The Lost King of Oz facts for kids
Cover of The Lost King 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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1925 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover) |
| Preceded by | Grampa in Oz |
| Followed by | The Hungry Tiger of Oz |
The Lost King of Oz is an exciting fantasy book from 1925. It's the nineteenth story in the famous Oz series, which was first started by L. Frank Baum. This particular adventure was written by Ruth Plumly Thompson and illustrated by John R. Neill. In this book, you'll join Dorothy and her friends on a quest to find the missing king of Oz!
Contents
How the Story Was Created
Ruth Plumly Thompson, the author, often found ideas for her Oz books by looking at small details in L. Frank Baum's original stories. For The Lost King of Oz, she took a tiny mention of Ozma's father, Pastoria, from Baum's book The Marvelous Land of Oz. Thompson then imagined a whole new adventure about Pastoria, who was the former ruler of Oz, and how he went missing and was eventually rescued.
Thompson dedicated this book to her mother.
What Happens in the Story
Mombi's Search for the King
The story begins with Old Mombi, who used to be the Wicked Witch of the North. She is now working as a cook in a place called Kimbaloo. One day, she finds Pajuka, who was once the prime minister of Oz. Mombi had turned Pajuka into a goose many years ago.
Mombi then decides to find Pastoria, the true king of Oz, whom she had also enchanted a long time ago. The problem is, she can't remember what animal or object she turned him into! She forces a local boy named Snip to help her carry things and search.
Snip's Escape and New Friends
Mombi soon thinks Snip knows too much, so she throws him down a well. Luckily, Snip lands in a place called Blankenburg, which is home to invisible people called Blanks. There, Snip meets Tora, an old tailor who has lost his memory.
Tora has been held captive by the Blanks for many years, forced to make clothes for them. To keep up with the news, he sends his special detachable ears flying around the countryside to listen in on conversations.
Dorothy's Journey to Find the King
Meanwhile, Dorothy accidentally ends up in Hollywood! There, she meets Humpy, a living stunt dummy. Dorothy brings Humpy back to Oz with her. They escape from strange creatures called Back Talkers in a forest called Eht Kcab Sdoow (which is "The Back Woods" spelled backward).
They also meet the Scooters, who help them travel faster. Soon, Kabumpo the Elegant Elephant arrives to give them a ride. Dorothy's group eventually meets Snip, Tora, Mombi, and Pajuka. They all start to think that Humpy the dummy might be the missing King Pastoria.
The Mystery Solved
In the end, everything becomes clear. Pajuka is turned back into a human. However, Humpy is not the missing king after all. It turns out that Old Tora, the tailor, is actually Pastoria! He is disenchanted and returns to his true form.
Pastoria decides he doesn't want to be king again. He is happy to live a simple life as a tailor in the Emerald City, with Snip as his helper and Humpy as his tailor's dummy.
Mombi's End
As for Mombi, she is doused with water and melts away, just like the Wicked Witch of the West. Nothing is left of her but her buckled shoes.
In 1925, the publisher Reilly & Lee tried a new way to promote their Oz books. Ruth Plumly Thompson wrote a short play for children called A Day in Oz. It even had songs written by Norman Sherrerd.
Children performed this play in bookstores and department stores, using costumes provided by the publisher. These performances helped promote the new Oz book each year and continued throughout the 1920s.
