The Royal Book of Oz

by Ruth Plumly Thompson, L. Frank Baum, L. Frank; Enlarged and Edited By Ruth Plumly Thompson Baum

Book Overview

Upon his return to the cornfield from which Dorothy first rescued him, the Scarecrow decides to follow his pole deep down into the earth and find out more about his family history. But when he discovers the Silver Islands and unearths his royal heritage, will he stay beneath the earth or can Dorothy persuade him to return to the Land of Oz?Journey through the magical world of Oz with Dorothy and friends. Part of a 15 book collection by L. Frank...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1782263195
• ISBN13: 9781782263197
• Release Date: December 2016
• Publisher: Sweet Cherry Publishing
• Length: 184 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.2" x 8.0"
• Age Range: 9 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 7

Customer Reviews

When Knighthood Was In Flower

The first of the 19 Oz titles she authored, Ruth Plumly Thompson's The Royal Book Of Oz (1921) has met with occasional opposition over the years, largely due to the bold steps Thompson took in addressing questions Oz creator L. Frank Baum's 13 original books left unanswered. Thompson was personally elected by Baum himself to become the next "Royal Historian of Oz," a fact that should carry more weight with sensitive fans. While Baum deserves enormous credit for creating and sustaining America's premier fantasy land, Thompson's books were almost always exceptional; her style was smooth, convincing, and full of the imagination necessary to further the series. Any author following Baum certainly had a difficult task ahead of them. As The Royal Book Of Oz opens, Professor Wooglebug has lighted on the idea of composing a book of his own, one that will trace the genealogy of all members of the Oz Royal Family. While Scraps the Patchwork Girl and several of the others are content with and honest about their humble origins, the aggressive Professor brazenly stresses the importance of legitimate family relationships, bluntly declaring to the assembled that outstanding Oz citizen the Scarecrow has none. Thompson's portrayal of the Wooglebug as an arrogant interloper and snob has offended some, but Thompson was only taking the Wooglebug's already established sense of elitism to its logical conclusion. His superior attitude does not go unnoticed by the others, especially the sensitive Dorothy; or by the Scarecrow himself, who first inexplicably came to life while strapped to a beanpole in the Munchkin country. Embarrassed and despondent, the Scarecrow sets out alone to discover if he has a legitimate "family tree." Thompson's ingenious solution to the cause of the Scarecrow's sentience was probably something even she thought a gamble. Returning to the Munchkin country and the exact site of his origin, the Scarecrow discovers that his former beanpole extends far into the earth, and while digging at its base, tumbles into a hole that inexplicably opens around it. He falls a great distance - Thompson suggests that the Silver Island kingdom into which he eventually emerges is one the opposite side of the earth. Greeted in a great royal palace by a throng of awed silver - skinned Asians, the Scarecrow discovers that he not only has 3 sons, 15 grandchildren, and thousands of loyal subjects, but a vast kingdom. For the Scarecrow is none other than the reincarnation of the country's former emperor, dead now some 50 years. Initially thrilled if a little dismayed, the Scarecrow comes to regret the enormous responsibility that his "family tree" and his subject's expectations bring.Meanwhile, a thankfully limited expedition composed of Dorothy and the Cowardly Lion has set out in search of their missing patriot, who Dorothy suspects has been wounded by the Professor's remarks. Thompson must have been an admirer of Lewis Carroll, for, as in later Thompson titles, m

A lively, funny Oz book

On a quest for his family tree, the Scarecrow travels to the Munchkin farm where Dorothy originally met him. He falls down a magic beanstalk (the pole Dorothy rescued him from) and finds himself in a strange land, the Silver Islands, where he is proclaimed to be the re-created Emperor Chang Wang Woe. Meanwhile, when Dorothy and the Cowardly Lion realize that the Scarecrow is missing from the Emerald City, they go off in search of him. In this story, you'll meet many delightful new characters, such as the Doubtful Dromedary, the Comfortable Camel, and (my favorite) Sir Hokus of Pokes. Like Ruth Plumly Thompson's other Oz books, this one is as lively and at least as funny as L. Frank Baum's series. Thompson wrote 19 Oz books, so if you like this one, there are lots more to enjoy.

Thompson's 1st In Oz Series Captures Baums Oz Magic & More!!

This book in its initial release was instant an Oz classic, but now Books of Wonder rereleases Thompsons first installment in Baum's Oz Series. In "The Royal Book of Oz " Thompson recaptures all of Baum's Oz magic and addes some of her own. In this 15th Official Oz Book Thompson revives the series by bringing back such classic characters as the Scarecrow(who finally comes to understand why he is alive, who is family is, and faces a lot of serious dangers along the way)and brings us all new Oz characters to enjoy such as Sir Hokus of Pokes(a vallent knight), and the Comfortable Camel. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an Oz Book with a Thompson twist.

a delightful book to the end!

When the Wogglebug says the Scarecrow has no family tree, Scarecrow sets out to his field where he was born to prove him wrong. But when he slides down the bean pole (which is magic!) the people of the Silver Isles say he is a reincarnation of Chang Wang Woe, their former king. I think if you love Oz, you have to read this book. Five Cheers for "The Royal Book of Oz"!