The Marvelous Land of Oz

By Frank Baum

With 16 color illustrations.According to Wikipedia: "A little boy, Tip, escapes from his evil guardian, the witch Mombi, with the help of a walking wooden figure with a jack-o'-lantern head named Jack Pumpkinhead (brought to life with the magic Powder of Life Tip stole from Mombi), as well as a living Sawhorse (created from the same powder). Tip ends up on an adventure with the Scarecrow and Tin Woodman to help Scarecrow to recapture his throne from General Jinjur's army of girls." The Oz series includes: 1 The Wizard of Oz,2 The Land of Oz,3 Ozma of Oz,4 Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz,5 The Road to Oz,6 The Emerald City of Oz,7 The Patchwork Girl of Oz,8 Tik-Tok of Oz,9 The Scarecrow of Oz, 10 Rinkitink in Oz, 11 The Lost Princess of Oz, 12 The Tin Woodman of Oz, 13 The Magic of Oz, and 14 Glinda of Oz. According to Wikipedia: "Lyman Frank Baum (1856 – 1919) was an American author, poet, playwright, actor and independent filmmaker, best known today as the creator, along with illustrator W. W. Denslow, of one of the most popular books in American children's literature, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, better known now as simply The Wizard of Oz. He wrote thirteen sequels, nine other fantasy novels, and a plethora of other works (55 novels in total, 82 short stories, over 200 poems, an unknown number of scripts, and many miscellaneous writings), and made numerous attempts to bring his works to the stage and screen."

• Language: English
• Publisher: Seltzer Books
• Release date: Mar 1, 2018
• ISBN: 9781455446858

Frank Baum

Lyman Frank Baum was an American author chiefly famous for his children's books, particularly The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and its sequels

Book preview

THE MARVELOUS LAND OF OZ BY L. FRANK BAUM

Being an account of the further adventures of the Scarecrow and Tin Woodman and also the strange experiences of the highly magnified Woggle-Bug, Jack Pumpkinhead, the Animated Saw-Horse and the Gump; the story being A Sequel to The Wizard of Oz

Books about Oz by Frank Baum available from us:

The Wizard of Oz

The Marvelous Land of Oz

Ozma of Oz

Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz

The Road to Oz

The Emerald City of Oz

The Patchwork Girl of Oz

Little Wizard Stories of Oz

Tik-Tok of Oz

The Scarecrow of Oz

Rinitink in Oz

The Lost Princess of Oz

The Tin Woodman of Oz

The Magic of Oz

Glinda of Oz

The Royal Book of Oz

The Woggle-Bug Book

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Originally published by:

BOOKS OF WONDER

WILLIAM MORROW & COMPANY, INC.

NEW YORK

Copyright 1904 by L. Frank Baum

All rights reserved

Published, July, 1904

___________

Author's Note

Dedication

Tip Manufactures Pumpkinhead                    

The Marvelous Powder of Life                      

The Flight of the Fugitives                             

Tip Makes an Experiment in Magic                        

The Awakening of the Saw-horse                          

Jack Pumpkinhead's Ride to the Emerald City       

His Majesty the Scarecrow                               

Gen. Jinjur's Army of Revolt                           

The Scarecrow Plans an Escape                        

The Journey to the Tin Woodman                    

A Nickel-Plated Emperor                                

Mr. H. M. Woggle-Bug, T. E.                          

A Highly Magnified History                            

Old Mombi indulges in Witchcraft                  

The Prisoners of the Queen                             

The Scarecrow Takes Time to Think               

The Astonishing Flight of the Gump                

In the Jackdaw's Nest                                  

Dr. Nikidik's Famous Wishing Pills             

The Scarecrow Appeals to Glenda the Good

The Tin-Woodman Plucks a Rose               

The Transformation of Old Mombi             

Princess Ozma of Oz                                   

The Riches of Content                                 

Author's Note

AFTER the publication of The Wonderful Wizard of OZ I began to receive letters from children, telling me of their pleasure in reading the story and asking me to write something more about the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman. At first I considered these little letters, frank and earnest though they were, in the light of pretty compliments; but the letters continued to come during succeeding months, and even years.

Finally I promised one little girl, who made a long journey to see me and prefer her request, -- and she is a Dorothy, by the way -- that when a thousand little girls had written me a thousand little letters asking for the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman I would write the book, Either little

Dorothy was a fairy in disguise, and waved her magic wand, or the success of the stage production of The Wizard of OZ made new friends for the story, For the thousand letters reached their destination long since -- and many more followed them.

And now, although pleading guilty to long delay, I have kept my promise in this book.

L. FRANK BAUM.

Chicago, June, 1904

Dedication

To those excellent good fellows and comedians David C. Montgomery and Frank A. Stone whose clever personations of the Tin Woodman and the Scarecrow have delighted thousands of                           children throughout the land, this book is gratefully dedicated by THE AUTHOR

Tip Manufactures a Pumpkinhead

In the Country of the Gillikins, which is at the North of the Land of Oz, lived a youth called Tip. There was more to his name than that, for old Mombi often declared that his whole name was Tippetarius; but no one was expected to say such a long word when Tip would do just as well.

This boy remembered nothing of his parents, for he had been brought when quite young to be reared by the old woman known as Mombi, whose reputation, I am sorry to say, was none of the best. For the Gillikin people had reason to suspect her of indulging in magical arts, and therefore hesitated to associate with her.

Mombi was not exactly a Witch, because the Good Witch who ruled that part of the Land of Oz had forbidden any other Witch to exist in her dominions. So Tip's guardian, however much she might aspire to working magic, realized it was unlawful to be more than a Sorceress, or at most a Wizardess.

Tip was made to carry wood from the forest, that the old woman might boil her pot. He also worked in the corn-fields, hoeing and husking; and he fed the pigs and milked the four-horned cow that was Mombi's especial pride.

But you must not suppose he worked all the time, for he felt that would be bad for him. When sent to the forest Tip often climbed trees for birds' eggs or amused himself chasing the fleet white rabbits or fishing in the brooks with bent pins. Then he would hastily gather his armful of wood and carry it home. And when he was supposed to be working in the corn-fields, and the tall stalks hid him from Mombi's view, Tip would often dig in the gopher holes, or if the mood seized him -- lie upon his back between the rows of corn and take a nap. So, by taking care not to exhaust his strength, he grew as strong and rugged as a boy may be.

Mombi's curious magic often frightened her neighbors, and they treated her shyly, yet respectfully, because of her weird powers. But Tip frankly hated her, and took no pains to hide his feelings. Indeed, he sometimes showed less respect for the old woman than he should have done, considering she was his guardian.

There were pumpkins in Mombi's corn-fields, lying golden red among the rows of green stalks; and these had been planted and carefully tended that the four-horned cow might eat of them in the winter time. But one day, after the corn had all been cut and stacked, and Tip was carrying the pumpkins to the stable, he took a notion to make a Jack Lantern and try to give the old woman a fright with it.

So he selected a fine, big pumpkin -- one with a lustrous, orange-red color -- and began carving it. With the point of his knife he made two round eyes, a three-cornered nose, and a mouth shaped like a new moon. The face, when completed, could not have been considered strictly beautiful; but it wore a smile so big and broad, and was so Jolly in expression, that even Tip laughed as he looked admiringly at his work.

The child had no playmates, so he did not know that boys often dig out the inside of a pumpkin-jack, and in the space thus made put a lighted candle to render the face more startling; but he conceived an idea of his own that promised to be quite as effective. He decided to manufacture the form of a man, who would wear this pumpkin head, and to stand it in a place where old Mombi would meet it face to face.

And then, said Tip to himself, with a laugh, she'll squeal louder than the brown pig does when I pull her tail, and shiver with fright worse than I did last year when I had the ague!

He had plenty of time to accomplish this task, for Mombi had gone to a village -- to buy groceries, she said -- and it was a journey of at least two days.

So he took his axe to the forest, and selected some stout, straight saplings, which he cut down and trimmed of all their twigs and leaves. From these he would make the arms, and legs, and feet of his man. For the body he stripped a sheet of thick bark from around a big tree, and with much labor fashioned it into a cylinder of about the right size, pinning the edges together with wooden pegs. Then, whistling happily as he worked, he carefully jointed the limbs and fastened them to the body with pegs whittled into shape with his knife.

By the time this feat had been accomplished it began to grow dark, and Tip remembered he must milk the cow and feed the pigs. So he picked up his wooden man and carried it back to the house with him.

During the evening, by the light of the fire in the kitchen, Tip carefully rounded all the edges of the joints and smoothed the rough places in a neat and workmanlike manner. Then he stood the figure up against the wall and admired it. It seemed remarkably tall, even for a full-grown man; but that was a good point in a small boy's eyes, and Tip did not object at all to the size of his creation.

Next morning, when he looked at his work again, Tip saw he had forgotten to give the dummy a neck, by means of which he might fasten the pumpkinhead to the body. So he went again to the forest, which was not far away, and chopped from a tree several pieces of wood with which to complete his work. When he returned he fastened a cross-piece to the upper end of the body, making a hole through the center to hold upright the neck. The bit of wood which formed this neck was also sharpened at the upper end, and when all was ready Tip put on the pumpkin head, pressing it well down onto the neck, and found that it fitted very well. The head could be turned to one side or the other, as he pleased, and the hinges of the arms and legs allowed him to place the dummy in any position he desired.

Now, that, declared Tip, proudly, is really a very fine man, and it ought to frighten several screeches out of old Mombi! But it would be much more lifelike if it were properly dressed.

To find clothing seemed no easy task; but Tip boldly ransacked the great chest in which Mombi kept all her keepsakes and treasures, and at the very bottom he discovered some purple trousers, a red shirt and a pink vest which was dotted with white spots. These he carried away to his man and succeeded, although the garments did not fit very well, in dressing the creature in a jaunty fashion. Some knit stockings belonging to Mombi and a much worn pair of his own shoes completed the man's apparel, and Tip was so delighted that he danced up and down and laughed aloud in boyish ecstacy.

I must give him a name! he cried. So good a man as this must surely have a name. I believe, he added, after a moment's thought, I will name the fellow 'Jack Pumpkinhead!'

The Marvelous Powder of Life

 After considering the matter carefully, Tip decided that the best place to locate Jack would be at the bend in the road, a little way from the house. So he started to carry his man there, but found him heavy and rather awkward to handle. After dragging the creature a short distance Tip stood him on his feet, and by first bending the joints of one leg, and then those of the other, at the same time pushing from behind, the boy managed to induce Jack to walk to the bend in the road. It was not accomplished without a few tumbles, and Tip really worked harder than he ever had in the fields or

forest; but a love of mischief urged him on, and it pleased him to test the cleverness of his workmanship.

Jack's all right, and works fine! he said to himself, panting with the unusual exertion. But just then he discovered the man's left arm had fallen off in the journey so he went back to find it, and afterward, by whittling a new and stouter pin for the shoulder-joint, he repaired the injury so successfully that the arm was stronger than before. Tip also noticed that Jack's pumpkin head had twisted around until it faced his back; but this was easily remedied. When, at last, the man was set up facing the turn in the path where old Mombi was to appear, he looked natural enough to be a fair imitation of a Gillikin farmer, -- and unnatural enough to startle anyone that came on him unawares.

As it was yet too early in the day to expect the old woman to return home, Tip went down into the valley below the farm-house and began to gather nuts from the

Reviews for The Marvelous Land of Oz

[librisissimo · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Reluctant by obliging, Baum's second book about Oz is without Dorothy or the Wizard, and secondary appearances of the Scarecrow and Tin Man. he young boy Tip runs away from the evil witch Mombi, who has raised him from infancy, and either creates or encounters the fanciful Jack Pumpkinhead, the Wooden Sawhorse, and H.M. Woggle-Bug T.E.Just in case you haven't read the book: Tip is really the girl sovereign of Oz; the Wizard defeated her father and gave her to Mombi, who enchanted her -- first literary transgender? -- and is restored to her rightful form and throne at the end by Glinda. One wonders why she didn't do it sooner. Tip has no difficulty making the transition, this being a make-believe country.I had forgotten the Wizard was not such a good man as in Book 1; maybe "Wicked" is not so far off target; however, Baum "forgets" about this part in Book 3).

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

Very enjoyable tale from Frank Baum and a lovely followup to the original Wizard of Oz. Such wonderful imagination in the creation of pumpkinhead and sawhorse characters. And then to bring back the Tin Man and the Scarecrow (and Glinda!) is such a treat. And honestly, the ending caught me totally unawares so good on you, Mr. Baum, good on you!

[cbilbo-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In the 2nd book, you have an introduction of a few new characters. I loved this book just because it was so weird. You have a the scarecrow that becomes arrogant. The Tin Man obsessed with his looks. Then you have a little boy that is actually a little girl. A magical saw horse, that is just comical in his description. A flying moody Gump.

As I said, this book is weird! But I love it.

[vonze-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Having loved "The Wizard of Oz" movie since childhood, I finally got around to reading the first two books (alas, wish I'd read more as a kid...).

First book was good, a lot differences between the movie. I was surprised at how simple L. Frank Baum's writing style was. I know it's a children's book, and over a hundred years old, but the movie added, in my opinion, a lot more depth to the characters.

The Marvelous Land of Oz was just nonsensical at times. I don't even know how to rightly describe it...akin to Dr. Seuss maybe? (Even though Dr. Seuss is 50 years later.) It's almost as though L. Frank Baum said, "I'm going to sit down and write and whatever I come up with off the top of my head, that's going in the book!"

I plan to read a few more in the series, there's so many I don't know if I care enough about the characters and the world to finish the fourteen L. Frank Baum wrote, plus the many others by different authors.

Hopefully I'll enjoy the next one better when Dorothy returns as a character.

[antiquary_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The second Oz book, in which the Scarecrow is deposed as ruler of Oz by an ambitious young woman named Jinjur, but eventually the true ruler turns out to be Ozma, who for much of the book is the boy Tip. The book also introduces the evil witch Mombi, Jack Pumpkinhead, and H.M. Wogglebug T.E. (Thoroughly Educated). My father used to say my mother's initials V.T.E. stood for "very thoroughly educated." The story includes ,any characters from the first book, but not Dorothy.

[capiam1234 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The sequel to the Wizard of Oz was another great book by Frank Baum. It wasn't exciting as the first but it keeps you moving through the land setting the stage for even further adventures in Oz.

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

I've always struggled with this book, because on the one hand Baum has an abundance of female characters and female protagonists who drive the story (here and in all of the Oz books) but on the other it is rife with appalling gender stereotypes. Baum might have been a feminist, but in 1904 that did not mean he was entirely enlightened. It has Ozma, who is glorious and I could go on about the gender issues touched upon there, but it also has Jinjur, who is a general, yes, and that is great, but she's a general who only wants to laze around with jewels and her soldiers are women and therefore obviously must be terrified of mice. But then there is also this:

"What has happened?" the Scarecrow asked a sad-looking man with a bushy beard, who wore an apron and was wheeling a baby-carriage along the sidewalk.

"Why, we've had a revolution, your Majesty as you ought to know very well," replied the man; "and since you went away the wome have been running things to suit themselves. I'm glad you have decided to come back and restore order, for doing housework and minding the children is wearing out the strength of every man in the Emerald City."

"Hm!" said the Scarecrow, thoughtfully. "If it is such hard work as you say, how did the women manage it so easily?"

So. Conflicted. It's problematic, but it's also progressive? Ultimately, the balance falls on the side of good for me, in no small part because of Ozma, but it will never be unreserved love.

[chris177 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the second book in L. Frank Baum’s Oz series of books. In this book the reader is introduced to new citizens of that magical land: Tip, Mombi Jack Pumpkinhead, the wooden Saw-Horse and Ozma. To many readers of the Oz books these characters are just as important and critical to Oz as the Scarecrow, Tin Woodsman and Cowardly Lion. Without giving anything away, the story found in this book is needed to understand Oz and the future books in the series as much as The Wizard of Oz, the first book in the series. The character Ozma is especially important. The story line in this book was combined with the story line in Ozma of Oz, the third Oz book, to be the basis of the movie “Return to Oz.”

[mirrani_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is one of my favorites of all of the Oz books. The conversations between the characters and the lines that come from them are some of the most memorable that I have ever read. As always, Baum's remarkable ability to tell the story of Oz continues in this book as we travel through new countries and meet new friends.There is just enough description throughout to allow the reader to make a clear picture in their mind and let the world grow inside of them. Through unique bedtime-like storytelling the adventures of the characters come across as clearly as if you were watching them happen and easily move you along on the journey with them. Anyone who has fallen in love with one of the movies needs to read all of the books to truly fall in love with all that Oz is.

[nx74defiant · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A great Oz book.General Jinjur and her army of young women take over the Emerald City. Tip has fled the evil witch Mombi when he joins the Scarecrow. They discover what had happened to the legitimate ruler - Ozma. This is where we meet Ozma. And she is in every book from now on.

[abigailadams26 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Originally published in 1904, this second of L. Frank Baum's fourteen Oz novels opens in the Gillikin Country, in the north of Oz. Here a mischievous young boy named Tip chafes against the rule of his less-than-benevolent guardian, the witch Mombi. When Tip's prank, in creating a pumpkin-headed man to frighten Mombi backfires, and he is threatened with the terrible fate of being made into a statue as punishment, the young boy runs away, taking the now living Jack Pumpkinhead with him. Heading for the Emerald City, now ruled by the Scarecrow, Tip also brings to life a wooden sawhorse, and eventually meets up with a rebellious young woman named Jinjur, intent on fomenting a girls' revolt. When General Jinjur's army conquers the Emerald City, the Scarecrow must flee, taking Tip and his companions with him. They head for the Winkie Country, in the west of Oz, there to enlist the aid of the Tin Woodman, who rules that kingdom at the invitation of its residents. After a number of adventures - they meet a thoroughly educated Woogle Bug, are captured by General Jinjur, before subsequently escaping in a strange portmanteau creation called the Gump - the companions find their way to Glinda, who helps them to see that neither the Scarecrow nor General Jinjur are entitled to rule Oz. That honor belongs to the missing Princess Ozma, whose father was the last king of Oz. But where is Ozma, and what does it have to do with Tip…?Although I grew up reading the Oz books, both those written by Baum, and then those written by Ruth Plumly Thompson, The Marvelous Land of Oz has never been a particular favorite of mine. I always find the story a little bit scattered, with the main characters seemingly running back and forth across Oz, and I never feel particularly attached to their struggles. I have also always found the plot involving General Jinjur and her army of rebellious girls somewhat distasteful. It always rather confused me that Baum seemed to be taking aim at feminist activists, who would, at the time of publication, have been publicly working for women's suffrage. How does this parody he offers fit in with the characters' claim, later in the book, when Tip is reluctant to resume his original form as Ozma - a female!, that girls are every bit as good as boys, and sometimes even make better students? Satire is frequently to be found in the pages of Baum's Oz books - in the next title, Ozma of Oz, there are some rather pointed depictions of the military, in the form of the largely incompetent officers in Ozma's army - but this instance of it always seems to me to fall flat. It is only on this latest reread, armed with the knowledge that Baum wrote The Marvelous Land of Oz, not so much as a stand-alone story meant for children, but as a spring-board for a musical featuring the two best-beloved characters from stage adaptations of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, that I began to have a better understanding of the girl-rebellion plot-line. Apparently, when creating General Jinjur and her army of attractive girls, he was thinking of the possibility of a chorus-line of young dancers in the stage production! Although this knowledge didn't make this aspect of the story any more successful, in my estimation, it did explain something that had long puzzled me.Despite its flaws, this is a book well worth reading, even if only to get to the far superior Ozma of Oz, and I would recommend it to young fantasy lovers, with the proviso that they must read The Wonderful Wizard of Oz first.

[mrsbaty · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Everyone is use to the original Wizard of Oz because of the movie but the rest of the series is worth checking out if you are looking for fun children's literature. In this second book of the series, there are a lot of new, interesting characters like the Gump and the Saw-horse. Things like friendship and honesty and kindness are shown to be better than money and there is enough nonsensical fun to appeal to children. I liked it a lot!

[robert.zimmermann · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Second in the series of Oz books and just as enjoyable as the first one. Loading the third book (audiobook) up on my iPod now. I'd say these are a little overlooked in the modern world, and should be checked out for those with a little kid still inside them somewhere.

[hamburgerclan · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I felt guilty reading this book. Well, not the book, really, but the advertising in the front of the book. In it, the Oz books are touted as nigh a foundational work of fantasy literature. Me, I've only seen the movie. I feel so... inferior. Anyway, I then read the book. This is the sequel to The Wizard of Oz. Apparently a large enough number of people nagged Mr. Baum to write it. The story follows a young boy named Tip who runs away from his guardian, a cranky old lady who dabbles in magic and has threatened to turn him into a marble statue in punishment for trying to scare her. He travels to the Emerald City and meets up with the Scarecrow, who is the current ruler, just in time to help the latter escape from an invasion by General Jinjur and her army. The two join up with an unusual assortment of companions and together they seek to restore the rightful ruler to the ol' green burg. It's an enjoyable book--quite imaginative, really. I really couldn't rave on about it like the advertising blurbs, but it's certainly worth checking out. Maybe if I read a greater number of the books, I'll be able to join the chorus of praise.--J.

[bryndahlquis · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Just about as much fun as the first Oz book! Old characters return, but new ones are also introduced who are just as amazing as the ones from the first book. A grand adventure taking the band of heroes all through Oz (and beyond) with some clever escapades and solutions. A great read for all ages!

[lizzybeans11 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The second book in the series, this one follows the Tinman, Scarecrow and some new characters around Oz. I listened to the LibriVox audio book which didn't have a great reader and I found it hard to follow. Still an interesting continuation of the fantasy.

[breton07 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

"The Land of Oz" is a delightful follow-up to its more famous predecessor, The Wizard of Oz. This second book tells the story of Jack who, in absence of his guardian, the witch Mombie, creates a live man with a pumpkin head and a live saw horse to keep him company. He has many adventures with his friends after the sorcerer's apprentice-like beginning!-Breton W Kaiser Taylor

[bruce_deming_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Oz books were great fun.

[bibleblaster · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was an unexpectedly bizarre ride through a world that I thought I knew (Oz), and I was thoroughly entertained. It is much wilder and unpredictable than the Oz I imagined. I found myself cringing a bit at some of the dated, stereotypical attitudes on gender, and then marveling at some of the provocative plot twists that sounded as if they could have been written today (or tomorrow).

This passage made me think of "Howl" by Allen Ginsberg:
****
"I am convinced that the only people worthy of consideration in this world are the unusual ones. For the common folks are like the leaves of a tree, and live and die unnoticed."

"Spoken like a philosopher!" cried the Woggle-Bug, as he assisted the Tin Woodman to set Jack upon his feet.
****

I was just going to read a couple more in the Baum series to prepare for reading the Gregory Maguire reimaginings, but I just may read them all.

[karin7-11 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

One of the only 2 books of these I owned & read as a kid (my dad read it to me first). Not that good.

[soulflower1981 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I was thrilled to discover that my university library had a copy of this book that I have been wanting to read since childhood. The oz series has always fascinated me, but due to the fact that there are so many books in the series I have never been able to acquire all of them. I discovered that my university library has 13 out of the original 14 that are written by L. Fran Baum which thrills me.

The book in many ways can be seen as an early American story that involves a transgender character, if you really want to think about it in those terms. What the book is though is a magical romp in a land that most of us are familiar with. We are introduced to new characters, like Jack Pumpkinhead. We are also revisited by familiar favorites, like the Scarecrow.

The book feels like a wonderful journey into the land of oz for those of us that deeply appreciate what Baum was doing with these stories. Baum uses current issues, like the women's suffragist movement of his time, beautifully in his books. This book showcases that movement and also is a really good fairy tale story. It holds up to the original classic that most of us love.

The book is primarily focused on a young boy named Tip that escapes the evil clutches of Mombi. Mombi is a low-level practicing witch, since it is forbidden to be a true witch other than the ones previously mentioned in Wizard of Oz. The book is about his journey and how ultimately he discovers what he is in the land of oz. The book is fun, beautifully written, and just a darn good read for anyone that wants to take an additional trip down to Oz.

[sean191 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Having heard about some of Frank Baum's personal life on NPR a few years ago, I knew he was a little strange, but some of the ideas in his books really reinforce the notion. I can't go into the surprise twist at the end because I don't want to spoil things for others, but let's just say... it's weird. We have a pumpkinheaded character (Jack) who's head keeps falling off (inspiration for Tim Burton?)We have a giant talking bug that became giant through interesting circumstances, along with a flying, mooseheaded couch and old favorites like the Tin Woodman and Scarecrow. And Baum offers a lot of amusing misunderstandings of language between characters and plays on words.I also raised an eyebrow at all the times a character called another character "stupid" or an "idiot" and things of that nature...but overall, it was an enjoyable book to read filled with interesting characters and situations.

[thelostentwife · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

While I didn't enjoy The Marvellous Land of Oz as much as The Wizard of Oz, it still had its moments. In The Marvellous Land of Oz, Dorothy has been returned home and the Scarecrow reigns on the throne of the Emerald City. In a nearby land, a young boy, Tip, serves an old sorceress (not a witch, because those are the most powerful). Tip and the Scarecrow end up crossing paths and a whole slew of new characters are introduced - Jack Pumpkinhead, The Gump (a flying mismash of things) and others were fun to read about, but a bit.. overly silly. I don't know if it's because The Wizard of Oz is just so beloved that I overlook the cheesiness or this book was overly cheesy, but it was just a bit over the top for me. Still, it was a fun read and I'll continue to press on through my personal journey through Oz.

[archerygirl · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This was Baum's first sequel to The Wizard of Oz and he quite sensibly gives us a new central figure, Tip, and his collection of odd friends rather than reviving Dorothy immediately. The Scarecrow and the Tin Man both get involved part way through, with the central plot being the invasion of the Emerald City by an army of girls armed with knitting needles and the overthrow of the Scarecrow. I did have a few issues with some of the ideas: the Army of Revolt and the firm belief that the girls should be defeated and returned to their places cooking and cleaning for the men is a little too obviously sexist. The only way to get past that is to remember that these books were written a century ago and reflect the attitudes of the time. Other than that, this is a fun romp through Oz with some great new characters, a few familiar characters, and one or two surprises.

[diwanna_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Stating the obvious here, but these books have so much more depth than the movie, even thought they are short quick reads.

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

in the kindle edition it's called the marvelous land of oz

[roseannes_9 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I liked this one even better than the first Wizard of Oz book. There was a center section with awesome old illustrations that were really neat and detailed, a nice touch for a chapterbook since they don't usually have illustrations. It's a story that wasn't as well known as the wizard of oz, but I recognized certain parts of it from the movie "Return to Oz" which happens later, I think? Not sure. A young boy learns his true identity in this, going on crazy adventures along the way. I see this as a good book for a unit on fantasy, maybe, or just a self-chosen chapter book.

[yougotamber · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was really cute and made me remember how clever Baum's imagination is. This would be stories I would read to my kids at night (if I had kids). Can't wait to see what else the series brings.

[bookwormteri · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I decided to read this because I enjoyed the movies (Return to Oz being my favorite) and had heard that Return followed the spirit of the books more closely than the original. Having read the first book, I picked up the second at the library. A good, light, swift read. If you keep in mind, when this was written, it is way ahead of it's time. I was amused by General Jinjur taking over the Emerald City so her army could use the treasury to buy pretty dresses and make the men do all of the household chores. Amusing, sexist, but not for it's time.Dorothy does not appear in this book. It follows the scarecrow and the tinmna as they travel through Oz with the Gump, sawhorse, Tip, Jack, and the Woggle Bug. A good read.

[jedimarri · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

"The Marvelous Land of Oz" is the second book that L. Frank Baum wrote about the delightful land of Oz. It came out four years after the first one because, well, he originally had no intention of writing any more! He received many letters asking for more books though, and he finally gave in and kept writing them. In "The Marvelous Land of Oz" we meet some new characters and rejoin some of our old friends. Tip, a young boy, is the main character of this book. He's grown up with a mean old sorceress, but after the accidental creation of Jack Pumpkinhead, he runs away. Tip and Jack get into many adventures on their way to the Emerald City, where the Scarecrow now rules. Unfortunately they arrive right as a bunch of girls, lead by General Jinjur, decide to take over the city!Tip and Jack ended up joining forces with the Scarecrow and the Tin Man to win back the Emerald City. Along the way a flying Gump is created, we visit with Glenda the Good Witch, and the long lost Ozma is finally found! I had a lot of fun joining this motley crew on their journey and I'm sure you will too.