Books by Ruth Plumly Thompson

Return to L. Frank Baum’s wonderful world of Oz with this illustrated children’s book series. Three emerald necklaces cause everyone in Oz to forget all about Princess Ozma, the Wizard, and Glinda the Good and acknowledge instead a fat old king named Skamperoo as supreme ruler! The mystic enchantment is responsible as well for the appearance of the glorious Wishing Horse, the most magnificent white steed imaginable.   Only Dorothy and Pigasus, the flying poetical pig, can save the realm. . . .  Praise for the Oz series   “Where the young stay young and the old grow young forever—these books are for readers of all ages.”—Ray Bradbury   “The land of Oz has managed to fascinate each new generation. . . . The Oz books continue to exert their spell . . . and those who read [them] are often made what they were not—imaginative, tolerant, alert to wonders.”—Gore Vidal   “I was raised with the Oz books, and their enchantment, humor and excitement remain with me. They are still a joy and a treasure. I welcome this Oz revival.”—Stephen R. Donaldson

Return to L. Frank Baum’s wonderful world of Oz with this illustrated children’s book series.   Legendary Umbrella Island flies magically through the air . . . until it careens smack into the forehead of an extremely unpleasant giant! Meanwhile, Speedy—the New York lad—is making a soaring trip skyward himself, propelled by an erupting geyser and encased in Terrybubble, the jolly, living skeleton of a huge dinosaur.   It’s soon up to Speedy to save the Princess of Umbrella Island from both the demands of Loxo the Giant and the warring countries of Roaraway and Norroway.  Praise for the Oz series   “Where the young stay young and the old grow young forever—these books are for readers of all ages.”—Ray Bradbury   “The land of Oz has managed to fascinate each new generation. . . . The Oz books continue to exert their spell . . . and those who read [them] are often made what they were not—imaginative, tolerant, alert to wonders.”—Gore Vidal   “I was raised with the Oz books, and their enchantment, humor and excitement remain with me. They are still a joy and a treasure. I welcome this Oz revival.”—Stephen R. Donaldson

Return to L. Frank Baum’s wonderful world of Oz with this illustrated children’s book series.  When Ojo, everyone’s favorite Munchkin boy, is kidnapped—first by gypsies and then by a roving robber band—he makes an adventurous escape in the company of two new friends: Snufferbux, the singing and dancing bear, and Realbad, the bandit chieftain with the mysterious past.   Then an awesome encounter with the hideous Mooj reveals the unexpected and true identities of both Realbad and Ojo!  Praise for the Oz series   “Where the young stay young and the old grow young forever—these books are for readers of all ages.”—Ray Bradbury   “The land of Oz has managed to fascinate each new generation. . . . The Oz books continue to exert their spell . . . and those who read [them] are often made what they were not—imaginative, tolerant, alert to wonders.”—Gore Vidal   “I was raised with the Oz books, and their enchantment, humor and excitement remain with me. They are still a joy and a treasure. I welcome this Oz revival.”—Stephen R. Donaldson

Return to L. Frank Baum’s wonderful world of Oz with this illustrated children’s book series.  The old Gnome King attempts to capture the Emerald City and regain his magic belt, much to the horror of Peter, the Philadelphia boy who returns on a flying poetical pig to try to save Oz. Hindered by a band of mutinying pirates, Peter is helped by a magic ship that sails through both water and sky, a king who wants only to be a seafaring cook, and Samuel Salt, the swashbuckling Pirate Captain himself.Praise for the Oz series   “Where the young stay young and the old grow young forever—these books are for readers of all ages.”—Ray Bradbury   “The land of Oz has managed to fascinate each new generation. . . . The Oz books continue to exert their spell . . . and those who read [them] are often made what they were not—imaginative, tolerant, alert to wonders.”—Gore Vidal   “I was raised with the Oz books, and their enchantment, humor and excitement remain with me. They are still a joy and a treasure. I welcome this Oz revival.”—Stephen R. Donaldson

Return to L. Frank Baum’s wonderful world of Oz with this illustrated children’s book series.   Prince Randy of Regalia must prove his right to be a royal. On his adventure-filled quest to fulfill the tasks set him, Randy meets the friendly giant Nandywog, a terrifying monster—then escapes from the city of the villainous Doublemen. He even makes a genuine trip over the rainbow to Oz in the company of the legendary Red Jinn and the incredibly Elegant Elephant Kabumpo.   But can Randy pass the seven magical tests as well as save the conquered Kingdom of Pumperdink—and can Jinnicky’s Red Magic help him?  Praise for the Oz series   “Where the young stay young and the old grow young forever—these books are for readers of all ages.”—Ray Bradbury   “The land of Oz has managed to fascinate each new generation. . . . The Oz books continue to exert their spell . . . and those who read [them] are often made what they were not—imaginative, tolerant, alert to wonders.”—Gore Vidal   “I was raised with the Oz books, and their enchantment, humor and excitement remain with me. They are still a joy and a treasure. I welcome this Oz revival.”—Stephen R. Donaldson

Return to L. Frank Baum’s wonderful world of Oz with this illustrated children’s book series. Sir Hokus of Pokes sets off on a quest and discovers instead of one of the greatest feats of enchantment in Oz history: two entire kingdoms transformed and hidden away for five hundred years by the evil Sultan of Samandra.   When a New York lad named Speedy rides a wayward ship to Oz, he arrives just in time to aid Sir Hokus and his noble steed the Comfortable Camel and to rescue Princess Marygolden from her enchanted life.  Praise for the Oz series   “Where the young stay young and the old grow young forever—these books are for readers of all ages.”—Ray Bradbury   “The land of Oz has managed to fascinate each new generation. . . . The Oz books continue to exert their spell . . . and those who read [them] are often made what they were not—imaginative, tolerant, alert to wonders.”—Gore Vidal   “I was raised with the Oz books, and their enchantment, humor and excitement remain with me. They are still a joy and a treasure. I welcome this Oz revival.”—Stephen R. Donaldson

Return to L. Frank Baum’s wonderful world of Oz with this illustrated children’s book series. Peter, the lad from Philadelphia, joins forces with Jack Pumpkinhead to rescue Ozma and the Emerald City from conquest by Mogodore, the infamous Red Baron of Baffleburg. Even with the help of Belfaygor of Bourne, whose beard grows at an alarming rate, and the consistently charming and rhyming Iffin—which, as everyone knows, is a griffin who’s lost his grrrr—their efforts seem in vain.   The horrendous Scare City, an enchanted pirate sack that can scoop up entire armies, a magic dinner bell, and a forbidden flagon are mixed up in the adventure, too—but it takes the legendary Red Jinn of Ev to provide the red magic that could help Jack Pumpkinhead save the Land of Oz.  Praise for the Oz series   “Where the young stay young and the old grow young forever—these books are for readers of all ages.”—Ray Bradbury   “The land of Oz has managed to fascinate each new generation. . . . The Oz books continue to exert their spell . . . and those who read [them] are often made what they were not—imaginative, tolerant, alert to wonders.”—Gore Vidal   “I was raised with the Oz books, and their enchantment, humor and excitement remain with me. They are still a joy and a treasure. I welcome this Oz revival.”—Stephen R. Donaldson

Return to L. Frank Baum’s wonderful world of Oz with this illustrated children’s book series. The Scarecrow, tiny Trot from California, and Benny (a living stone statue from Boston) encounter High Boy, whose telescopic legs and airy personality make him in every way the Giant Horse of Oz! High Boy himself is on an expedition with Herby the Medicine Man and little Prince Philador of the spectacular Ozure Isles, whose home has been threatened with utter destruction by a terrifying monster sea serpent.   They all come together in a thrilling episode of Ozian history—which includes the discovery of the enchanted past of the wonderful Good Witch of the North, the very first person Dorothy met when she arrived from Kansas many years before.  Praise for the Oz series   “Where the young stay young and the old grow young forever—these books are for readers of all ages.”—Ray Bradbury   “The land of Oz has managed to fascinate each new generation. . . . The Oz books continue to exert their spell . . . and those who read [them] are often made what they were not—imaginative, tolerant, alert to wonders.”—Gore Vidal   “I was raised with the Oz books, and their enchantment, humor and excitement remain with me. They are still a joy and a treasure. I welcome this Oz revival.”—Stephen R. Donaldson

Return to L. Frank Baum’s wonderful world of Oz with this illustrated children’s book series. Ruggedo, the wicked old Gnome King, escapes from Runaway Island and sets out to reclaim his own kingdom and ravage Oz. Together with Peter, an unsuspecting lad from Philadelphia, he discovers the magic casket of Soob the Sorcerer and a flying cloak of Invisibility.   Meanwhile, Scraps, the extraordinary Patchwork Girl of Oz, has been kidnapped from the Emerald City. Along with Peter, Grumpy the Bear, and Ozwold the Oztrich, she tries to save the capital of Oz before Ruggedo’s new sorcery can take effect. But it’s up to Peter and his baseball pitching skill to make the final stand against the Gnome King of Oz!  Praise for the Oz series   “Where the young stay young and the old grow young forever—these books are for readers of all ages.”—Ray Bradbury   “The land of Oz has managed to fascinate each new generation. . . . The Oz books continue to exert their spell . . . and those who read [them] are often made what they were not—imaginative, tolerant, alert to wonders.”—Gore Vidal   “I was raised with the Oz books, and their enchantment, humor and excitement remain with me. They are still a joy and a treasure. I welcome this Oz revival.”—Stephen R. Donaldson

Return to L. Frank Baum’s wonderful world of Oz with this illustrated children’s book series.When the winsome Hungry Tiger is whisked away to the Kingdom of Rash in an attempt to satisfy his appetite, Little Betsy Bobbin and the perky Vegetable Man join him and young Prince Reddy in a search for the three magic Rash Rubies.   They travel through the Gnome Kingdom, whereupon the Tiger is captured by the Giant Big Wigs. Meanwhile, Princess Ozma herself is kidnapped from Emerald City by Atmos Fere the Airman. Will the Rash Rubies be magic enough to rescue our friends, defeat the wicked Pasha, and return Reddy to his throne as the Rightful Ruler of Rash?  Praise for the Oz series   “Where the young stay young and the old grow young forever—these books are for readers of all ages.”—Ray Bradbury   “The land of Oz has managed to fascinate each new generation. . . . The Oz books continue to exert their spell . . . and those who read [them] are often made what they were not—imaginative, tolerant, alert to wonders.”—Gore Vidal   “I was raised with the Oz books, and their enchantment, humor and excitement remain with me. They are still a joy and a treasure. I welcome this Oz revival.”—Stephen R. Donaldson

Return to L. Frank Baum’s wonderful world of Oz with this illustrated children’s book series.   Mombi, perhaps the wickedest witch in Oz history, sets out to find the legendary Lost King of Oz whom she enchanted many years before. Pajuka the Goose and Snip, a lively Gillikin boy, assist her—while Dorothy wishes her way to California and returns to Oz with a motion picture stunt dummy costumed as king.   Snip is thrown down a well by Mombi, but rescues a tailor with magic ears from the underground city of Blankenberg. Kabumpo the Elegant Elephant carries the entire party to Emerald City, but a magic feather has lured Ozma, the Wizard, and the other Oz celebrities to the deserted kingdom of Morrow. Will the Lost King be found—and will he reclaim the throne of Oz from Ozma?Praise for the Oz series   “Where the young stay young and the old grow young forever—these books are for readers of all ages.”—Ray Bradbury   “The land of Oz has managed to fascinate each new generation. . . . The Oz books continue to exert their spell . . . and those who read [them] are often made what they were not—imaginative, tolerant, alert to wonders.”—Gore Vidal   “I was raised with the Oz books, and their enchantment, humor and excitement remain with me. They are still a joy and a treasure. I welcome this Oz revival.”—Stephen R. Donaldson

Return to L. Frank Baum’s wonderful world of Oz with this illustrated children’s book series.When King Fumbo of Ragbad loses his head in a storm, Prince Tatters, accompanied by the wise and wonderful old soldier Grampa, sets off to find the king’s head, a fortune, and a princess.   With Bill, a live iron weathercock, they visit a Wizard’s Garden and discover Urtha, a lovely girl made all of flowers—and proceed to fall, swim, explode, sail, and fly above and below Oz and Ev. Grampa and company eventually meet Dorothy herself, travelling with a Forgetful Poet in search of the missing princess of Perhaps City who has been condemned to marry a monster!  Praise for the Oz series   “Where the young stay young and the old grow young forever—these books are for readers of all ages.”—Ray Bradbury   “The land of Oz has managed to fascinate each new generation. . . . The Oz books continue to exert their spell . . . and those who read [them] are often made what they were not—imaginative, tolerant, alert to wonders.”—Gore Vidal   “I was raised with the Oz books, and their enchantment, humor and excitement remain with me. They are still a joy and a treasure. I welcome this Oz revival.”—Stephen R. Donaldson

Return to L. Frank Baum’s wonderful world of Oz with this illustrated children’s book series.  After Notta Bit More, the circus clown, accidentally utters the transformation spell that sends him and Bob Up, the orphan boy, from the U.S. to the Munchkin kingdom of Mudge, Mustafa, the irascible ruler, magically compels them to try to capture the famous Cowardly Lion for the royal menagerie.   The Lion, on a secret mission of his own, finds them instead. Together with Nick, the bird with the telephone beak, they escape from the skyle of Un and the bottled city of Preservatory, meet an enemy disguised as a friend, and return to Mudge in an attempt to save the Cowardly Lion from a hard, cruel fate.  Praise for the Oz series   “Where the young stay young and the old grow young forever—these books are for readers of all ages.”—Ray Bradbury   “The land of Oz has managed to fascinate each new generation. . . . The Oz books continue to exert their spell . . . and those who read [them] are often made what they were not—imaginative, tolerant, alert to wonders.”—Gore Vidal   “I was raised with the Oz books, and their enchantment, humor and excitement remain with me. They are still a joy and a treasure. I welcome this Oz revival.”—Stephen R. Donaldson

Return to L. Frank Baum’s wonderful world of Oz with this illustrated children’s book series.   Prince Pompadore is celebrating his eighteenth birthday when out of his birthday cake bursts a magic scroll, a magic mirror, and a doorknob. The scroll warns the young prince that if he does not marry a “proper princess” in a week, his entire kingdom will disappear.With the help of his elephant Kabumpo, Prince Pompadore sets out to Emerald City to find a princess to marry. However, the proper princess that the Prince is searching for may not be who he expects.  Praise for the Oz series   “Where the young stay young and the old grow young forever—these books are for readers of all ages.”—Ray Bradbury   “The land of Oz has managed to fascinate each new generation. . . . The Oz books continue to exert their spell . . . and those who read [them] are often made what they were not—imaginative, tolerant, alert to wonders.”—Gore Vidal   “I was raised with the Oz books, and their enchantment, humor and excitement remain with me. They are still a joy and a treasure. I welcome this Oz revival.”—Stephen R. Donaldson