Ozma of Oz

Written by L. Frank Baum

Narrated by Ron Knowles

Ozma of Oz is the third oz book. When a storm blows Dorothy to the land of Ev where lunches grow on trees, she meets the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, the Cowardly Lion, and Princess Ozma, and together they set out to free the Queen of Ev and her ten children. The story features a wicked nome king who has enchanted the queen and her children.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Reagent Press
• Release date: Jan 1, 2010
• ISBN: 9781467634755

L. Frank Baum

L. Frank Baum (1856-1919) was an American author of children’s literature and pioneer of fantasy fiction. He demonstrated an active imagination and a skill for writing from a young age, encouraged by his father who bought him the printing press with which he began to publish several journals. Although he had a lifelong passion for theater, Baum found success with his novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900), a self-described “modernized fairy tale” that led to thirteen sequels, inspired several stage and radio adaptations, and eventually, in 1939, was immortalized in the classic film starring Judy Garland.

Reviews for Ozma of Oz

[killianmcrae · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In high school (early 1990's) I read all of the Oz books that were written by Baum. While I loved each and everyone, Ozma of Oz remains ones of my favorite. In an era that still often portrayed females as helpless beings constantly in need of rescue, Ozma was a confident and self-assured leader who didn't need a man beside her (or as an authority, given that she's a teenage-like character) to validate her rule, her motives, and her knowledge.

[stuzle · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is my favorite of all the Oz books! It has so many memorable scenes---picking lunch and dinner pails off a tree, the princess with lots of different heads, finding enchanted people among rooms full of ornaments, the magic carpet over the desert to Oz, Billina the chicken...I really love it! I read it over just today for the who knows how many time!

[abigailadams26 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Dorothy Gale returns in this third entry in L. Frank Baum's Oz series, after her notable absence in the second volume, The Marvelous Land of Oz. Traveling with her Uncle Henry to Australia, the Kansas farm-girl is lost at sea during a terrible storm, washed overboard in a chicken coop which serves as an impromptu raft. Together with Billina, a talking hen who is also aboard the coop/raft, Dorothy eventually washes up on the shore of the Land of Ev, a magical country located not far from Oz. Here girl and hen confront the Wheelers - a gang of bullies with wheels instead of hands and feet - rescue a mechanical man named Tiktok from his rocky prison, and earn the severe displeasure of the Princess Langwidere, ruling in place of the true royal family of Ev, who are being held captive by the Gnome King. With Dorothy made a prisoner, Tiktok immobilized, and Billina slated for the dinner table, matters look grim, until Ozma of Oz and her entourage arrive, using a magical carpet to traverse the seemingly impassable desert separating Oz and Ev. After a council of war, Ozma and her companions - the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, Cowardly Lion, Hungry Tiger, and a number of fairly useless army officers, as well as Dorothy and Billina - set out to rescue the royal family of Ev from captivity.Despite its title, Ozma of Oz is a book which, like The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, has as its main heroine Dorothy Gale, who once again finds herself transported to enchanted realms by severe acts of nature. I enjoyed meeting up with Dorothy again, and found Billina, although an unlikely companion, actually quite appealing as a character, with her tart retorts, and practical sangfroid in the face of astonishing adventures. Ozma of Oz has always been one of my favorites of the Oz series, partly because I feel the story works so well overall - although a distinct pleasure of my youth, there is no denying that some of the stories in the Oz series feel a little bit scattered, almost as if they were travelogues, with an endless supply of new characters, rather than significant development of existing ones - and partly because of some of the more memorable incidents. Princess Langwidere's cabinet of heads has certainly stuck with me over the years, as has Billina's triumph, in discovering the Gnome King's secret, and using it to free the royal family of Ev. As always, the artwork here is gorgeous! I particularly like the portrait of Ozma at the beginning of the book, and then the plate in which she and her entourage are crossing the desert. The latter is undoubtedly the inspiration for the subsequent Del Rey paperback cover-art. However that may be, this is an entertaining and fantastical story, one of the strongest in the series. I recommend it to any child who enjoys whimsical adventures, with the proviso that they really must read the first two Oz books beforehand.

[elizabethchapman · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This happens to be one of my least favorite of the Oz books. It's interesting to read the reviews here on LibraryThing and realize that Ozma of Oz is many people's favorite. It's hard to put one's finger on what is enchanting -- or not -- in any given children's book. For me, the dangers Dorothy and her friends face in this volume seem less thrilling and the new characters that are introduced seem lesser copies of earlier ideas (The Cowardly Lion / The Hungry Tiger, the Tin Woodman / Tiktok, Billina / Toto). Enjoyable enough for Oz fans, but far from Baum's best.

[inky_fingers · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is my favorite of all the Oz books. It has a greally great plot as well as strange characters and funny situations. I wish Peter Jackson would take this on as his next movie project.

[ericpatterson · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book does not take place majorly in the land of Oz, but in the land of Ev which is over the deadly dangerous desert. The story is about Dorothy Gale, from the first book in the series, returning to the land of Oz through the land of Ev.

The story has the same whimsical charm that the first two books have that make them children's classic books. Baum is able to create these fantastical creatures and you believe they could exist in these other worlds. In this case he created the Wheelers who roll around on wheels instead of having hands and feet. Baum takes simple ideas and breathes life into them. It is great to read his books and see what he was capable of creating. He lived in a time where they didn't seem to be as worried about violence and other things in their books so you can see a bit more depth and freedom in what he is writing which makes for a better children's story in my opinion.

[darthdeverell · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A fun sequel to the Oz series, by Baum himself. Quite enjoyable for all ages and it expands the Oz universe to the Kingdom of Ev, across the desert beyond Oz's borders. If you're a fan of the Wicked series, you'll see some of Gregory Maguire's inspiration in this book.

[antiquary_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of my favorites among the later Oz books; Tik-tok is a worthy predecessor of C3P0 and the gnome king, who is to be the major villain of the series, first appears. Dorothy is washed overboard in the ocean on a chicken coop, and also with a rather snappish and now talking hen, Billina, finds herself in the Land of Ev, across the desert from Oz, where she rescues the mechanical man Tik-Tok (using a gold key to open a stone door--a possible forerunner of The Hobbit?) and learns from him how his former master Evildo had sold his whole family to the Gnome King before drowning himself. The gnome king has turned them into pieces of brick--a-brak in his palace, and Dorothy must choose which items are the enchanted family --if she fails, she joins them. Of course she succeeds. Still, it is suspenseful. It turns out Gnomes are afraid of eggs, which gives Billina a useful power. Eventually Dorothy meets Ozma for the first time.

[smcamp1234 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Such a fun read especially when reading to kids. Baum introduces many new characters in this third book and Tik-Tok has to be the break out star here, but Bellina comes very close behind.

[chris177 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the third book in the L. Frank Baum’s Oz series of books. In this book, Dorothy returns to Oz with a yellow hen, not Toto. We also find out more about Princess Ozma in this book as well as more information about the Land of Oz itself. The story line in this book was combined with the story line in The Land of Oz, the second Oz book, to be the basis of the movie “Return to Oz.”

[chazzifrazz · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Dorothy is back in the fantasy world. On this trip she meets Princess Ozma of Oz, the ruler of Oz.Ozma is on her way to rescue the royal family of The Land of Ev from the evil King of the Nomes. The Tin Man, Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion, Billina the talking Yellow Hen and a few more characters are with her on the quest. When she and Dorothy meet, Dorothy agrees to help with the rescue.The way is fraught with challenges and evil creatures who want to do harm to them. Through perseverance the group gets through to the palace of the Nome King only to find that the royal family has been turned into knick-knacks to add to the King's collection. An agreement is reached that if one of the group can find the enchanted family members and bring them back to life, all can leave the palace. But the Nome King is not to be trusted!The book also has the original illustrations by John R. Neill, which further enhances the story. Granted it is considered a children's book, adults can enjoy the story too.

[runa_17 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Ozma of Oz has always been one of my favorites of the Oz series. I loved seeing Dorothy back in the land of Oz, and her reunion with all her old friends was amazing. I also highly enjoyed her meeting with Ozma, and the friendship there is a really great one. [Also, Glinda! Oh, all the connections to the original Oz book, amazingness :D] Never did like the Nome King, but the challenge set by him was pretty clever, and kudos, kudos, kudos to Billina! Baum's cleverness never dies, as we see with his lunch and dinner pails, the green tin pig-whistle, the Nome king's belt, and the picture on the wall, and you know you're really back in Oz. The thing is, I get the feeling that lots of people don't even know these books exist. They are under the impression that the story of Oz began and ended with The Wizard of Oz, and this is just wrong. There's a whole series of storeis out there, a series everyone should read because it never loses the magic and charm found in the first book, and if anything, just adds to it. LOVE the books, always have, always will, I just wish Dorothy could stay in Oz forever :D

[carebear36 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

As with the first two books in this series, this one was just as fun with interesting characters and creative plot points. I loved the character of Bill/Billina (although Dorothy furthered my dislike of her by suggesting the hen should change her name). I did not like how much of a role Dorothy had, given how idiotic of a character she comes across as (seriously, you have to get advice from a chicken??), but I respect Baum writing more about her to appease his young fans. Overall a good read and very fun adventure.

[capiam1234 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Such a fun read especially when reading to kids. Baum introduces many new characters in this third book and Tik-Tok has to be the break out star here, but Bellina comes very close behind.

[vonze-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Not as good as the first, but a big improvement over the second book. Glad to have Dorothy back in the storyline.

[mrsbaty · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book, the 3rd in the series, holds up well with the first two. Ozma, the sawhorse, the Tin Woodman, the Cowardly Lion and other familiar characters return. We also meet new characters such as Bellina the hen and Tic Tok. Dorothy is back for her second visit to Oz.

There is, of course, action and adventures and lots of fun! The importance of friendship and loyalty are emphasized as always. The movie, "Return to Oz" is based on many of the adventures in this book with a few things from The Land of Oz. This one is another winner in the Oz series!

[mirrani_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The second of the books used to make up the Return to Oz movie, this is the story dealing with the Gnome King and guessing at his beautiful trinkets. Baum, as always, describes the locations and situations with the grace of a master live storyteller, making up his creations before an audience that hangs on his every word. Baum is the true Wizard of Oz. There's no doubt about that.

[aliceanna-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Really enjoyed this one a lot. Honestly, I enjoyed it more than the original (and A LOT more than some of Baum's other stories). Some really fun side characters (like Billina the hen) and some very funny plot points made it a very fun read.

[thelostentwife · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Shortly into reading Ozma of Oz I started having strange flashbacks. You know those kind of flashbacks when parts of your youth you have forgotten come creeping in and making you think.. did this happen or was it deja vu? Turns out - it did happen! This book was the biggest influence on Disney's 1985 movie, Return to Oz. I knew the changing heads woman was something I hadn't thought up of on my own! So, once my curiosity was appeased I settled in to enjoy the wildly fun ride Ozma of Oz gave me. And oh, what fun it was. This book has everything - from old friends to new, such as the fun Tik-Tok (whom I fell in love with). And you can't forget the private (because the 26 officers need someone to boss around). I giggled, laughed and felt like a child again. I thoroughly enjoyed Billina, the smart hen that.. well, when you read the book you'll know what she does. I think this is exactly how fairy-tales should be written - full of fun, magic, talking chickens, mechanical objects and happy endings.

[rbeene-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A wonderful tale that brings back Dorothy Gale who is one of my favorite characters from the series.

[drewandlori · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Third in the Oz series, and the second book featuring Dorothy and Toto. Baum's books are a little dated but still a lot of fun.

[nx74defiant · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Forget Dorothy, I wanted to be Ozma.

[mrslee_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Dorothy ends up in the land of Ev, which is across the desert from Oz. She faces many challenges, makes new friends and shows her courage, if not always her wisdom. This book introduces new friends such as Billina, the talking chicken, Tik Tok, the copper talking, thinking machine and Ozma of Oz. She also meets up with some horrid folks. The Nome king, a woman with 30 interchangeable heads (ewww), and Wheelers. Imaginative and fun, this story promotes clean living, caring for others and loyalty, without preaching. It must have been quite refreshing when it was published compared to all the other morality tales for children of the time.

[snakeshands · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Still loopy but a tad darker. Again, haven't read this in ages; if anything, I remember it better from the cult classic Return to Oz movie, which made for an interesting comparison.But this one gives you lots of fun with Dorothy and the delightful queen Ozma, not to mention an intrepid hen given powers of speech by transition to the fairylands, one of the most Grimm's-ian villains yet with the Nome King and his dangerous guessing game, and my deep and abiding favorite Tik-Tok, whose wind-up personality has a lot more fun to it than he admits--not to mention the endless bickering between the Tin Man and the Scarecrow over who's better off than the poor mechanical fellow (Brains! a heart! etc).It's no wonder this is a lot of people's favorite, and I won't argue with it. Might like the pure bizarreness of Marvelous Land a hair better, but that's a matter of taste.

[librisissimo · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

No thoroughly committed to continuing the Oz series, Dorothy re-enters Oz through the Land of Ev on the other side of the desert (one wonders why Glinda didn't tell the Wizard about her magic carpet? However, Baum also conveniently forgets that the Wizard gave Ozma to Mombi in order to usurp her throne.) Billina the Hen, cast adrift with Dorothy when they go overboard ship in a storm, ends up being the heroine, by chance and temperament. All Dorothy's friends from the first book show up, along with a new Hungry Tiger, but they and Ozma are really secondary characters.Despite everyone's tender feelings and kindness, they have no compunction about destroying the Nome King's Army.As usual, Baum slips some social satire for adults into his tale, particularly skewering military pomp (26 officers and 1 private, and only the private has any courage, for which he receives his due reward).The snark about colleges being useless at the end of the book is still timely.p. 174: "That is the College of Art and Athletic Perfection...I had it built quite recently, and the Woggle-Bug is its president. It keeps him busy and the young men who attend the college are no worse off than they were before. You see, in this country are a number of youths who do not like to work, and the college is an excellent place for them."

[matthewbloome · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a good book to read if you are interested in a further adventure with Dorothy. A few of the characters from The Marvelous Land of Oz are in there as well. I don't feel like the title was particularly appropriate for the story. I would have gone with The Lawless Land of Ev or Ev and the Nome King. Every character from book one made an appearance in this volume, though I wish Toto had come to Ev with Dorothy. I liked the hen, Bill, though I found it odd that she was able to talk after Toto wasn't able to speak in the first book. I though the whole talk when you are in a fairy land rule only applied to creatures that were from the fairy land. I would love to have a conversation with Toto. I would really like to know what he thought of being dragged all over Oz and in the company of a lion that nearly killed him upon meeting him.

[jedimarri · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

"Ozma of Oz" is the response to the cry of many young readers that Baum bring Dorothy back to the world of Oz. This time she reaches that magical land not by tornado, but by ship wreck, and she first spend a good deal of time in the kingdom of Ev. The kingdom of Ev is languishing because the old King sold off his wife and children in exchange for a long life, and then threw himself into the sea in remorse. Now it's up to Dorothy, Ozma, and their host of friends to figure out how to free the missing Queen and the children.Dorothy, with her sweet personality, makes several new friends in this book that you will fall in love with! There are a lot of little lessons to be learned a long the way as well, so if you are reading this to your kids, you'll have some fun ways to sneak in some teaching moments. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!

[rrainer-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Now this book I remember quite well—partly because much of the movie Return to Oz was based on it, but more because I'm sure I had to have read it several times when I was young. While I enjoy it quite a lot, and more than any of the other books it sets up further adventures, it's also very slight when it comes to things actually happening. Still, Ozma remains the best.

[catfantastic_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The third Oz book. Dorothy is lost at sea and washes ashore in a fairy land called Ev with a talking yellow hen named Bill (or "Billina") for a companion. They come across a wind-up mechanical man named Tiktok and are imprisoned by the vain Princess Langwidere, who owns a collection of thirty interchangeable heads. The rightful rulers of Ev, the Queen and her ten children, have been imprisoned underground by the King of the Nomes. Luckily, Princess Ozma arrives with the Tin Woodman, the Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion, the Saw-Horse, the Hungry Tiger, and twenty-six military officers (and one private for them to order around!) on a magic green carpet. She rescues Dorothy from Langwidere, and then they set out to rescue Ev's rightful rulers from the Nomes. The talking yellow hen is a hoot, and I enjoyed her no-nonesense approach and her unexpected decision at the end. The Hungry Tiger - always craving those fat babies! - was hilarious. The cowardly officers and the single, much abused private were also pretty funny. I was sad to see the Lion has gone back to thinking of himself as a coward, whereas the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman both get to believe they have brains and a heart, respectively. Also, he seemed really sidelined in this one as opposed to how important he was in the original story. It was great to see Ozma and Dorothy together, having adventures, though!

[karin7-11 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I couldn't finish this.