the Glass Cat, Button Bright, Ojo, and the Cowardly Lion.
Meanwhile, Coo-ee-oh’s servant, Ervic, and three other Skeezers are left stranded in an iron boat on the lake’s surface. While searching for help, Ervic meets the three Adepts in their fish forms. They promise to help save the Skeezers if Ervic remains loyal and true. Using a cord attached to the fish, Ervic hauls the boat back to shore. There, he places the fish in a silver kettle of water and follows their cryptic directions to a peculiar cottage.
He arrives at the home of Reera the Red, a mysterious Yookoohoo—a powerful shape-shifting witch who lives deep in the forest and surrounds herself with eerie enchanted animals, all of whom were once human. Known for her vanity and unpredictable magic, Reera initially refuses to help.
However, Ervic cleverly engages her in conversation, resisting her enchanted food and steering the topic toward the fish. During a strange meal with her and her bizarre animal companions, he subtly flatters her, praising the beauty of the fish and suggesting that if they were transformed back into powerful Adepts, they might rival even Reera in charm and ability. He hints they would never serve him, only command him—feigning disinterest to spark her curiosity.
Flattered by the reverse psychology, Reera agrees to help. She casts a spell that restores the three Adepts to their true forms; wise, graceful, and powerful once more. Meanwhile, despite several attempts, Glinda and the Wizard are unable to raise the sunken island. It is only after Glinda reunites with the Adepts that they are able to partially lift the city, allowing access through the dome tower at its peak. Inside, they uncover Coo-ee-oh’s mechanical systems used for operating her submarine. With this discovery, the Adepts decipher the magical words needed to fully raise the island.
The group, led by Glinda, Ozma, and Dorothy, tries to discover the magic word to raise a sunken island, suspecting it involves the name “Coo-ee-oh.” Dorothy suggests the name itself might be split into three magic syllables, each triggering a different mechanism. Testing this theory, they say “Coo” first, which releases underwater boats, confirming the idea. Next, they try “Oh,” which successfully raises the island. The group is awed by the island’s rise, and the people rejoice, knowing they are saved.
The Skeezers rejoice and welcome Ozma as their ruler. Lady Aurex is chosen as their queen, and Ervic is named Prime Minister for his wisdom and bravery, as praised by the Adepts.
With the island restored, Ozma and her group journey back to the Flatheads’ mountain to confront the Su-dic. Seeing the Adepts returned to power, the Flatheads abandon their dictator and plead for protection. The Su-dic is captured and imprisoned, stripped of his stolen brains. Glinda then transforms all the Flatheads, placing their brains inside their now-rounded heads and renaming them “Mountaineers.” No one can steal their intelligence again. Even the Su-dic and his wife—now human again—are reformed and watched closely.
With peace restored and both nations now loyal to Oz, Ozma and her friends return home. As she reflects on the adventure, Ozma remarks that though duty can be difficult, it is always worthwhile, especially when it brings peace and harmony to the land.
The Age of Exportation in Oz
26. The Royal Book of Oz
The first Oz book written by Ruth Plumly Thompson has an unusual route to publication. After L. Frank Baum’s death, the publishers were eager to keep the Oz books going because they provided a steady paycheck. Ruth, who had been publishing short fairy tales, was sought after to continue the series. Although she was thrilled to take on the task, there were issues getting the book off the ground. The publishers initially rejected her manuscript, and it wasn’t until Ruth threatened to change the characters and set the story in a non-Oz world that they agreed to publish it.
A common misconception is that Baum had notes for The Royal Book of Oz. However, it’s been proven that Baum was ill when writing Glinda of Oz and had no further stories left. Despite Baum’s name on the cover, he had no involvement in this particular book. It’s unfortunate that his name is still attached to this controversial first entry in the Ruth era.
One of the major issues with The Royal Book of Oz is its blatant racism. The way the Silverlands are compared to Asian culture is deeply offensive by today’s standards. The portrayal of the food and the description of how Dorothy would “despair” at it make the book difficult to read, especially with a modern lens. John R. Neill’s illustrations, while beautiful in many ways, also carry an outdated and problematic portrayal of various characters. If you can stomach the prejudices that were more common in Western cultures at the time, you might be able to push through these troubling elements.
That being said, what I take away from the Ruth Plumly Thompson era is her introduction of new races and cultures in Oz. Up until that point, Oz had been predominantly white, and though her portrayal of diversity isn’t perfect, it marks the first time that characters from outside the typical Ozian or American mold are introduced.
The story itself opens with the Wooglebug declaring that he’s creating a Royal Book of Oz to trace the ancestry of all the Oz citizens. The Scarecrow is particularly upset about this project, as he has no lineage to speak of. In response, he sets off to discover his family history.
The abashed Scarecrow returns to the Munchkin Country to explore his roots. He digs at the base of the beanpole where he had hung when Dorothy first found him. As he digs deeper, he breaks through to a hidden cavity and suddenly falls, plunging through the earth to a strange new land—an enigmatic place known as the Silver Island. There, his arrival is seen as the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy, and the people hail him as the long-lost Emperor Chang Wang Woe, believed to have vanished long ago.
Suddenly, the Scarecrow goes from having no past to being burdened with an overwhelming one. At first, he enjoys his newfound role as Emperor, even successfully repelling an invasion from the King of the Golden Islands. He forms a close friendship with a palace servant named Happy Toko (though the Scarecrow affectionately calls him Tappy Oko). However, his situation soon becomes both complicated and uncomfortable. As Emperor Chang Wang Woe, he finds himself with three ambitious princely sons who quickly begin plotting his downfall, not to mention fifteen unruly grandsons.
Back in Oz, Dorothy is worried about the Scarecrow and sets out to find him, concerned about his hurt feelings. Accompanied by the Cowardly Lion, she visits his corncob-shaped house in the Winkie Country, only to find it empty. As they search for him, they become entangled in strange adventures with peculiar creatures. In the somnambulistic city of Pokes, they meet a knight in armor named Sir Hokus. Together, they escape the city and continue their journey, battling a candy giant, stumbling upon Fix City, and encountering the Comfortable Camel and the Doubtful Dromedary. At a place called Wish Way, Dorothy wishes they could reunite with the Scarecrow, wherever he may be — and, in an instant, magic transports them to Silver Island.
Meanwhile, the evil princes are plotting to break the enchantment on their “father,” hoping to return him to his 85-year-old human body. Just as the Scarecrow and Happy Toko are preparing to escape, Dorothy and her companions arrive. The following day, a confrontation unfolds. At first, the situation seems bleak, but Dorothy discovers an unexpected magic in a flying parasol that helps her turn the tables on the scheming princes. The formula meant to transform the Scarecrow into a human instead turns the princes into animals. Sir Hokus, fulfilling his lifelong dream, even slays a dragon (a small one, but a dragon nonetheless).
In the end, the Scarecrow abdicates the throne in favor of Happy Toko, and Dorothy and her friends use the flying parasol to return to Oz. Sir Hokus, along with the Comfortable Camel and the Doubtful Dromedary, finds a warm welcome in their new home.
27. Kabumpo of Oz
This is where Ruth truly hits her stride, taking the reader on a whimsical adventure. The new characters are interesting and avoid the harmful tropes often found in other books. Pompa is a fantastic addition to the Oz universe, as is the fiery and assertive Kabumpo. Ruth also demonstrates a solid understanding of Ruggedo and other pre-established Ozian characters, making this book one of her best.
In the royal palace of Pumperdink, chaos erupts when Prince Pompadore’s birthday cake mysteriously vanishes, only to reappear moments later, causing a comical dispute among the kitchen staff. The royal family—King Pompus, Queen, Prince Pompadore, and Kabumpo, the Elegant Elephant—make their grand entrance. Kabumpo delights everyone with his mischievous antics, while King Pompus enjoys his kingdom’s old-fashioned ways, including the quirky punishment of “dipping” offenders into a blue well. However, when the cake explodes during the celebration, the royal family learns of a dire prophecy: Pompadore must marry a proper fairy princess within a certain time, or the kingdom will vanish forever. Pompadore dreads the thought of his next “birthday,” fearing even more unwanted responsibilities.
The King and his advisors are frantic over the scroll demanding Pompadore marry a “Proper Princess” to save the kingdom. The King insists on Faleero, an unattractive fairy princess, despite objections from Kabumpo. Meanwhile, a mysterious door knob and mirror with cryptic messages add to the confusion. The Prime Pumper announces that Faleero agrees to marry Pompadore, and despite his reluctance, Pompadore prepares to wed her. Kabumpo remains suspicious, sensing trouble ahead.
Kabumpo, upset by the magical scroll’s threat to Pumperdink, orders his attendant, Spezzle, to help him prepare for the impending vanishing. After donning his luxurious purple robe and slipping a few jewels into his pocket, Kabumpo heads to the banquet hall, grabs a magical doorknob and mirror, and retreats to his room to wait for nightfall. When the palace is asleep, Kabumpo sneaks into Pompadore’s room, steals his crown, and carries him out through a secret exit. They set off into the night to escape Pumperdink.
Pompadore awakens in a strange forest and realizes they’ve truly disappeared. Kabumpo reassures him they’ve evaded the marriage and have a plan to find the “Proper Princess”—Ozma of Oz. They travel through the forest and meet a strange creature, a Cottabus, who asks endless questions. Kabumpo grows irritated, but Pompadore feels compelled to answer. Eventually, the Cottabus provides no useful information and leaves them, but not before mentioning the doorknob in the cake.
In the city of Rith Metic, Kabumpo and Pompadore are forced to solve math problems posed by the headless creatures, the Figure Heads. With help from the quirky Cottabus, they escape, but when they stop to rest, Pompadore mysteriously disappears, leaving behind only a cryptic message.
Meanwhile, Ruggedo, the former Gnome King, secretly lives in a cavern under the Emerald City. He’s carving his life story into rocks to preserve his memory and plans to regain power. Along with his rabbit servant, Wag, Ruggedo seeks a new scheme to conquer Oz. One night, Ruggedo discovers “Glegg’s Box of Mixed Magic,” which sparks his hope for a fresh plot. When he opens the box, he finds magical bottles, including one that causes expansion. After testing it on various objects, Ruggedo accidentally enlarges a wooden doll, Peg, causing her to come to life. In a panic, Ruggedo uses the fluid on himself, transforming into a giant. His magic backfires, and soon he’s miles tall, with Ozma’s palace stuck on his head.
Back in Oz, the Scarecrow, Scraps, and others are investigating Ruggedo’s giant form after the palace shakes and disappears. The Soldier with the Green Whiskers discovers a giant footprint, and Glinda suspects Ruggedo is involved. Glinda promises to return with a plan.
Ruggedo’s magic continues to wreak havoc. After accidentally growing into a giant, he shakes the land uncontrollably, eventually crashing in the Deadly Desert. Meanwhile, Peg and Wag discover the magical box’s powers and decide to journey to Ev to find Ruggedo. Along the way, they realize the magic has caused them to grow in size, while everything around them remains the same.
Kabumpo and Pompadore find themselves in the underground world of the Candlemen, flame-headed creatures living in a white-tiled chamber. Kabumpo accidentally blows out the Candle King, causing chaos, and they flee. Their journey takes them next to the Soup Sea, where they enjoy a meal before reaching the Emerald City. Pompadore is nervous about meeting Princess Ozma but is instead greeted by Glinda, who reveals that Ozma and the Royal Palace have disappeared, taken by the giant to Ev.
Pompadore, Kabumpo, and Glinda set out for Ev, determined to rescue Ozma. Along the way, they meet Peg and Wag, who reveal that the magical box they carry was responsible for Peg’s transformation into a doll and her growth. The group agrees to work together to undo the damage caused by Ruggedo.
In Ozma’s palace, Ruggedo’s giant form causes chaos, but the Scarecrow and Scraps use the Magic Picture to track him down. The Sand Man mistakenly puts everyone to sleep with his silver sand, leaving only the Scarecrow, Tik Tok, and Scraps awake. They keep watch while Ruggedo sleeps, unsure of what to do next.
Kabumpo and Peg grow closer on their journey through the Winkie lands. Kabumpo gives Peg a pearl necklace, and after a few mishaps, they encounter a group of aggressive tree creatures, the Twigs. After defeating them, they continue their journey and encounter the Runaway Country, a giant landmass with ten giant feet. The Country insists on transforming itself into a modern kingdom, and though the group protests, they’re swept along on a wild ride to Ev.
There, they face the terrifying giant and find that the Magic Box is missing. Peg discovers the box open in her hands, and with its help, they pour Trick Tea on Ruggedo’s feet, causing him to march back toward the Emerald City. Glinda confirms the magic is working, and Pompadore nervously asks Ozma to marry him, but she quickly declines.
Pompadore learns he must marry the Princess of Sun Top Mountain instead. Kabumpo, frustrated with Ozma’s lack of gratitude, storms off, but the group soon faces the Runaway Country, which carries them across the Deadly Desert to Sun Top Mountain.
At the golden castle, Pompadore confesses his feelings for Peg, and when he holds up a magical mirror, it reveals that Peg is the Princess of Sun Top Mountain all along. As the magic unfolds, Peg transforms into a real princess, confirming she is the “Proper Princess.” Her Uncle Tozzyfog, who has been searching for her for years, joyfully reunites with her.
Glegg, the magician who turned Peg into a doll, appears, but Ozma magically whisks him away. In the end, Pompadore marries Peg to save Pumperdink, and they live happily ever after in Sun Top Mountain.
Ruggedo, after confessing his actions to Ozma, is transported to a distant island as the “King of the Gnomes,” while Glegg is punished by his own magic. With the villains dealt with, Ozma, Dorothy, and their friends prepare to welcome Pompadore and Peg Amy to the Emerald City, bringing peace to the land
28. The Cowardly Lion of Oz
We begin our tale in the questionably named, barbaric land of Mudge, located far southwest of Munchkinland. Ruth describes it as a “hot, dry, desert land,” inhabited by the Mudgers, a short-tempered, long-legged tribe of troublemakers. “They live in blue-striped tents, and, if not for their bright blue whiskers, you might mistake them for Arabs. They wear sweeping white robes and turbans to protect themselves from the desert heat and sands.” This may not shock you, but hold on—there’s more.
If you can set aside Ruth’s inherently Western-centric perspective—where anything not considered “American” or “Western” is deemed barbaric—you might make it past the first few pages. The Mudgers are cruel by nature, having once terrorized Oz and stolen anything of value from defenseless lands. However, Glinda and Ozma have decreed that any Mudger who leaves Mudge will be beheaded, ensuring that these mean-spirited creatures remain isolated in their own land. I think many would agree this is a questionable narrative choice on Ruth’s part.
Enter the ruler of Mudge: King Mustafa. He’s a tyrannical king with an obsession for collecting lions—9,999 lions and a half, to be exact. The “half” refers to a lion that was cut in half by a hunter, with the front half running away from the Mudge encampment. This strange detail is just the beginning of Ruth’s obsession with things that don’t die in Oz. Regardless, Mustafa is unimpressed by his collection, and upon hearing about the Cowardly Lion, he is determined to add him to his menagerie.
If that’s not nightmare fuel enough, we’re also introduced to a clown performing in a small town called Stumptown, USA. He calls a young boy from the audience to assist with a magic trick, claiming he will make the boy disappear. The clown chants the following rhyme: “Udge! Budge! Go to Mudge! Udger Budger, You’re a Mudger!” A curious event follows—the clown and the boy fly through the tent and are suddenly transported to Mudge. The rhyme is an old Oz formula that brought them here.
The young orphan boy, Bobbie, and the clown, Notta, become acquainted as they assess their strange new surroundings. Notta, a resourceful clown, carries an assortment of costumes in his baggy clown clothes. When they spot the Mudgers approaching with menacing looks on their faces, Notta dons a lion costume, hoping to scare them away. This backfires, as the Mudgers are eager to capture more lions for Mustafa. After some initial fury over Notta’s disguise, Mustafa is eventually appeased by the idea that Notta will capture the famous Cowardly Lion for him. This is especially appealing because Mustafa’s ring will turn black if they try to run away or abandon the mission.
So, Notta and Bobbie set out to find the Cowardly Lion, unsure of what to do if they actually capture him. Their journey takes them on a series of strange adventures, including passing through several doorways that lead to obscure realms in Oz. In one such realm, they find the other half of the lion that was nearly stolen by the Mudgers.
Meanwhile, the Cowardly Lion is facing his own challenges. He believes the courage that the Wizard of Oz once gave him has depleted. Mischievous Scraps suggests that he can replenish his courage by eating a courageous man. Although he dislikes the idea, the Lion sets out to find the bravest man and vows to complete the task quickly.
As fate would have it, the group crosses paths when the Cowardly Lion mistakes Notta for a hunter (one of his many disguises). Once they learn who the Lion truly is, they decide to take him to Mudge. However, their plans are quickly derailed when they fall into a trap and are transported to the unexpected and unpleasant Island of Un. Floating high in the sky, the Island of Un is inhabited by bird-headed people who are thoroughly “unish”—unfriendly, unkind, ungrateful, and so on.
After nearly being flung off the edge of the sky, they meet a peculiar bird that snores very loudly. This bird has a long and curved beak, so it can fit over the comical creature’s ear like a personal telephone connection. This strange creature goes by the name of Nickadoodle. The bird takes an instant liking to Notta, claiming he is one of the most beautiful creatures he has ever seen. However, this brief introductions are abruptly interrupted when Notta and the others begin erupting in feathers. Nickadoodle, unwilling to see Notta’s beauty ruined, offers a solution. He shows them the way to the Flyaboutabus, a mechanical bird with seats inside its body, a steering wheel to guide it, and whirling feathered wheels. With quick work, the group escapes the land of the Uns.
After the Lion bravely helps them escape, Notta and Bobbie realize they cannot deliver the Lion to Mustafa. They begin devising a plan to outwit Mustafa. They head to the Emerald City for advice from the royal Ozian figures and encounter a series of adventurers along the way, including landing in the Preservatory. It’s a place where all inhabitants keep themselves in jars to preserve themselves from the ravages of time. After breaking one of the precious preserves and making an enemy of the locals, they are flung to the land to meet Crunch, the Stone Man.
Crunch was once a primitive statue brought to life with the Powder of Life. He has remained disconnected from others for years, unsure of what to do with his life. Meanwhile, Mustafa uses his ring to summon Notta and the Lion, causing Notta to curl in pain. Crunch agrees to carry the Cowardly Lion to Mudge while Notta, Bobbie, and Nick head to the Emerald City for help.
After the royal Ozians meet Notta and Bobbie they agree to help. Princess Ozma, Glinda, Dorothy, the Wizard, and their friends use magic to take them to Mudge. Chaos ensues in Mudge. Crunch uses the only incantation he knows to petrify all of Mustafa’s lions, including the Cowardly Lion. He believes he’s doing a good deed, turning the Lion from a coward to stone. When Crunch tries to run off with the Lion as a trophy, Glinda and the Wizard turn him back into his inanimate state. They deprive Mustafa of his magic ring leaving him powerless. Sadly they struggle to restore the Cowardly Lion to life. As a stone statue, he is transported back to the Emerald City, where the tears of Dorothy and the others work their special magic. The Lion is restored to flesh and blood once more.
With everyone finally safe Bobbie and Notta are permitted to stay in the land of Oz, where Notta becomes Bobbie’s full-time carer. They set up a small circus tent near the Emerald City and begin a new, happy life in Oz.
29. Grandpa in Oz
Though this story reads more cohesively then the previous story there is a sense of deja vu as the story unfolds. There is striking resemblance to Kampbo of Oz.
True to Ruth’s formula, we begin in an unfamiliar kingdom—Ragbad, a once-prosperous land known for cropping rags into clothing. But hard times have fallen upon the kingdom, as no one trades with them anymore. The situation worsens when a violent storm carrying “ten thousand pounds of thunder” blows away King Fumbo’s head. With the treasury empty and their ruler headless, Prince Tatters and Grampa, an old soldier and the bravest man in a kingdom of only 27 citizens, set off on a quest to restore Ragbad. Their mission is threefold:
- Find King Fumbo’s missing head
- Obtain a fortune to save the kingdom
- Find a princess for Tatters to marry
As they set out, they encounter Bill, a steel weathercock from Chicago who was brought to life by an electrical storm and blown into Oz. Bill, now a talking, animated rooster, joins their journey. However, their new friendship is cut short when they are ambushed by bandits. Grampa, using his talent for storytelling, lulls the bandits to sleep. As they escape the encampment, Grampa takes a few items for revenge—a bottle of magical medicine and some tobacco. But Bill, unaware of the danger, crows at dawn, waking the bandits, and the group is forced to flee.
In their escape, Tatters and Grampa hide inside a massive hollow tree, only to discover it is a hidden passageway leading them to a secret underground garden. There, they find Urtha, a mysterious and beautiful girl made entirely of plants, locked in an enchanted sleep. Suspecting she is a fairy trapped by magic, Tatters awakens her. Grateful for her rescue, Urtha joins their journey.
Following a magical spiral staircase, the group ascends—only to find themselves in more unfamiliar and dangerous lands.
Meanwhile, in Perhaps City, located in the Maybe Mountains, Princess Pretty Good faces a dire fate. The cunning prophet Abrog (also known as Gorba) prophesizes that unless she marries within four days, she will be doomed to wed a monster. Conveniently, Abrog offers himself as her only escape. When she refuses, she mysteriously vanishes the next morning, along with Abrog.
Hearing of the princess’s disappearance, Percy Vere, a forgetful poet who can never finish his rhymes, offers to rescue her.
Elsewhere, Dorothy, traveling to the Tin Man’s castle, meets Percy and learns about the lost princess. Taking a liking to the peculiar poet, she joins him on his quest. However, their journey takes a sudden turn when they are trapped on the Runaway Road, which carries them deeper into the forest against their will.
Tatters, Grampa, Urtha, and Bill reach Fire Island, a land of living flames ruled by the fiery Prince Forge John. To prove their worth, they undergo a test of courage. Satisfied, Forge John agrees to help them return to the surface of Oz—but only if they survive being launched through a volcano. Fortunately, Grampa’s stolen magical medicine allows them to withstand the fire, and they ride a blast of lava upward.
They land on the frozen island of Isa Poso, where they encounter cruel ice men. After bravely defeating a dragon, the group expects gratitude—but instead, the ice men betray them and leave them stranded on an iceberg. Feeling defeated, Grampa smokes some of his stolen tobacco, only to discover that the smoke magically transforms them into birds. This allows them to fly to safety.
Meanwhile, Dorothy and Percy face their own troubles. While searching for Princess Pretty, they get trapped on Monday Mountain, where they are held captive by the Wash Woman.
At last, Tatters and his group find King Fumbo’s missing head, stuck in a storm cloud. They learn that many lost heads end up in the sky, but with the help of Polychrome, the Rainbow’s Daughter, they ride a rainbow back to Oz with the king’s head safely in hand.
Meanwhile, Dorothy outsmarts the Wash Woman and escapes, freeing Percy as well. As they descend Monday Mountain, the two groups of adventurers finally meet, uniting their forces. On their way back to Perhaps City, the group encounters a group of playful but mischievous magical creatures, who throw them around unruly. In this mayhem Uthra runs away.
Princess Pretty Good has been enchanted, and many in the city are afraid of her. In desperation, the king locks her in her room, determined to marry her off to anyone who will take her.
Soon, Grampa and the rest of the crew arrive in the city and uncover the truth—Abrog is still manipulating events to serve his own agenda. Using dark magic, he had attempted to transform Princess Pretty Good into a clod of earth. However, because she is far more than just “pretty good”, the spell backfires. Instead of turning to dust, she becomes Urtha, a radiant and powerful flower fairy.
With her true identity restored, Princess Pretty Good returns to her original form, and she and Prince Tatters are married. King Fumbo’s head is restored and Ragbad’s fortune secured. Tatters’ marriage fulfills the final quest, all is well again. Grampa and Bill are honored for their bravery, and the kingdom rejoices in a grand celebration.
30. The Lost King of Oz
In the Gilkin country lies the Kingdom of Kimbaloo that makes its riches from the buttons found in the woods. In Kimabloo everyone is happy from the King and Queen to the loyal subjects, well almost everyone. Hidden away in the kitchens is a cranky old woman who had entered there land some years ago emploring to stay in the kingdom as a cook. Little does everyone know that this old crone is infact the once powerful witch Mombi who has remained powerless since Glinda stripped her of her powers. Despite her many efforts to remember spells Mombi remains a mere cook. one day one of the loyal subjects a button boy named Snip sneaks into the kitchn to steal a cookie and sees old mombi trying to brew a spell and watches in avid curiosity. She is quickly interupptd by the arrival of a goose to be cooked for dinner. Howeever, the goose is rather objective to being cooked and upon seeing Mombi instantly reconginses the old witch. It is quickly established he is Pajuka, the former prime minister of Oz who was transformed by Mombi into a goose years before. Part of his curse being he could never tell anyone from the Emerald City of his misfortune Pajuka has loyally been trying to find King Pastoria who Mombi had also enchancted many years ago. Snip accidently falls after hearing the shocking revelation that Ozma’s father still lives and Mombi is quick to seize the boy as prisoner. Pajuka determined to keep the boy safe and to find the king appeals to Mombis greed and wickdness by telling her that should she find the king she may be rewarded handsomley. The goose is determined he will recongise the king in any form. Mombi quickly agrees hoping to get her magic back as a result and forces Snip to join the quest so no one knows of her real idetnity.
When news reaches the King and Queen they become very mournful that not only has there dinner run away, but also the cook and the loyal subject Snip. General Whiffenpuff offers to go in search of them.
Pajuka and Snip begin to form a friendship and alliance as mean Mombi kidnaps Snip as her unwilling assistant and bearer of burdens. Mombi hatches a plan that will involve Pajuka flying into the Emerald City to steal Ozma’s wand once they reach the gates of the city. A sceptical Pajuka contests but Mombi once more insists she will need magic to find the king and return Pajuka to his former self.
However, despite her cantakrous ways Mombi proves useful on the ecursion from outwitting a Weenix (a bear with the head of a walrus) , by means of blowing pepper into the face. Then later turning a lake into jello by adding her obnoxious amount of Gelatin which allows them to cross on foot. Indeed she claims she has more magic in her cookbook then the wizard of oz himself.
Meanwhile, Pajuka laments on the past explaining to Sip that King Pastoria had been a very kind king who believed in the goodness in eveyone. His insitence to never punish anyone lead to the rapid increase in witches in the land and of course his eventual fall of his kingdom. Prior to emerald city a grand palace had stood there and around was hunting grounds.
Upon crossing the gelatin lake, they find a land of cats called Catty Corners. Pajuka is opposed to visiting as a goose because the sign distinctly says boys are banned, but Mombi insists on going. Once inside, it doesn’t take long for the Imperial and Puissant Pussy to place Sip under arrest and order Pajuka to be cooked. Meanwhile, Mombi is exalted as a witch and treated with kindness. However, when she wishes to leave after amusing herself with the cats, she is surprised that they won’t allow her to take the prisoners. Using her crafty mind, Mombi decides to cook a meal for the cats, showcasing her culinary skills. She prepares a cream rice pudding laced with a sleeping potion, causing all the cats to fall asleep, allowing her to escape with her prisoners.
In Emerald City, Betsy, Trot, Sir Hokus Pocus, Scarecrow, Scraps, and Ozma are all enjoying the palace gardens when a mysterious golden goose feather appears. Bemused, they watch as the feather writes: “Danger! Go to Morrow to-day!” The message causes confusion, as they wonder how one can travel tomorrow and today. Thankfully, the Scarecrow deduces that Morrow is actually a place.
The Wizard is summoned due to his great knowledge of the geography of Oz, and he decides to use one of Dr. Nikidik’s magic wishing pills to take them there immediately. The assembly finds themselves instantly transported to derelict palace grounds that appear to have been abandoned for some time. Ozma seems to have a strange recollection of this place. When Scraps is frightened by the surroundings, they discover a silver chest containing a beautiful green velvet robe inscribed as the Royal Robe of His Majesty, the King of Oz!
Ozma then remembers that the place was her father’s old hunting lodge and a place where they would hide from Mombi when she was a child. Betsy Bobbin is surprised to learn that Ozma’s father, thought to have been destroyed by the witch Mombi, is actually alive. The Wizard admits his past mistakes in entrusting Ozma to Mombi’s care. They discover that the magical robe, preserved by the Fairy Lurline, can restore the King to his true form with a specific incantation. Ozma is thrilled by the news of her father’s survival, while Scraps, the Patchwork Girl, remains skeptical and prefers Ozma as queen. The group decides to use the Magic Picture in the Emerald City to locate the King. After realising that the wizard only had one pill they release they must travel back by foot so, they leave the deserted castle to begin their journey, hoping to find clues about the King’s whereabouts. Along the way, they approach a small red house but find no one home and continue on, eager to reunite Ozma with her father.
Meanwhile, Dorothy who had been visiting her friends in Perhaps City is walking home to emerald city when she is taken by a beauful silver sand on the road. Pocketing some to show her friends her minds drifts to thought of America and how she wished to go back. Suddenly she is taken off her path back to emerald city when she sees a sign pointing to Hollywood. Excited she follows the path and finds herself mysteriously transported to Hollywood, California, puzzled about how she got there. While exploring near a ravine, she witnesses a wild group of green-clad horsemen who violently throw a green-cloaked figure—a dummy king—over the cliff. Dorothy rescues the dummy, who surprisingly comes to life and explains he is a moving picture stunt dummy used in films. They talk about movies and Oz, where Dorothy is a princess. Suddenly, Dorothy starts growing rapidly, as she no longer benefits from Oz’s magical effects. She panics, wishing to return to Oz, and then both she and the dummy vanish, leaving no trace except a confused squirrel.
Dorothy and the dummy, Humpy, wake up back in Oz, relieved that Dorothy has returned to her usual small size. Curious about how they made it back, Dorothy wishes for an answer, and a card appears, explaining that her wishes brought them to Oz because she had unknowingly pocketed silver sand from the Wish Way. She had also used a wish to bring Humpy to life, so he could explain why they were being chased by the mysterious horsemen. Dorothy then tries to wish themselves directly to the Emerald City, but the sand has run out, so they begin their journey on foot. As they walk, Dorothy tells Humpy stories about Oz, which, to her surprise, don’t faze him—he’s used to the strange stunts of movie sets. Their peaceful journey is disrupted when two bizarre woodsmen appear, blocking the road with a purple flag covered in unreadable writing, shouting confusing commands that leave both of them alarmed.
While traveling, Humpy spots what he believes is a threat and throws a stick at an approaching elephant, who charges at him in anger. The elephant turns out to be Kabumpo, a regal creature and beloved figure in the royal family of Pumperdink. Initially offended, Kabumpo calms down after Dorothy explains who Humpy is and how they became friends. Kabumpo then recounts his own story; how he helped Prince Pompadore rescue Princess Peg Amy from a wicked wizard.
Meanwhile, back in the dark forest, the wicked witch Mombi tricks Snip into fetching water from a well, then cruelly pushes him in. Rather than falling to his doom, Snip lands in a padded bucket that carries him through a hidden underground tunnel. After a long ride, he finds himself in a strange orchard near a mysterious city. He soon encounters the invisible citizens of Blankenburg, known as the Blanks, who are outraged by his visible face. In Blankenburg, being visible is illegal. Snip flees and finds refuge in the tailor shop of a kind old man named Tora. Tora is the only visible person in the city and hides Snip from the Blanks. Tora is a peculiar man with detachable ears that flutter like butterflies, allowing him to hear news from the world beyond his imprisonment.
Tora shares his story: he’s been trapped in Blankenburg for years, forced to sew clothing for its invisible citizens. Snip, determined to warn Ozma about Mombi’s treachery and to save Pajuka, convinces Tora to escape with him. They head to the Fare-Well—the only known exit from the city. Surprisingly, Tora is able to leave and joyfully renames himself “The Re-Tired Tailor of Oz.” They make their escape while the Blanks are still at breakfast.
Outside Blankenburg, Tora explains that the Blanks weren’t always invisible. Their vain queen, who had grown old and jealous of the younger townspeople, stumbled upon a lake that turned her arm invisible. She tricked the townspeople into bathing in it so that everyone would become invisible; ensuring she’d be considered the most beautiful. When Tora was captured, they tried to turn him invisible as well, but the water had no effect on him.
After escaping, Tora and Snip happen to cross paths with Dorothy and Humpy, who are looking for lunch. After exchanging stories, they realize they must all hurry to the Emerald City. Kabumpo soon arrives and is initially appalled to see Dorothy associating with what he considers “riff-raff,” which deeply offends Snip. But once Dorothy explains the urgency of their mission and the mystery of the lost king, Kabumpo quickly apologizes and offers them a ride on his back.
They soon catch up with Mombi and Pajuka, who are equally nearing Emerald City. Pajuka is thrilled to see that Snip is alive and well, but is quickly distracted by the sight of Humphy, whom he recognizes as the King of Oz. Mombi does not seem to recognize the dummy but is willing to comply in order to escape, attempting to run off with him. Kabumpo is quick to apprehend Mombi with his trunk, carrying her in captivity until they reach the palace.
However, the group are surprised to find Emerald City abandoned, for everyone has gone in search of Ozma after the crew mysteriously vanished. Dorothy leads them to the throne room where Humphy excitedly sits on the throne. Mombi recites the formula written on the dummy’s collar: “202 B E-10 B-4 7,” ran the number, but as Mombi said it, it sounded like this, “Two ought to be eaten before seven,” because she does it with a mouth full of buttons. However, to everyone’s horror, the palace begins to sink into the ground because Mombi did not recite the spell with the king’s cloak upon him—an oversight she had forgotten. Meanwhile, Ozma and the merry band arrive to find the palace sunken and her trace to her father gone once more.
In the chaos of the palace, everyone angrily points to Mombi, who is unsure why the curse was not lifted. Snip decides to look into her basket and finds the marvelous baking powder that can raise a hair, a roof, the rent, and even a palace depending on the contents poured. Emptying it out onto the floor, the palace rockets back up. Ozma sweeps back in eager to reunite with her lost father but finds everyone still confused about who the dummy really is. The Wizard summons the green book of magic so they can rectify this once and for all. With the knowledge of the cloak, which is in Ozma’s possession, they attempt once more the magical spell. However, nothing happens to Humphy. It does not take long for them to ascertain that although Humphy is the doppelganger and image of Pastoria, it is in fact Tora who is the true king. Though Kabumpo has his reservations, once the cloak is placed upon him, Tora returns to his natural form.
The lost King Pastoria is finally found and reunited with his daughter Ozma in the Emerald City after a long exile caused by a powerful enchantment. The Wizard of Oz explains the mysteries behind Dorothy’s change in size being due to the fact many years had passed in Oz and by now in America she’d be much older, and that Pastoria’s captivity was only broken because of the arrival of Snip, whose kindness had cut through the dark magic. The kingdom celebrates with a grand feast and a festive procession, honoring the King’s return. Pastoria, impressed by Ozma’s wise rule and the prosperity of Oz during his absence, abdicates the throne in her favor but decides to open a tailor shop instead, pursuing his newfound passion for tailoring.
The villainous witch Mombi is defeated by being washed away with water. Visitors such as General Whiffenpuff and the Invisible Cook arrive, and Snip, the little button boy, prepares to return home but will come back to work with Pastoria. The story ends on a warm note with the King happily settling into his new role, Snip excited to stay in the city, and the Prime Minister Pajuka comically still acting like a goose.
31. The Hungry Tiger of Oz
The book opens in a situation almost identical to The Cowardly Lion of Oz. In a remote corner of the Land of Ev, bordering the deadly desert, lies the tiny pink kingdom of Rash. The people of Rash are generous and kind, though notoriously short-tempered. They are ruled by Irasha, the current Pasha, who gained power through treachery and now inflicts misery on his subjects. Pasha faces a problem: his prison is too full to cram in any more Rashers. The Vizier’s solution is to obtain a ferocious beast from nearby Oz to devour the unfortunate prisoners. They settle on the Hungry Tiger, and Ippty, a courtier of Rash, uses the kingdom’s magical Hurry-Cane to travel across the desert. This enchanted cane unscrews, and when a note is placed inside stating your desired destination, it whisks you there instantly.
In the Emerald City, Betsy is celebrating her birthday, and everyone from the royal and celebrity circles of Oz is in attendance. A grand feast is served, but the Hungry Tiger remains unsatisfied, still craving his forbidden desire (a pound of flesh) despite his strong moral compass. When Ippty appears and offers to take him to Ev, where he can feast on villainous prisoners, the tiger hesitantly agrees, but only under the condition that he may return after a week, for he would miss his friends in the Emerald City.
Naturally, the offer turns out to be a trap. The tiger is imprisoned in Rash and expected to devour the prisoners himself. True to form, the Hungry Tiger cannot bring himself to do so. When he meets a singer among the prisoners, he pretends to have eaten him, hiding the man in a dug-out section of his cell hidden beneath a loose pink stone instead. Thus begins a quiet rebellion against the cruelty of the Pasha
Back in Oz, Betsy Bobbin, hears a familiar-sounding street vendor calling out about strawberries and vegetables. Curious and nostalgic for home, she follows the voice into the garden, where she meets Carter Green, a bizarre but friendly Vegetable Man. Carter is made almost entirely of vegetables and explains that he gradually turned this way after eating too many of his own produce. As they chat, Carter offers Betsy strawberries, and she gives him a small emerald ring in exchange. He shows her a mysterious ruby with an “R” on it, which he found in a potato, but its origin is unknown.
Suddenly, the road beneath them turns into a magical winding road that whisks them away at great speed, dumping them into a desert wasteland. Carter explains that these tricky roads appear randomly in Oz and often leave travelers stranded. Betsy and Carter try to find a way back, but instead they come across quicksand. While searching for a path, Betsy finds a mysterious package containing a pair of giant white leather sandals labeled “Quick Sandals”, which Carter puts on.
As soon as he wears them, the sandals cause him to jump uncontrollably and race ahead, dragging Betsy and the vegetable cart across the quicksand and dangerously close to the Deadly Desert; a lethal area around Oz. Despite Betsy’s cries to stop, Carter can’t control his movement, and she’s left clinging to the cart in terror, fearing they are heading straight into doom.
The pair end up in Ev before Carter can pry the shoes off his feet and succumb to normal walking. Upon seeing a Pink Castle he resolves to sell produce to the royal family against Betsy’s judgment who has found kings to be unfair in her past adventures. True to form the mean Pasha, throws them into jail with little remorse offering them to the new tiger. Betsy is overjoced when she finds out it is the hungry tiger himself. Relieved at this small fortune they are able to hide away in the same hole in the jail walls with the singer. Though they are not alone for long for a new prisoner is added this time young boy.
Instead of harming him, the Tiger offers kindness, planning to help him escape. At that moment, Fizzenpop, the loyal Grand Vizier, leaps in to offer himself in the Prince’s place, revealing the boy’s identity as the rightful heir, the Scarlet Prince of Rash.
Fizzenpop explains that Irashi usurped the throne by stealing the royal scepter that held three magical rubies protecting the true ruler. These rubies were scattered, one thrown from the palace, one into the river, and one buried in the garden. Without them, the Prince’s life and the kingdom’s future are at risk. Moved by Fizzenpop’s courage, the Hungry Tiger decides to help. He hides Prince Evered with the other prisoners, but when he follows the boy into the underground chamber, both mysteriously vanish. Fizzenpop, in a panic, covers up the truth, telling Irashi that the Hungry Tiger escaped using magic. Irashi, believing the Prince has been eaten, is satisfied and goes back to bed unaware of the cavern below.
However, commotion breaks out below the flow when, upon hearing of the prince, the singer begins to loudly recite sonnets in his honor. As the group tries to silence him, the commotion caused by thwaring on the walls makes the ground give way, sending them plummeting to a new place altogether. They are quickly joined by the tiger and a confused Prince Evered.
They find themselves in Down Town, a new magical land. As they explore, Prince Evered explains the story of the three rubies scattered by the Pasha. He reveals that the rubies each have an “R” engraved on the side to symbolize the “Rightful Ruler of Rash.” Carter, the vegetable man, excitedly shows off the ruby he obtained from a potato he bought from a gypsy, which also has an “R” engraved. Unsure which ruby it is, the hungry tiger advises the prince to hold onto it until they are certain. Once they reach the main town, many of the subjects are frightened by the tiger, and indeed they are able to take what they wish from a local restaurant, as no one dares to cross them. Unfortunately, when presented to Dad, the ruler of Down Town, they are accused of being thieves. When asked to pick trades from the Indus Trees to pay off their debt, the singer and barber happily find jobs and wish to stay in the land. Thankfully, Betsy finds a subway tunnel leading to Up Town, allowing them to escape.
To everyone’s surprise, the tunnels lead them to the Nome Kingdom (now called Gnome for some reason), where Kaliko kindly welcomes them with a meal. However, Kaliko is not regarded kindly by Gumph or the other Gnomes, who seem to miss Ruggedo’s erratic and sinister behavior. Gumph wants Kaliko to steal the other ruby after hearing about their adventures, since Kaliko had bought one of the engraved rubies in the form of a ring from a fisherman. Overhearing this, Carter pockets the ruby and tells the others of his findings. However, the good news is quickly overshadowed when Gumph and the Gnomes attempt to destroy them by means of blades. The ruby protects the prince and everyone involved, allowing them to escape the vast army and even survive a dip in a fiery furnace, escaping with a new ruby.
Now ending up in the domain of giants known as Immense City, the hungry tiger is seized by a giant girl who treats him like a kitten. The prince is carried into the city by a giant pigeon, while poor Betsy and Carter are left stranded on the outskirts. Prince Evered manages to land safely on a windowsill, still holding the rubies. Upon exploring the vast castle, he notices that every giant wears a long white wig. Eventually, he finds the hungry tiger in the child’s room, where she treats him like her toy. What is most strange is that the giants are not truly giants, at least not when they sleep. For during the night they remove their wigs and assume regular size. With this knowledge, he decides to steal the girl’s wig to grow big and carry the tiger to safety. Making a hasty exit, he is able to reunite with Betsy and Carter.
Meanwhile, Ozma has been facing her own adventures. Upon realizing Betsy is missing, Ozma searches the palace grounds, where she finds a strange giant air-filled creature named Atmos Fere, a “skyman” from the clouds who believes the Earth is uninhabited and wants to present Ozma as proof of life below the sky. He tucks her under his arm and flies upward, unintentionally frightening and frustrating the princess. In desperation, Ozma pierces Atmos with a pin, causing him to deflate and sending both tumbling back to Earth. They rescue Atmos by tying a ribbon around his neck. They are then discovered by a kind ironworker named Rusty Ore, who agrees to help them. Rusty patches Atmos and makes him new iron boots to keep him grounded on Earth. Atmos, now repentant, promises to return Ozma to her castle. Along the way, Ozma worries about the passage of time and dangers during her absence. However, before long, she comes across Betsy, Carter, Prince Evered, and the hungry tiger. After they share their stories, Atmos reveals he has the third ruby, which he obtained from a Sky Lark who dropped it into his hand. With all three rubies, the prince can finally claim his rightful place.
Using the wig to grow giant, Prince Evered is able to subdue the army sent against him and remain unharmed with the help of the rubies. Irashi, the grand Pasha, is now overthrown, and Atmos offers to take Irashi and Ippty into his kingdom in the sky so he can use them for his year-long lectures and as proof of life on the land below. With peace restored, Ozma and the others use the Hurry-Cane to return to Oz.
32. The Gnome King of Oz
It wouldn’t be a Ruth Plumly Thompson book if it didn’t begin in some strange new land. Except this time, it seems Ruth may have dozed off in the poppies, because her geography is a bit skewed. In this book Ruth is placing Munchkin Land in the West and the Winkies in the East! While the story does a fine job of capturing Baum’s beloved characters such as Scraps and Ruggedo, the plot feels formulaic by this installment and somewhat rushed toward the end. That said, Ruth introduces a refreshing new hero in Peter, a strong-willed and dependable American child. Though he shares Dorothy’s wish to return home, his motivations feel more contemporary. He misses his game, his creature comforts, and his family. It’s a subtle but welcome update to the classic Oz formula.
Queen Cross Patch rules the patchwork kingdom of Patch in the Winkie Country of Oz, where everyone lives in colorful cotton patches. The Quilties’ queen is a hardworking ruler, destined to wear herself apart quite literally. When Queen Cross Patch “goes to pieces,” a process in which they fall the pieces, her ministers must find a new ruler by following a magical golden spool. The spool dictates the new leader and most Quilties run into the homes forcing them to follow it far beyond Patch, all the way to the Emerald City. Upon finding Scraps, the Patchwork Girl, she is promptly kidnapped and taken to the Land of the Quilties to be named their new queen.
Scraps hates the responsibilities of royalty, cleaning, cooking, scolding, but is forced to comply under threat from the fearsome Scissor Bird, who threatens to cut her to pieces if she disobeys. Now imprisoned, she befriends a little bear named Grumpy, the former queen’s pet, who warns her of the dangers of escaping. Scraps waits, locked inside the palace, as a noisy group outside attempts to break in.
Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, a boy named Peter is visiting a fair with his grandfather. When asked to buy a balloon, Peter reluctantly agrees, feeling he’s far too old for such things. To his surprise, the green balloon he chooses whisks him into the sky, climbing higher and higher until it transforms into a bird. The balloon bird reveals that Peter has been chosen as an “airrend boy” for the queen of Balloon Island. Unwilling to accept this strange fate, Peter lets go, plummeting down into the Nonestic Ocean. He swims to an isolated island where he meets none other than Ruggedo, the exiled and still cantankerous former Gnome King.
Peter’s cleverness in building a raft gives Ruggedo a glimmer of hope. As they prepare to set sail, the sea churns, revealing a submerged world of coral castles and sea creatures. Ruggedo urges Peter to follow him along the ocean floor, where they discover the old pirate ship Blunderoo. A sea quake shakes the vessel, launching them into the air before splashing them safely back into the water. Ruggedo promises Peter riches, but Peter is focused on getting home. The damaged ship begins drifting toward an uncertain fate.
While aboard the Blunderoo, Peter explores the pirate ship, finding marvelous jewels, which Ruggedo greedily claims. Below deck, Peter discovers a pirate’s diary describing a magical casket hidden under the floorboards. Inside are several treasures: a cloak of invisibility and teleportation, a gem inscribed with strange markings, and two onion-like objects stored in an ivory box labeled “For Use in Extreme Danger.” Ruggedo steals the cloak but fails to teleport back to his kingdom due to a tear in the fabric. Peter, frustrated but determined to return home for his baseball game in three days, agrees to help Ruggedo on the condition they keep moving. To their delight, the ship eventually drifts to a familiar shore, Ruggedo’s homeland, Ev.
Back in Ev, Ruggedo wastes no time dethroning Kaliko and demands his cloak be mended. Unfortunately for him, the repair can only be done in the Quilties’ country in Oz. So Ruggedo and Peter set out once again. At the edge of the Deadly Desert, they follow the instructions on the mysterious onion-like objects. Planted as directed, they sprout into leafy seats that launch them high into the sky and safely across the desert into Oz.
Their first stop is the home of Kuma Party, a cheerful Winkie with the magical ability to detach and control his body parts. Kuma welcomes Peter warmly but is suspicious of Ruggedo. He lends them a magical umbrella and lantern, both carried by his own disembodied arm, to guide them to Patch. Upon arrival, the arm knocks on the castle door, delivers a secret note to Peter, scolds Ruggedo, and disappears.
Ruggedo demands his cloak be repaired and is brought before the queen—Scraps. He is shocked to see her in power but quickly realizes she has no real authority. When asked for payment for the repairs, Ruggedo offers Peter as a servant to assist Scraps with her royal duties. Once the cloak is fixed, Ruggedo quickly dons it. But before he can make a command, Peter shouts, “Take him to Zamagoochie!” A land Kuma told Peter he was born in.
Peter remembers the magical note from Kuma offering assistance and decides to use it. Meanwhile, the group finds a magical item called the Nap Sack, which instantly puts anyone to sleep. They use it to disable the Scissor Bird and send for Kuma’s help.
Soon, Kuma’s magical hand arrives carrying a club. It breaks into the palace, rescues Scraps, and helps them all escape. Scraps gleefully abandons her queenly duties, and the trio flees through the countryside, fending off pursuers. The magical hand clears paths and carries Peter and Grumpy when they’re exhausted. In a peaceful maple grove, the hand leaves them, and they begin their journey to the Emerald City, hoping to arrive before Ruggedo.
On their way, they pass through a series of curious lands: the Land of Suds, where everyone is made of soap, including the ruling Sultan; and Tune Town, where all speech is in verse; much to Scraps’ delight. After getting lost in the shifting sands of the Bewilderness, they meet Ozwold, an Oztrich guarding his unhatched egg. The group convinces him to carry them to the Emerald City in exchange for protecting his egg, which he hopes will hatch in the capital.
Meanwhile, Ruggedo has his own troubles. In Gillikin Country, Wumbo the Wonder Worker lives peacefully in a crystal cavern, conversing with his magical furniture. While Wumbo is distracted, Ruggedo appears, still invisible, and is trapped by a sentient armchair. Wumbo quickly realizes Ruggedo’s evil intentions and decides to imprison him until he can warn Ozma. However, when Wumbo naps, Ruggedo escapes using his repaired invisibility cloak and heads straight for the Emerald City.
When Wumbo awakens, he receives a message from his son, Kuma Party, informing him that Ruggedo and a mortal boy had visited his home, and the boy is now missing while Ruggedo is up to mischief. Kuma sends his magical hand to the Emerald City with a warning for Ozma.
At the Emerald City, Ruggedo is frustrated to learn that Ozma and the magic belt are away visiting Glinda. He bides his time, playing petty tricks on Dorothy and her friends while invisible. Not long after, Peter, Scraps, Grumpy, and the Oztrich arrive in a dramatic crash, ready to warn everyone about Ruggedo’s plot. Ozma returns just in time—but their plan to use the egg to frighten Ruggedo fails when the egg hatches and Ruggedo seizes the magic belt.
Just as he’s about to use the belt’s powers to teleport Ozma and her companions to the bottom of the ocean, Peter stops him. He throws a “silence stone”, one of the pirate treasures, at Ruggedo’s head. The stone robs Ruggedo of his ability to speak, rendering him powerless, as the belt only obeys spoken commands. With the threat neutralized, the Wizard of Oz makes Ruggedo visible again. Once more, the Gnome King is dipped in the Fountain of Youth and left to wander the land in harmless confusion.
In gratitude, Ozma awards a medal to Ozwold the Oztrich and offers to make Peter a Prince of Oz. Though Peter enjoys his adventures and new friends, he politely declines, choosing instead to return to Philadelphia—determined not to let down his baseball team.
33. The Giant Horse of Oz
Ruth once again delves into Oz lore that Baum had seemingly forgotten about in his books this time giving us a much needed revisit of the good witch of the north who is now given the name Tattypoo. Though I very much enjoyed the reintrouduction of the witch of the north her character was only breifly re-introduced and the one chapter we sit with the character is quickly snatched away by the later revelation she is actually a lost princess. It really diminishes the character dynamics of having powerful women in the four corners of Oz and rewards an already prevalant youth obsessed culture. So whilst I enjoyed getting a backstory of Tattypoo I found myself feeling disapointed with the outcome. One can only wonder where baum may have gone with that idea had she crossed his mind again during his writing hazes.
Unless we forgotten Ruth’s forumula this story takes place in a brand new unheard of land in the Oz. This time with a little more of a logical take, the land the Ozure Isles have been cut off from Munchkinland by a enchantment left from the now dead Mombi.
In the far north of Munchkinland is the Lost Lake of Orizon, surrounded by mountains and home to the jeweled Ozure Isles, ruled by the kind King Cheeriobed. Once joyful, the islanders now live in fear since the wicked witch Mombi stole the Queen and unleashed the sea monster Quiberon, trapping them on the islands. Jewlia, a young girl, accidentally sparks Quiberon’s anger by telling him stories of mortal girls in Oz; (Dorothy and Trot). Which leads Quiberon to demand a mortal maiden as a servant. Otherwise he threatens to destroy everyone in the kingdom.
The kings son Philador offers to seek help from Tattypoo, the Good Witch of the North, but the King refuses knowing that no one can cross the lake. Desperate, Philador turns to his loyal friends, the blue gulls, who may hold the key to saving the Isles. King Cheeriobed refuses to sacrifice a mortal girl, even to save his kingdom. His advisors are divided on the matter. Akbad the Soothsayer, frustrated, decides to take matters into his own hands. He plans to kidnap a mortal girl from the Emerald City, using the magical golden pear, which grants travel anywhere. Though meant only for Prince Philador, Akbad selfishly picks it, causing magical wings to sprout and carry him toward the capital.
Meanwhile, Philador secretly escapes the castle too. In a cave by the shore, he meets the Mo-gull, king of the seabirds, who agrees to fly him to the Good Witch of the North for help. As both Akbad and Philador begin their journeys, the King sleeps unaware that fate is already in motion.
Meanwhile, a humble Boston tailor named Danny accidentally brings a stone statue to life after reading aloud from a mysterious book found in a second-hand dress suit. Terrified, Danny flees, leaving the newly sentient “Public Benefactor” to navigate the city. The statue, motivated by a long-repressed desire for comfort, steals a high hat and an umbrella, only to find himself persecuted by a chaotic mob and a collision with a truck. After accidentally falling through a deep construction pit, the statue plunges into the magical Land of Oz. There, he befriends the Scarecrow, who renames him “Benny” and encourages him to learn how to be a “real person” as they begin a journey toward the Emerald City to meet the Queen.
The Scarecrow and Benny (the stone statue) come into paths with Trot along there journey to Emerald City. The Scarecrow recounts his famous origin story with Dorothy and discusses his magical brains, while trying to convince a skeptical Benny that being made of stone has more advantages than being a “real person.” Their plan to celebrate Benny’s arrival with a party is violently interrupted when Akbad, a Soothsayer wearing magic wings, ambushes them. Akbad identifies Trot from a picture, seizes her, and takes flight; despite the Scarecrow and the thousand-pound stone statue desperately clinging to her, the magic wings easily carry all four of them high into the air, soaring away from the Emerald City toward the Ozure Isles.
Akbad promptly abandons them to be sacrificed to the terrifying “fear-fish,” Quiberon. The monster pursues the trio into a sapphire-jeweled grotto, where Benny proves his bravery by protecting Trot and the Scarecrow from the dragon’s fiery breath. When Quiberon attempts to eat Benny, the stone man’s hard body causes the dragon to shatter his own teeth, buying the group enough time to escape through a hidden waterfall. As they flee through a narrowing tunnel, Quiberon becomes hopelessly wedged between the rocks, allowing the travelers to reach the entrance to Cave City. Faced with a locked door requiring “three rocks” for admittance, the Scarecrow uses his clever brains to realize they must “rock” with laughter; their synchronized mirth triggers the door to swing open, where they are greeted by a pessimistic mer-man who warns them that he is “mighty sorry” to see them. Akbad returns to the palace and concocts a desperate lie, claiming he hid the missing Prince Philador in the Emerald City for safety. While the noble King Cheeriobed leads a rescue party to save the “mortal maiden” Trot from the monster’s cave, Akbad discovers to his horror that his deception has backfired: the magic golden wings have become a permanent, immovable weight on his shoulders, refusing to obey his commands or be removed, leaving him trapped by the very tools of his treachery
Tattypoo, the Good Witch of the North, who has been unmetnioned sine The Wizard of Oz has been living a content but modest life in a Gilliken hut with her “amiable dragon,” Agnes. While Tattypoo is happy serving her people, the vain Agnes grows dissatisfied with their lack of grandeur and begins questioning the witch about her own mysterious past. Realizing she has no memory of her youth before conquering the wicked Mombi, Tattypoo is persuaded by Agnes to consult the Witch’s Window in their attic which is a magical portal where the blue pane reveals the past and the pink pane shows the future. However, upon peering through the glass, Tattypoo let out a scream and vanished instantly through the window, followed quickly by a tumbling Agnes. When Prince Philador finally arrives at the hut seeking help, he finds the cottage abandoned, with only the two-tailed cat remaining to witness his arrival.
magic slate provides the Prince with a somber message: Tattypoo will never return, and he must go to the Emerald City to seek help from Ozma.
While searching the witch’s workshop for magic to aid his journey, Philador accidentally breaks a large bottle, releasing a Medicine Man named Herby who had been trapped inside for thirty years. Herby is a literal walking apothecary; his chest is a cabinet containing remedies like “laugh lozenges” and “cross drops.” Joining forces, they use Tattypoo’s Thinking Cap and a magic jumping rope to navigate the Gilliken forest and cross a raging river.
On a mountain plateau, they encounter Joe King, the jovial King of the Uplanders, and his extraordinary steed, High Boy. High Boy is a purple Giant Horse with telescope legs that adjust to keep his riders level on steep terrain, and an umbrella for a tail. The group boards the high horse and gallops toward the summit, arriving at the gates of the cloud-high “Up Town” as they continue their urgent race to reach the Emerald City before the Ozure Isles are destroyed. After a grand welcome and a royal feast in the cloud-city of Up Town, Philador and Herby attempt to depart, only to be swept away by a sudden mountain storm. Because they don’t know the local custom of jumping into an umbrella for safety, they are blown to the base of the mountain, losing the Good Witch’s Thinking Cap in the process. Just as they begin to despair, the faithful High Boy tracks them down, teaches them the proper use of a mountain umbrella, and sets off at a hurricane pace. With the Giant Horse’s telescope legs leveling the craggy peaks, the trio charges toward the second mountain, determined to reach the Emerald City.
While Philador and Herby are crossing the mountains with Joe King, Trot, Benny, and the Scarecrow are enduring a bizarre captivity in Cave City. Guided by Orpah, an elderly mer-man who served as King Cheeriobed’s sea-horse keeper before being enslaved by the wicked Mombi, they learn that the “Cave Men” are actually sentient Silhouettes. These shadow-beings serve King Silly the Second, a two-dimensional monarch who attempts to transform the travelers into shadows using a magical blue ray. However, the ray reacts violently to Benny’s solid stone body, causing an explosion that blasts the prisoners out of the cave and into the depths of Lake Orizon.
After Orpah rescues them from the water, the group begins a trek across the Munchkin Country. Their journey takes them through a “Roundabout Way” into the Round House, a massive dome where the inhabitants, the Round-abouties, spend their lives spinning in circles and riding a giant merry-go-round. To escape, the travelers must toboggan down the curved roof of the house, which launches them across a forest. Finally, they encounter High Boy, the Giant Horse, and realize their quests are linked. Reunited, the group, Philador, Herby, Trot, Benny, and the Scarecrow, all pile onto the high horse’s long back. As they gallop toward the Emerald City, they encounter a shuttered village guarded by an “Out Keeper,” whose startling appearance leaves the group in shock.
Simultaneously, the truth unfolds at the Ozure Isles. The mer-man Orpah returns to reveal that Akbad lied about saving the Prince; meanwhile, the long-lost Queen Orin unexpectedly returns in a fisherman’s boat. When Quiberon (having escaped his rocky trap) attacks her, Akbad redeems himself by using his golden wings to snatch her from the monster’s jaws.
The story culminates in the Emerald City’s throne room, where Ozma, Dorothy, and the Wizard use a magic picture to witness the crisis. The Wizard uses wishing pills to transport the entire company to the Ozure Isles in a “twinkling.” With a blast of black magic powder, the Wizard petrifies Quiberon into a harmless statue of silver and bronze.
In the aftermath, a stunning secret is revealed: Tattypoo, the Good Witch of the North, was actually the bewitched Queen Orin all along, having forgotten her identity years ago until a glimpse through the “Witch’s Window” broke the spell. Twenty-five years prior, the wicked witch Mombi fell in love with Orin’s husband, King Cheeriobed. Out of jealousy, Mombi kidnapped Orin and used an incantation to transform her into an old witch with no memory of her royal past Because Orin was inherently good, Mombi’s spell failed to turn her wicked. Instead, she became a Good Witch, eventually growing powerful enough to conquer Mombi and take over her hut and magic tools, ruling the North as Tattypoo. To ensure the inhabitants of the Ozure Isles could never escape or find help, Mombi summoned a terrifying “fear-fish” named Quiberon.
Akbad is pardoned and his heavy wings are dissolved into dust. The Wizard restores the King’s herd of sea-horses from bones, and the combined royal families return to the Emerald City to celebrate a new era of peace. After their final victory, the group returns to the Emerald City, where a massive celebration begins with dancing on the palace lawns. Benny, the stone man, is so transformed by his adventures that his carved frown has completely melted away into a jolly expression. Though the Wizard offers to turn him into a “meat man” (a real human), Benny ultimately chooses to stay as he is, following the advice of the Scarecrow and Trot, realizing that being a tireless stone hero is a unique gift
34. Jack Pumpkinhead of Oz
On a rainy afternoon in Philadelphia, Peter’s disappointment over a cancelled baseball practice turns into a magical journey when he discovers a forgotten pirate coin in his attic. Having previously visited the Land of Oz, Peter idly wishes to return while holding the shiny piece of gold, and he is instantly transported to a pumpkin field in the yellow-hued Winkie Country. There, he reunites with Jack Pumpkinhead and assists the clumsy, wooden-jointed man in reattaching his head after it tumbles from a window. As the two set off toward the Emerald City, Jack recounts his history. However, the journey takes a confusing turn when the yellow landscape abruptly ends at a mysterious red brick wall; realizing they have wandered toward the Quadling Country instead of the capital, Peter decides to step through a small black door marked “Enter Here” to see what lies on the other side.
Determined to reach the Emerald City, the two set off, but they soon find themselves facing a mysterious red brick wall. Realizing they have wandered into the Quadling Country, Peter decides to step through a small black door, which leads them into a long, dark passageway. They tumble down a chimney and land in Chimneyville, a square filled with aggressive, smoky spirits called Smokies. As the spirits threaten to suffocate Peter and “smoke” Jack’s head, Peter uses a candle end to light a flame inside Jack’s hollow head. The sudden glow of the “Jack-o’-Lantern” confuses the Smokies, allowing the pair to escape through another fireplace and into a quiet wood.
The journey continues with a series of bizarre and dangerous encounters. They visit a “Goody Shop” run by a testy old woman who sells abstract items like “Good Advice” and “Good Excuses,” leaving Peter hungry after she gives him birdseed for breakfast. Shortly after, they are pursued by a predatory, “progressive” Oz Christmas tree that attempts to steal Jack’s head for an ornament. During the frantic escape, a silver dinner bell strikes Peter; Jack quickly pockets it before they duck into a hidden rock crevice.
Once safe inside the hidden corridor, the pair discovers that the bell is a magical artifact belonging to a Red Djinn. Peter, initially starving after being tricked by a “Goody Shop” owner who sold him birdseed for breakfast, uses the bell to summon several gourmet meals. However, their relief is short-lived as they wander into the terrifying “Scare City,” a jagged cliff-dwelling governed by the monstrous Harum Scarum. The city’s inhabitants attempt to “scare them stiff” or turn them into “Fraid Cats,” but Peter and Jack refuse to yield to the psychological torture.
The situation turns into a chaotic battle when Jack uses the magic dinner bell as a tactical weapon. Instead of eating the food, Peter hurls the heavy silver dishes and hot meals at the advancing Scares to keep them at bay. When the magic bell finally exhausts its daily limit and the Scares prepare for a final rush, Peter’s old pirate sack unexpectedly comes to life. It flies through the courtyard like a vacuum, “swallowing” every villain in the city until the area is completely deserted, saving the duo from certain doom.
In the eerie silence following the battle, they encounter a captive, sandy-red monster named Snif. A “Griffin” who lost his growl therefore becoming an “Iffin” who speaks in philosophical verses. Snif reveals he has been chained by the Scares for years. Peter uses a golden key to free him, and in gratitude, the flower-eating beast offers to fly them the rest of the way to their destination. The journey concludes with the trio soaring high above the clouds and landing safely in the Land of the Barons, moving one step closer to the Emerald City.
Upon arriving in the Land of Barons, a panicked old man called a “mesmerizer” rushes past them, lamenting that he is a “mess.” Quickly they learn why after they meet his master, Belfaygor of Bourne, a good Baron suffering from a magical mishap. To improve his appearance for his upcoming wedding to Princess Shirley Sunshine, Belfaygor had his mesmerizer grow him a beard. However, the magic went out of control; the red beard now grows at a furious, unstoppable rate, filling his castle and forcing his subjects to flee.
The Baron’s situation is made worse by his rival, Mogodore the Mighty, who took advantage of the chaos to kidnap the Princess and carry her off to his fortress in Baffleburg. Because his beard trips him at every step, the Baron has been unable to rescue her. Jack provides a simple solution by suggesting the Baron throw the beard over his shoulder so it grows away from him, and Peter pledges their magical help to save the Princess.
With his bears ever-growing but traipsed behind his shoulder the group flies toward the red mountains of Baffleburg. Upon landing to strategize, they use the magic dinner bell to eat. In a fateful mistake, Snif eats a small bunch of violets that came with Peter’s tray. They turn out to be “shrinking violets,” and the mighty Iffin instantly shrinks to the size of a squirrel.
Faced with a shrinking Snif and a yawning chasm, the party is momentarily despondent. However, Snif proves that his intellect is unaffected by his size and devises a brilliant plan: they will use Belfaygor’s rapidly growing beard as a suspension bridge. After the Baron anchors his beard to a tree on their side, the tiny Snif flies the end across the ravine to secure it. Peter and Jack scramble across the swinging red cable, and the Baron follows after snipping himself free.
They spend the night in a cave, where Jack keeps watch, diligently clipping the Baron’s beard to prevent the sleepers from being smothered by the “red tide.”
Across the chasm in Baffleburg, the villainous Mogodore the Mighty frets over a “forbidden flagon” that holds a dangerous secret. Seeking to impress the defiant Princess Shirley Sunshine, he grandiosely vows to conquer the Emerald City and depose Ozma so that he may become the King of all Oz. Despite the warnings of his anxious steward, Wagarag, Mogodore orders his army to prepare for a march on the capital at daybreak, intending to marry the Princess in Ozma’s own palace.
The next morning, the group overcomes a “tipsy tunnel” by sprinting through it before it can tilt and slide them off the cliff. Reaching the city walls, they are met by a mechanical defense of tilting towers firing golden spears. Belfaygor bravely leaps into one of the descending towers and lowers his rapidly growing beard as a makeshift rope, allowing Peter, Jack, and the tiny Snif to scale the wall. Now inside the fortress, they descend a spiral staircase to confront Mogodore.
Peter and his companions voluntarily get captured by Mogodore’s soldiers to infiltrate the castle, only to find the villain planning an immediate invasion of the Emerald City. In a chaotic confrontation, the Baron’s Chief Scorner uses a magical “sauce box” to berate them with insults, and Mogodore’s men manage to seize Peter and behead Jack (whose head rolls away). Peter and Belfaygor are thrown into the North Tower dungeons while Mogodore marches his army toward the capital.
In the dungeon, the effects of the “shrinking violets” finally wear off, and Snif explosively expands back to his full size, bursting the cell bars and freeing Peter and Belfaygor. They retrieve the pirate sack, find Jack’s head in a cellar, and reunite him with his body. While searching, Jack reveals he overheard guards discussing a “Forbidden Flagon” hidden in an enchanted labyrinth. A flask containing a secret powerful enough to thwart Mogodore.
The group descends into the labyrinth, using Belfaygor’s beard as a guide-string. They navigate a mirror maze that creates terrifying “Ugly Mugly” reflections and find the flagon guarded by a soldier and a fountain of fire. Using the Baron’s beard to knock the flask from the flames, Peter secures the artifact, which bears a warning that spilling its contents brings “dire disaster.”
After escaping Swing City, the group finally spots Mogodore the Mighty and his army marching toward the Emerald City. In a frantic attempt to use the pirate sack from the air, a gust of wind spins the bag out of control. It turns into a vacuum, snapping up Peter, Belfaygor, and Snif (who regains his “gr-rr” growl from the shock). Jack Pumpkinhead wisely dives to earth just before they vanish, landing in a pink hay field.
Jack survives the fall but breaks his wooden leg. Alone and desperate, he realizes he must reach the Emerald City with the pirate sack (now collapsed and resting nearby) and the Forbidden Flagon. He uses the Magic Dinner Bell to summon the slave, but instead of ordering food, he grabs the slave’s arm. This physical contact triggers a teleportation, whisking Jack away from the hay field.
At the palace, Jack meets the jolly Red Jinn, who is the true owner of the magic bell. Finding Jack’s story and appearance hilarious, the Jinn uses his magic to repair Jack’s broken leg and offers counsel on how to eventually release his friends from the sack and handle the forbidden flagon. However, just as the Jinn is about to provide Jack with a magical vehicle to reach the Emerald City, Jack is suddenly snatched away by a mysterious, unknown magic, vanishing from the palace and leaving the Red Jinn in total astonishment.
Meanwhile in the peaceful twilight of the Emerald City, the palace residents, including Ozma, Dorothy, the Scarecrow, and the Tin Woodman, are engaged in a game of blind-man’s buff. They are so distracted by the game that they fail to notice the arrival of Mogodore the Mighty and his army. Mogodore easily captures the city and its celebrities, binding them with gold chains to trees in the garden.
Mogodore, arrogant and dismissive of the city’s lack of defenses, proclaims himself the new King of Oz. He discovers the Magic Belt in the palace and, despite warnings from his steward Wagarag, attempts a transformation. He turns the Patchwork Girl (Scraps) into a bird; however, Scraps uses her new form to snatch Ozma’s crown and fly away to summon Glinda the Good.
As Mogodore holds a victory feast in the banquet hall, he grows impatient with the “mystery” of the Forbidden Flagon he left behind in Baffleburg. Using the power of the Magic Belt, he commands the flagon and its guard to appear before him. Instantly, Jack Pumpkinhead is teleported into the room, still clutching the flask.
Without hesitation, Jack hurls the flagon at Mogodore. It shatters on the baron’s nose, and the “disaster” foretold by the legend occurs: Mogodore and his entire army instantly shrink to the size of brownies. Dorothy’s dog, Toto, helps round up the tiny invaders into a corner, where they are held at bay.
Jack Pumpkinhead then proceeds to turn the pirate sack inside out to release his friends, he accidentally unleashes the entire population of Scare City as well. The banquet hall descends into chaos as the Scares swarm the Oz celebrities, but Ozma quickly uses her authority to command the intruders back to their own kingdom. With the room cleared, Peter, Belfaygor, and Snif (now a full-sized Griffin with his growl restored) are officially welcomed. Jack explains that the Red Jinn advised him to remove his head before throwing the flagon to avoid the “disaster” of shrinking himself, which allowed the magic to affect only Mogodore and his army.Peace is officially restored through a series of magical resolutions. The Wizard uses “long-distance magic” to restore the people turned to stone back in Scare City.
The group celebrates with a grand wedding feast for Belfaygor and Shirley Sunshine, where the Wizard finally uses his magic to stop the Baron’s beard from growing. Glinda the Good explains the mystery of the Forbidden Flagon: Mogodore’s ancestors were actually “reddies” (small brownie-like creatures) who were once enlarged by a wizard’s spell; the flagon held the enchantment, and breaking it simply returned them to their natural, tiny state. Ozma graciously decides to teleport the now-midget army back to their small city of Baffleburg, where they can no longer harm the other barons.
As the festivities wind down, Peter bids a fond farewell to his friends, promising to return soon. With a wish from the Magic Belt, he is transported back to his grandfather’s library in Philadelphia.
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