Folklore, legends, myths and fairy tales have followed childhood through the ages, for every healthy young ster has a wholesome and instinctive love for stories fantastic, marvelous and manifestly unreal. The winged fairies of Grimm and .Andersen have brought more happiness to childish hearts than all other human crea tions.

……

In a terrifying instant of darkness, a tornado snatches up Dorothy Gale and her dog Toto, whirling them on the wild wind out of Kansas and straight to OZ.

In this wondrous world of sorcery and danger, Munchkins, flying monkeys, talking mice and fighting trees, all Dorothy wants to do is go home... Together with the Scarecrow who wants a brain, the Tin Man who wants a heart, and the Cowardly Lion who wants courage, Dorothy and Toto must follow the Yellow Brick Road to find the Wizard of the Emerald City. But before the Wizard of Oz will grant their wishes, Dorothy and her friends must do the impossible-Destroy the all-powerful Wicked Witch of the West....

The Life of L. Frank Baum

Foreword

Introduction

CHAPTER I   The Cyclone

CHAPTER II   The Council with the Munchkins

CHAPTER III  How Dorothy Saved the

      Scarecrow

CHAPTER IV   The Road Through the Forest

CHAPTER V   The Rescue of the Tin Woodman

CHAPTER VI   The Cowardly Lian

CHAPTER VII  The Journey to the Great Oz

CHAPTER VIII  The Deadly Poppy Field

CHAPTER IX   The Queen of the Field Mice

CHAPTER X   The Guardian of the Gates

CHAPTER XI   The Wonderful Emerald City

      of Oz

CHAPTER XII  The Search for the Wicked Witch

CHAPTER XIII  Haw the Four Were Reunited

CHAPTER XIV  The Winged Monkeys

CHAPTER XV   The Discovery of Oz the

      Terrible

CHAPTER XVI  The Marc Art of the Great

      Humbug

CHAPTER XVII  Haw the Balloon Was Launched 

CHAPTER XVIII Away to the South

CHAPTER XIX  Attacked by the Fighting Trees 

CHAPTER XX   The Dainty China Country  

CHAPTER XXI  The Lion Becomes the King

      of Beasts       

CHAPTER XXII  The Country of the Quadlings 

CHAPTER XXIII The Good Witch Grants

      Dorothy"s Wish      

CHAPTER XXlV  Home Again        

Afterword