Like some of Ruth Plumly Thompson's other Oz books, this one is partially based on a mystery left behind by L. Frank Baum. In THE PATCHWORK GIRL OF OZ, he mentions that Ojo's uncle (and presumably Ojo himself) is related to the ancient Kings of the Munchkins, but he never really does anything with this idea. Thompson, on the other hand, uses it as the basis for one of her most exciting stories, with Ojo caught up in a plot by one of the scariest villains in Oz. As the other reviewer said, this book a good deal of character development, mostly involving the bandit Realbad. This robber is torn between protecting his new-found friend Ojo, and trading the boy in for a huge reward. Realbad also has an interesting secret, which is revealed towards the end. There seems to be a greater sense of danger in this book than in many Oz books, with the characters up against two monsters, a band of unfortunately stereotypical gypsies, and several other threats. Most of these dangers are rather easily overcome, though, so I doubt the book would come across as scary. This book also gives us some history of the Munchkin Country of Oz. Overall, this is one of the best Oz books, and well worth reading to anyone who enjoys the series.

Not only is this book suspenseful and funny, it also features more detailed character development than is usual in the Oz books as Thompson develops the friendship between Ojo--whom we first met in Baum's "The Patchwork Girl of Oz"--and a bandit named Realbad. Recommended.

Oz-story #6 is the annual anthology of stories, comics and verse generated by L. Frank Baum's legendary "Land of Oz" books. This wonderful, large format collection features contributions by L. Frank Baum, Eloise Jarvis McGraw, Harlan Ellison, Philip Jose Farmer, Ruth Plumly Thompson, Glenn Ingersoll, Eric Shanower and others. Oz-story #6 is profusely and charmingly illustrated by the work of John R. Neil, Eric Shanower, Anna-Maria Cool, Marge, and others. There are comic panels by Walt Spouse, Steve Lieber, Tommy Kovac, Steven Weisman, W.W. Denslow and others. The center piece is perhaps L. Frank Baum's "Annabel", his least known children's novel which was originally published in 1906 and presents a rags-to-riches story of a young boy who finally wins the girl! With its flawless and pains-taking production values, Oz-story #6 is a "must" for all Oz enthusiasts of all ages.

In this rousing adventure story, the Gnome King returns from exile and plots to conquer Oz yet again, this time with a band of pirates at his side. Samuel Salt, a renegade pirate, joins up with Peter, Roger the Read Bird, Pigasus the flying pig and the thrill-seeking king of the Octagon Isle to thwart the Gnome's scheme. Beautiful illustrations, plenty of action and a heavy dose of Ruth Plumly Thompson-style humor make this a rousing tale indeed.

This is Thompson at her best! Although OZ is at the end, it's a wonderful new story about SPEEDY from THE YELLOW KNIGHT OF OZ and how he, Princess Gureeda and Terrybubble the Dinosaur skeleton save Oz from the terrifying giant Loxo!

I liked this book a lot. Like all Oz books, it gets to be ridiculous at times, but still a lot of fun to read. I think this book was written better than many others that Ruth had done earlier. It tended to be less absurdity, and more geared to the telling of a good Oz story. It didn't have an ending where something really weird occurred to make everything all right. I enjoyed it a lot. It is a childs book, and that fact should not be forgotten, but it is a book to make everyone feel good when they are done reading it. I personally loved it.

There are two aspects to this book that often cause consternation and debate in the Oz community. The first is that a talking goose is about to be cooked and eaten (although he is saved from this fate). The other occurs at the end, so I don't want to give it away, but let's just say it involves a punishment that many people consider unduly harsh and unnecessary. Aside from these things, though, it's hard to say anything against this book (although there is a character with the unfortunate name of "Humpy"). It is a well-written quest story, with the object of the quest being Ozma's long-lost father. The book includes visits to many exotic Ozian locales, and involves several interesting characters. Kabumpo makes an appearance, and Mombi reappears as a villain. Although she no longer has any real magical power, she still has plenty of tricks up her sleeve, mostly involving enhanced cooking ingredients. This is one of Thompson's best books, and makes for a very enjoyable read.

This book is very, VERY, good. I am a big fan of all Oz books, and this is definitely better than some. Only drawback is that the original Jno. R. Neill cover completely gives the ending away.

Three emerald necklaces cause everyone in Oz to forget all about Princess Ozma, the Wizard, and Glinda the Good and acknowledge instead a 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 poetrical pig, can save the realm. . .

I hold the Oz books in very high regard among books, and this is one of the best of the series. King Skamperoo is a very well-developed villain, who bears some similarity to other bad-tempered, ambitious monarchs throughout the series, yet is developed better than most of them. Instead of just coming out of nowhere to torment the people of Oz, as some villains do, we learn all about his home in Skampavia, and his reasons for wanting to rule Oz. Skamperoo manages to enchant everyone in Oz, except for Dorothy and Pigasus (who was introduced in PIRATES IN OZ), and it is up to them to save the country. As is usual for Oz books, this one introduces interesting new characters and locations, while still providing a sense of familiarity for people who know the other books.

Ruth Plumly Thompson took the wonderful idea of Oz from Baum & continued its development with delightful whimsy. the place names are always imaginative (e.g. Mudge, Torpedo Town). in this story, Chalk, the talking horse, is always ready with a witty retort. you'll never regret visiting the Land of Oz.

I'm especially affectionate about this book because some sweet person gave it to me when I was recovering from having my tonsils out (a common operation, long ago). My sister and I read it to shreds and can still quote bits from the poems. I am delighted it is available; it's going to be my Christmas gift to my sister. The Elegant Elephant is a splendid animal. The ending is perhaps predictable in a satisfactorily classic way. Oh, my purple wool socks! give it to the kids and maybe some big kids.

This is Ruth Plumly Thompson's second Oz book, and it is a definite improvement over her first effort, THE ROYAL BOOK OF OZ. This is the book that introduces Thompson's best character, Kabumpo, the Elegant Elephant of Oz. Here, he helps Prince Pompadore of Pumperdink to find the Proper Princess and save the kingdom. The story is a lot of fun, and contains such interesting creations as the Curious Cottabus, who lives on questions, and a runaway country so intent on being settled that it kidnaps the heroes. It also features the return of Ruggedo, the former Nome King. Although Thompson makes a mistake involving Ruggedo's size (which she doesn't make in future books), she does a good job with the character. Wag, a giant rabbit who talks in spoonerisms, is a good addition to the ranks of Oz characters. While Thompson still makes some mistakes, including some involving the timing of the story, this book shows that she can write just as well as Baum, and was an excellent choice to continue the Oz series.

The story begins when Prince Pompadore of the Kingdom of Pumperdink stes off with his elegant elepaht Kabumpo to seek the 'proper' princess for him to marry, or his kingdom will dissapear forever. Meanwhile, Ruggedo finds a box of mixed magic, grows to the size of a giant and carries Ozma's palace away from the Emerald City on his head. Its upto Prince Pompadore to rescue Princess Ozma, whom he thinks to be his 'proper' princess, but only Wag the Giant Rabbit and Peg Amy the live wooden doll have teh secret to rescue Ozma and save Prince Pompadore's kingdom from dissapapearing. This is one of Ruth Thompson's best books, for that matter, one of the best Oz stories ever, The characters are very 'ozzy', especially Kabumpo and so are the plot-lines and teh adventures.....A must for all Oz fans!

In this wild adventure tale, a clown and a boy from the United States are forced to hunt the Cowardly Lion, who has left the Emerald City on a quest to prove his courage. But when the three finally meet up, they become friends, much to the displeasure of the evil Mustafa of Mudge, who wants the Cowardly Lion for his private zoo. Ruth Plumly Thompson's writing is full of puns, some clever, some just plain silly, but always amusing to read. Hopefully some publisher will someday put this book and most of her other Oz works back into print.

I found "The Cowardly Lion of Oz" to be among thebest Oz Books ever written. Bob Up, an orphan teams up with Notta BitMore, a circus clown, to steal the Cowardly Lion for Mustafa ofMudge's lion collection. How they manage to run into the Lion andbefriend him, while still trying to fulfill their mission, makes for agreat story.

On the positive side, this book gives a glimpse at Ozian history, telling about some of Mombi's hitherto unknown evil deeds, the rulership of the Munchkin Country, and the origins of the Good Witch of the North. On the negative side, Thompson shows her usual carelessness with dates and times, and some people have objected to the Good Witch's origins. The story itself is somewhat weak on plot, with everything resolved as soon as the main characters get to the Emerald City. On the other hand, it contains some of Thompson's best creations: a fire-breathing sea monster, a medicine man with an actual medicine chest, a naive animated statue, and the title character, a horse with expanding legs. The creativity level of this book makes it well worth reading, despite its minor flaws.

What a story! A ferocious sea monster demands a mortal maiden be brought from Oz to serve him, or else he'll destroy the Ozure Isles. When Trot is kidnapped and whisked away to the monster's lair, the Scarecrow and a living statue named Benny rush to her rescue. Later they encounter High Boy, the giant horse with telescoping legs, escape a tribe of shadow people, defeat the violent Round-abouties and solve the mystery of Tattypoo the witch. A wild, imaginative tale, which ranks among Ruth Plumly Thompson's finest.

I'm quite fond of Ruth Plumly Thompson's Oz books, and I think there's a definite sense of fun that prevails even in her weaker Oz books. Unfortunately, this is one of those weaker books. The plot revolves around the major characters from the first Oz book visiting a country in the stratosphere. The Tin Woodman angers their ruler, and he sets out to conquer Oz. By this point in her Oz-writing career, Thompson seems to fall back on the "some villain wants to conquer Oz" plot when she can't think of anything else, and King Strutoovious isn't really even that much of a threat. Despite being weak in terms of plot, however, this book is still a fun read. The descriptions of Stratovania are interesting, Ozma's maid Jellia Jamb finally receives a starring role, and the Wizard of Oz gets the chance to use some clever magical devices. While there are many better Oz books, this one is still pretty good.

1939 was a banner year for Oz: MGM studios released its classic film adaptation of The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz, and Royal Historian Ruth Plumly Thompson issued her last official Oz novel, Ozoplaning With The Wizard Of Oz, which, as serendipity would have it, was also one of her finest.

Probably due to the release of the film, Ozoplaning With The Wizard Of Oz opens on a crisp fall evening when the cast of the first book ' and thus the cast of the film - are celebrating the anniversary of Dorothy's arrival in Oz. Sparing no detail and demonstrating Oz's reality principle, an elaborate cake has been prepared with a model of Dorothy's Kansas house in its center, the house that fell to Oz in a cyclone and happily, accidentally, and conveniently crushed the Wicked Witch Of The West. The Little Wizard, who has grown quite stout, has another surprise: his latest invention, two airships that are equal part rocket, airplane, and hot air balloon. With Ozma temporarily away from the Emerald City, the group, accompanied by newly matured maid - in ' waiting Jellia Jamb ('Jelly and Jam') and the Soldier With The Green Whiskers, take to the skies adventuring.

After several weak and disposable titles, Thompson's Ozoplaning With The Wizard Of Oz has the distinction of being the fastest moving and most economic novel in the entire Oz chronicle. There is no superfluous padding whatsoever, and, looking ahead to illustrator John R. Neill's The Wonder City In Oz (1940), the novel has a loose, kooky, post ' romantic tone which perfectly suits Baum's utopist fairyland. No longer a 'sweet, darling little maid' perennially restricted to the background, Jellia Jamb is modern young lady ' not a little girl - with a feisty, determined spirit and a bright mind. Happily, it is Jellia, and not Dorothy (who, in defiance of the laws of the kingdom, also seems to have matured considerably), who is the book's protagonist. Thompson also allows the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman to stand center stage, utterly freeing the characters from the dreary limitations Baum often saddled them with in his later titles. Never has the Tin Woodman been this lively, decisive, vigorous, and comical. Thompson's characterization of the Cowardly Lion was the most realized of any of the Oz writers, a talent again demonstrated here. Thankfully, none of the lead characters are transformed into beasts, no overly sweet or obnoxious sidekick animals are introduced, and no one speaks in broken baby talk.

Though the narrative eventually falls back on the overused idea of the Emerald City being invaded by outside forces, the writing throughout is so rollicking and enthusiastic that the inevitable invasion seems almost fresh. In an unusual touch, Thompson has the only briefly seen Trot, Betsy, Tik ' Tok, and the Patchwork Girl fleeing the invasion rather than heroically standing their ground. In another refreshing twist, aggressive flying King Strut of The Strat decides to attack the Emerald City only after the Tin Woodman declares Strut's sky kingdom a new colony of Oz. Deeply offended when told that he and his people are now subjects of Ozma, Strut reasonably feels that it is his kingdom that has been invaded, and decides to take the offensive.

Ozoplaning With The Wizard Of Oz is one of the classic entries in the series, touching as it does on both established Oz history as well as Oz history to come. At the fireside party in the opening chapters, early Oz history is thoroughly and joyfully recounted by the attendees. Thompson's Jellia Jamb will remind readers of a kinder, less boisterous Jenny Jump, and the Wizard's cat - like "kit bag" of magic may have been the inspiration for Jenny Jump's "handbag of fairy gifts." For reasons unknown, Thompson changes the true name of the Soldier With The Green Whiskers from the established Omby Amby to Wantowin Battles ('Want To Win Battles'), but, regardless, the Soldier, who is far more of a coward than the Lion, adds excellent comic relief to the story.

Regarding Oz mythology, with its occasionally shifting laws, rules and regulations, Jellia states early in the novel, "If I live to be a million, I'll never forget the day she (Dorothy) came to the castle with the Cowardly Lion, the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman. Not if I live to be a million!" As Oz scholars know, Oz is not only a non ' earthly paradise but also an approximation of the Christian concept of the afterlife. Presuming she is genuinely alive in the earthly sense of the word, Jellia will live to be a million, and, in fact, will live forever, since no one dies in Oz and only the unlucky or unfavored ' like the Wicked Witch of the West ' can be destroyed. Not only does the opening chapter take the unusual step of informing the reader that it is autumn in Oz (one of the airships has been christened "the Oztober"), but, at the book's end, Dorothy mentions Halloween. Unfortunately the highly potent idea of celebrating Halloween in Oz is explored no further.

Reflecting the book's light, fun tone, John R. Neill's illustrations are among his most brazenly comic. Particularly interesting is Neill's drawing of Glinda the Good's castle in the red Quadling country, which is unexpectedly massive beyond belief. Highly recommended for both children and adults, as well as for established Oz fans and new readers.

This is Thompson's last official Oz book, but also one of her best! The Wizard has inventing flying airships---OZOPLANES and it's a high flying adventure above the skies of Oz as an Ozoplane takes off in hot pursuit of the other Ozoplane which went off accidently! Turns out, King Strutoovious wants to conquer the Land of Oz and Glinda and Ozma are away! This was a great book which is expected from Ruth Plumly Thompson's sense of humor!