Gillikin Country facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gillikin Country
Map of Oz, with Gillikin Country in the North
The Oz series location
Created by	L. Frank Baum
Genre	Juvenile fantasy
Type	Fairy country
Ruler	Good Witch of the North
Ethnic group(s)	Gillikins
Notable locations	Forest of the Winged Monkeys, Forest of Gugu, Palace of Good Witch of the North, Loonville, Pumperdink
Notable characters	Jellia Jamb, Mombi, Gayelette, Mrs. Yoop, Kabumpo
First appearance	The Marvelous Land of Oz

The Gillikin Country is a magical land found in the northern part of L. Frank Baum's famous fictional world of land of Oz. It's easy to spot because most of its people and surroundings are colored purple. The friendly folks who live here are known as Gillikins.

Exploring Gillikin Country's Wonders

Just like other parts of Oz, Gillikin Country is full of amazing and unusual places, creatures, and people. Let's discover some of them!

Magical Forests and Mysterious Places

Gillikin Country is home to several enchanted forests and hidden spots.

The Forest of the Winged Monkeys

This special forest is where the Winged Monkeys live. These monkeys must obey whoever wears the magical Golden Cap. It's a very old and powerful item!

The Forest of Gugu

This is the biggest forest in all of Oz! It's ruled by Gugu the Leopard King. You can find all sorts of animals here, from Elephants and Hippos to Bears and Unicorns. It's like a giant zoo, but all the animals are wild and free!

Magic Isle

Imagine an island filled with powerful magic! Magic Isle is a small island in a faraway part of Gillikin Country. It holds very strong and sometimes dangerous magical energy.

Shadow Mountain

This isn't a real mountain, but a shadow that looks like one! Travelers can easily pass right through it. It's one of the many strange sights you might see.

Unique Creatures and People

Gillikin Country is known for its many different kinds of inhabitants, each with their own special traits.

The Loons of Loonville

In the village of Loonville, you'll find people called Loons. They look a bit like balloons! They warn strangers to stay away from their area. Be careful, as Loons can get too puffed up!

Giants and Dragons

You might meet a female giant named Mrs. Yoop at Yoop Castle. She's a Yookoohoo, a type of giant. Deep beneath Gillikin Country, there are also Dragons! They are allowed to come out only once every 100 years to find food.

Giant Purple Spiders

Watch out for these! A race of huge purple Spiders lives here. They catch travelers in their webs and make them their servants.

Mist Maidens

These are lovely fairies who live inside a thick fog bank. They are quite mysterious!

Flatheads and Mountaineers

On a mountaintop, there used to live people called Flatheads. Their heads were flat, and they carried their brains in a can in their pockets! Later, magic helped them get normal heads, and they became known as the Mountaineers.

Skeezers

The Skeezers are normal humans who live in a glass city in the middle of a lake. They were once controlled by a bossy witch named Coo-ee-oh. Luckily, they are now free!

Equinots

These are a race of centaurs, creatures that are half-human and half-horse. They can be quite unfriendly.

Snowmen of Icetown

In a frozen town called Icetown, you'll find a race of living snowmen!

Animated Books of Bookville

Imagine a town where books can move and talk! In Bookville, if someone breaks the law, they might be turned into a book.

Talking Trees

Along the Munchkin River, there are Talking Trees! They can speak and even donate their limbs to help build a talking boat.

Cities and Kingdoms

Gillikin Country has many interesting towns and kingdoms, each with its own customs.

Pumperdink

This is a small kingdom ruled by King Pompus and Queen Pozy Pink. They are known for their unique way of dealing with lawbreakers: dipping them in a large stone well filled with ink! An elephant named Kabumpo is a famous counselor here.

Kimbaloo

Kimbaloo is ruled by King Kinda Jolly and Queen Rosa Merry. Their economy relies on special button-like fruit harvested from trees in Buttonwood Forest.

Up Town

This city is the proclaimed capital of Gillikin Country. It's home to the Uplanders, who dress like Scottish people. Up Town is ruled by Joe King and Queen Hyacinth, who have a famous large purple horse named High Boy with legs that can stretch!

Candy County

This is a sweet place where lollipops grow from the ground, fields are like cake crumbs, and clouds are like cotton candy! The people here are even made of candy, like candy apples and marshmallows. But be warned, it's against the law to pick the lollipops or eat anything made of candy! The Great Royal Marshmallow rules this sugary land.

Purplefield

Purplefield is a small village with tiny people and purple flowers. A wicked witch once made it disappear, replacing it with a maze. Luckily, Dorothy and her friends helped restore Purplefield!

Gillikin Country in Modern Stories

Gillikin Country also appears in newer Oz books, sometimes called 'Gillikin'.

In the books Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West and Son of a Witch, Gillikin is shown as a busy and developed area. It's home to Shiz University, a famous school. The Yellow Brick Road leads from the Emerald City to Shiz, the capital of Gillikin. There's even a Great Gillikin Railway connecting many cities!

Glinda comes from Gillikin. The people of Gillikin are called 'Gillikinese'. They often have curly blond hair and are known for being a bit emotional.

Many parts of Edward Einhorn's modern Oz novels, Paradox in Oz and The Living House of Oz, also take place in Gillikin Country. These stories feature places like the kingdom of Tonsoria and Absurd City.