Lion of Oz and the Badge of Courage facts for kids
Lion of Oz and the Badge of Courage is a children's book written by Roger S. Baum. He is the great-grandson of L. Frank Baum, who wrote the original Oz series. This book was first published in 1995 by Yellow Brick Road Press (ISBN: 096301014X).
The story begins with the Lion and his friend, Oscar, working in a circus. One day, they take a ride in Oscar's hot-air balloon. They accidentally fly all the way to the magical Oz. During the trip, the Lion falls out of the balloon. He gets separated from Oscar.
Once in Oz, the Lion discovers he can talk! He soon meets the Wicked Witch of the East. The Witch sends the Lion on a special journey. He must find the Flower of Oz, which is the source of all good things in the land.
On his adventure, the Lion meets a mysterious girl. She travels with animated toys. They decide to search for the Flower of Oz together. Their journey is full of exciting challenges. They encounter an evil seamstress who works for the Wicked Witch of the East. They also meet tiny munchkins and even The Wizard of Oz himself. The Lion must find the flower in time. If he fails, the Witch will take his special badge of courage.
The Lion's Story Before Oz
This book, Lion of Oz, tells what happened to the Lion before he met Dorothy. After landing in Oz, the Lion's main goal is to find his friend, the Wizard of Oz. Throughout this quest, the Lion carries a special Badge of Courage. This badge makes him feel very brave. As he travels across Oz, the Wicked Witch of the East often tries to stop him. She threatens him and tries to trick him.
At the end of this story, the Lion becomes friends with the Flower of Oz. This flower has great magical power that the Witch wants. Together, the Lion and the Flower of Oz defeat the Witch. But during the fight, the Lion's Badge of Courage breaks. This makes him feel very scared and cowardly. Feeling ashamed, he leaves his new friends. He wanders alone through the forests. This is where he eventually meets Dorothy, the Tin Woodman, and the Scarecrow.
Meeting Dorothy and Friends
The Lion then joins Dorothy, the Tin Woodman, the Scarecrow, and Toto. They all travel together on the famous yellow brick road. Their journey is to see the Wizard of Oz. The Lion tells his new friends that he feels cowardly. He hopes the Wizard can help him get his courage back.
However, during their adventures, the Cowardly Lion often acts very bravely. He is always ready to protect his friends. He even faces danger that could lead to certain harm. When the group finally reaches the Emerald City, the Wizard gives the Lion a special gift. It is a new Badge of Courage. This badge makes the Lion believe he has regained his brave nature.
Film Adaptation
The story of Lion of Oz and the Badge of Courage was also made into a movie. It was released in the year 2000. The film is simply called Lion of Oz.
