Jack Pumpkinhead of Oz facts for kids
Cover of Jack Pumpkinhead of Oz.
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| Author | Ruth Plumly Thompson |
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| Illustrator | John R. Neill |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Oz Books |
| Genre | Children's novel |
| Publisher | Reilly & Lee |
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Publication date
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1929 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover) |
| Preceded by | The Giant Horse of Oz |
| Followed by | The Yellow Knight of Oz |
Jack Pumpkinhead of Oz is an exciting adventure book from 1929. It's the twenty-third story in the famous Oz series, which was first started by L. Frank Baum. This particular book was written by Ruth Plumly Thompson, who wrote many Oz stories after Baum. The amazing pictures were drawn by John R. Neill.
Synopsis
A Trip Back to Oz
The story begins on a rainy day in Philadelphia. A boy named Peter Brown is bored because he can't play baseball. He's in his attic, thinking about his past adventures in the magical land of Oz. Peter finds some old sacks that once held gold from his last trip to Oz. Inside one sack, he discovers a strange gold coin. As he plays with the coin and wishes to be back in Oz, something amazing happens! He suddenly finds himself right there, in the front yard of his friend, Jack Pumpkinhead.
Lost in the Quadling Country
Peter and Jack know the best thing to do is head for the Emerald City, the capital of Oz. Jack agrees to be Peter's guide. But they get lost in the Quadling Country. They accidentally stumble into two strange places: Chimneyville and Scare City. Peter soon discovers that his empty sack has a magical power. It can fly from his hand and scoop up objects or creatures, helping him escape danger! The two friends also find a special magic dinner bell that belongs to Jinnicky the Red Jinn. This bell provides Peter with all the food he needs.
New Friends and Foes
As they travel, Peter and Jack meet a new friend: Snif the Iffin. Snif is a griffin who has lost his "gr-" sound, so he can't growl anymore! He also speaks in funny rhymes. The three then meet the unlucky Baron Belfaygor of Bourne. The Baron has a magical curse that makes his beard grow super fast, so he has to cut it constantly. Even worse, his fiancée, Princess Shirley Sunshine, has been kidnapped! She was taken by a bad guy named Mogodore the Mighty, who is the Baron of Baffleburg. Baron Belfaygor only wanted a beard for his wedding to Shirley.
Saving Oz!
Peter, Belfaygor, Snif, and Jack decide to rescue Princess Shirley. But they are quickly captured themselves in Baffleburg! While trying to escape, they find two more magical items: a Forbidden Flagon and a talkative, grumpy Sauce Box. Things get even more serious when Mogodore decides to conquer all of Oz. He actually succeeds in taking over the Emerald City!
The travelers know they must act fast to save Oz. With help from the Red Jinn (whose full name, Jinnicky, is revealed in later books), Jack Pumpkinhead manages to save the day. He uses the Forbidden Flagon to shrink Mogodore and his thousand warriors. They become tiny, "no bigger than brownies!"
The tiny bad guys are then sent back to their own homeland, which also shrinks down. Snif the Iffin finally gets his "gr-" sound back and can growl again! The Wizard of Oz removes the fast-growing beard curse from Baron Belfaygor. The Baron then happily marries Princess Shirley Sunshine. Order is restored in Oz, and everyone celebrates with a big banquet. After the celebration, Peter is thanked for his bravery and sent safely back home.
