John Dough facts for kids
Quick facts for kids John Dough |
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Illustration by John R. Neill from The Road to Oz (1909)
|
|
| First appearance | John Dough and the Cherub (1906) |
| Created by | L. Frank Baum |
| Information | |
| Nickname(s) | The Gingerbread Man |
| Species | Living Gingerbread Man |
| Gender | male |
| Occupation | king |
| Title | King of Hiland and Loland |
| Nationality | United States |
John Dough is a famous character created by author L. Frank Baum in his 1906 book, John Dough and the Cherub. He is a special gingerbread man who comes to life! John Dough also appears briefly in Baum's book, The Road to Oz.
Contents
John Dough's Amazing Adventure
John Dough is a life-sized gingerbread man. He was baked for an Independence Day party. A scientist accidentally mixed a special liquid into his dough. This liquid was meant to make someone live forever! Because of this, John Dough came to life.
The scientist wanted to get the liquid back, so he tried to eat John Dough. To escape, John Dough was launched into the sky in a rocket! He landed on a strange island called the Isle of Phreex. This island was a home for many unique and unusual people.
New Friends and Journeys
On the island, John Dough became friends with Chick the Cherub. Chick was the world's first baby born in an incubator. The story never tells us if Chick is a boy or a girl. John Dough, Chick, and their friend Para Bruin, the Rubber Bear, had to escape the island.
Their adventures took them to many interesting places. They visited the Palace of Romance, which was like a never-ending play. They also met the Fairy Beavers of Mifket Island. All this time, John Dough had to be careful not to be eaten!
A King's Sacrifice
During his journey, John Dough lost part of his gingerbread coat to some hungry birds. But he managed to keep most of himself safe. Later, he showed great bravery. He sacrificed one of his gingerbread hands to save a dying princess.
At the end of his first book, John Dough became the King of Hiland and Loland. These were two countries on one island that used to fight. Chick the Cherub became his Grand Booleywag, who helped the king rule. John Dough helped bring peace to the kingdoms. He even created a new capital city called HiLo. The people of Loland baked him a new gingerbread hand. He also made a funny law: no one could eat gingerbread that was more than two days old!
John Dough in Oz
John Dough, Chick the Cherub, and Para Bruin later appeared in The Road to Oz. They were guests at Princess Ozma's big birthday party in the magical land of Oz.
John Dough in Movies and Plays
John Dough's story has been brought to life in different ways.
- In 1908, an actor named Joseph Schrode played John Dough. This was in a show called The Fairylogue and Radio-Plays.
- There was also a silent movie made in 1910 called John Dough and the Cherub. We don't know who played John Dough in that film, and the movie is now lost.
- Around 1906, a musical called The Gingerbread Man was created by A. Baldwin Sloane. He had also worked on The Wizard of Oz stage play. This musical had a main character named John Dough who sang a song. However, this character was not the same John Dough from L. Frank Baum's book. This gingerbread man didn't mind being eaten!
