Polychrome (Oz) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Polychrome |
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| Oz character | |
 
as illustrated by John R. Neill in The Tin Woodman of Oz (1918)
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| First appearance | The Road to Oz (1909) |
| Created by | L. Frank Baum |
| Information | |
| Nickname(s) | Polly |
| Species | Fairy |
| Gender | female |
| Title | Daughter of the Rainbow |
| Family | Rainbow (father), unnamed sisters |
Polychrome is a magical cloud fairy. She is the youngest daughter of the Rainbow, which makes her a "sky princess." Polychrome first appeared in 1909 in a book called The Road to Oz. This book was written by L. Frank Baum, an American author. Polychrome also shows up in many other classic Oz stories. She even has her own modern story, Polychrome: A Romantic Fantasy.
Polychrome's Adventures
Polychrome first meets Dorothy Gale and her dog Toto in The Road to Oz. She had accidentally slid off her father's rainbow. She landed on Earth because her father pulled his rainbow away without knowing she was still on it. When Dorothy met her, Polychrome was dancing to stay warm.
Polychrome is described as a beautiful and glowing little girl. She wears flowing, soft robes. These robes are colored in gentle shades of violet, rose, blue, and white. Her hair is like spun gold and floats around her.
Polychrome is a sweet and gentle fairy. She is very sensitive to the cold. Because of this, she often dances to keep warm when she is on Earth. Polychrome usually eats only light foods like dewdrops and mist. When she is on Earth, she can live on tiny bits of human food. She is known for being graceful and delicate. Many people think she is as beautiful as Princess Ozma herself.
Polychrome helps out in many of Baum's stories. In Tik-Tok of Oz (1914), she calls for the dragon Quox. Quox then rescues the Oz characters who were captured by the Nome King. The Nome King was so amazed by Polychrome's beauty that he asked her to stay with him. But she said no!
In The Tin Woodman of Oz (1918), Polychrome helps the rusted Captain Fyter. She oils his joints, just like Dorothy did for the Tin Woodman. She also uses her magic to help the heroes fit through a small rabbit hole. Polychrome even helps Tommy Kwikstep return to normal.
In Sky Island (1912), Polychrome finds the answer to a big problem for the main characters.
Polychrome in Plays and Movies
Polychrome was played by Dolly Castles in a 1913 stage play. This play was called The Tik-Tok Man of Oz. In the play, she sang a song with Ruggedo. The song was called "When in Trouble Come to Papa."
Polychrome also appears briefly in the movie Return to Oz. She is seen during a coronation scene.
