The Road to Oz (1909)
Dorothy and Toto are back in Kansas, where they meet the kind-hearted Shaggy Man. As Dorothy tries to give him directions, the roads around them become enchanted and they get lost. As they head down one of the magical roads, they meet up with a not-so-bright little boy named Button Bright and Polychrome, the beautiful daughter of the Rainbow. After encountering several strange towns and creatures, including a kingdom of foxes and a kingdom of donkeys, the group crosses the Deadly Desert in a sand boat and ends up in Oz. They’re reunited with all of their old friends, just in time for Ozma’s birthday party.
The best part: The visit to Jack Pumpkinhead’s private graveyard.
Why you should read it: You’ll gain some insight into Baum’s non-Oz books. The guest list for Ozma’s party includes characters from several of them.
The Emerald City of Oz (1910)
Back in Ozma of Oz, Dorothy made a big mistake: she ticked off the Nome King. Now he’s back and plotting to conquer Oz with his army of nomes and other evil creatures. Meanwhile, back in Kansas, Uncle Henry and Aunt Em can’t pay their bills and are about to lose the farm. Ozma magically whisks them to Oz, along with Dorothy and Toto, and she invites them to live there forever. Dorothy and her friends take Henry and Em on a tour of Oz, where they encounter more wonderfully strange cities and people. Soon, everyone learns of the Nome King’s planned invasion, and they rush back to the Emerald City to stop their enemies. L. Frank Baum intended for this to be the last Oz book, and he ends it with a magic spell that makes Oz invisible to the rest of the world forever.
The best part: When Dorothy visits cities occupied by kitchen utensils and living pastries, Baum dishes up the bad puns.
Why you should read it: Dorothy’s tour of Oz is almost as good as the first time she set off down the Yellow Brick Road.
The Patchwork Girl of Oz (1913)
Oz is still invisible, but Baum’s introduction explains how he learned to contact Dorothy with a wireless telegraph and bring his readers news of Oz once again. This time, the news is about Ojo, a Munchkin boy whose Uncle Nunkie is transformed into a marble statue during a magical accident. Ojo must travel through Oz to find five rare ingredients needed for the potion that will restore Nunkie to life. A glass cat named Bungle, the dog-like Woozy, and, of course, Scraps the Patchwork Girl join Ojo on his quest. Eventually they meet up with Dorothy, Toto, and all of the famous Oz characters, including the Scarecrow, who seems to have a soft spot for Scraps.
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