Sky Island facts for kids
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First edition
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| Author | L. Frank Baum |
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| Illustrator | John R. Neill |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's novel |
| Publisher | Reilly & Britton |
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Publication date
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1912 |
| Media type | Print (hardcover) |
| Pages | 288 pp. |
| Preceded by | The Sea Fairies |
| Followed by | The Scarecrow of Oz |
Sky Island is an exciting children's fantasy novel. It was written by L. Frank Baum and illustrated by John R. Neill. The book was published in 1912.
L. Frank Baum is famous for creating the magical Land of Oz. Sky Island is a sequel to his 1911 book, The Sea Fairies. Baum hoped these books would become a new popular series. To make Sky Island even more appealing, he included two characters from his Oz stories: Button-Bright and Polychrome. They first appeared in The Road to Oz (1909).
This book was dedicated to Baum's sister, Mary Louise Baum Brewster.
Contents
Story of Sky Island
A Magical Trip Begins
The story begins with a young girl named Trot. She lives by the sea in sunny Southern California. One day, she meets a very unusual boy. This boy, named Button-Bright, carries a large, special umbrella.
Button-Bright explains that his family's umbrella is magic. It can take him on long journeys through the air. He has traveled all the way from his home in Philadelphia to California! Trot and her friend, Cap'n Bill, are very curious. They decide to join Button-Bright on a trip. They want to visit a nearby island that looks like it's "halfway in the sky."
However, the magic umbrella takes them to a completely different place. They arrive at a real island floating in the sky!
Exploring the Blue Country
Sky Island is a land divided into two parts, much like the Land of Oz. One half is blue, and the other is pink. Each side has its own unique people. The Blues, also called "Blueskins," live on the blue side. The Pinkies live on the pink side. A thick, mysterious fog separates the two halves. Neither group dares to enter this foggy area.
Trot, Button-Bright, and Cap'n Bill land on the blue side of Sky Island. This part of the island is quite gloomy. It is ruled by a harsh leader called the Boolooroo of the Blues. In Sky Island, people cannot be killed or feel pain. But this does not mean they are safe.
The Boolooroo has a strange and scary punishment called "patching." He would mix up parts of people, making them look very odd and feel quite unhappy. The Boolooroo threatens to do this to the new visitors. He also steals their magic umbrella. He then locks up Button-Bright and Cap'n Bill. Trot is forced to become a servant to his six daughters. These princesses are named Cerulia, Turquoise, Sapphire, Azure, Cobalt, and Indigo.
Adventures in the Pink Country
The three friends manage to escape from the Blues. They bravely enter the Great Fog Bank that separates the island's halves. They meet some strange creatures living in the fog. Finally, they reach the pink side of Sky Island.
The Pink Country is a much happier and friendlier place. Its residents are cheerful and welcoming. Unlike the Blues, the Pinkies are ruled by a queen. Their law says the queen must live very simply, almost in poverty. This rule ensures she remains humble and fair.
The visitors receive a warm welcome from the Pinkies. This is because Trot, Button-Bright, and Cap'n Bill have a pale, pinkish skin tone. However, the laws of the Pink Country about strangers are confusing. The Pinkies believe they must throw all strangers off the edge of Sky Island!
Just as they are about to be pushed off, help arrives. Polychrome, the daughter of the rainbow, descends from a rainbow. She already knows Button-Bright from The Road to Oz. Polychrome rescues her friends. She also helps Tormaline, the Queen of the Pinkies, understand the law differently. This allows the strangers to stay.
Polychrome then discovers another interesting Pinkie law. The person with the lightest skin in the kingdom must be Queen. Since Trot's skin is paler than Tormaline's, Trot becomes the new Queen of the Pinkies! Tormaline is happy to give up her crown. She is glad to become an ordinary citizen and no longer live in poverty.
Rescuing Cap'n Bill
As Queen, Trot uses her new power to help her friends. She plans an invasion of the Blue Country. Her goal is to get the magic umbrella back from the Boolooroo. During the battle, Cap'n Bill is captured. The Boolooroo vows to "patch" him right away. The only available "patching partner" is a goat. Cap'n Bill faces the terrifying thought of becoming half-human, half-goat!
Trot must enter the Blue City to rescue him. She uses a special ring that makes her invisible. With help from a Pinkie-witch, a friendly Blueskin citizen, and even the goat itself, Trot succeeds. She rescues Cap'n Bill and captures the Boolooroo.
With the Boolooroo no longer in charge, the blue army stops fighting. Peace is declared between the two sides. Trot becomes the "Booloorooess" of the Blues, as well as the Queen of the Pinkies.
Back Home
Finally, the three travelers are ready to go home. They are very relieved to have escaped the strange and exciting Sky Island.
