Showing results by author "L. Baum" in All Categories

Back in 1900 author L. Frank Baum says he wrote The Wonderful Wizard of Oz to please children of his time. He called it a modernized fairy tale, totally unlike older stories often filled with blood-curdling events. He left out the heartaches and nightmares. He pointed out youngsters have long had a love of fantastic stories, but times change and they look forward more to entertainment that still has the wonderment and joy of time gone by. His fantastic creation of Oz provides exactly that.

Aunt Jane's Nieces on Vacation is a juvenile novel for girls, written by L. Frank Baum. It is the seventh in the ten volumes in the Aunt Jane's Nieces series, and carries forward the continuing story of the three cousins Lousie Merrick Weldon, Patsy Doyle, and Elizabeth De Graf. Like all the books in the series, it was issued under Baum's "Edith Van Dyne" pseudonym. (Summary adapted from Wikipedia)

The novel carries forward the continuing story of the three cousins Louise Merrick, Beth De Graf, and Patsy Doyle, and their circle. The title is somewhat misleading; it could more accurately have been called Aunt Jane's Nieces in Politics. (Uncle John Merrick tells his nieces that politics is "work," which yields the title.) The story begins three days after the end of the previous book, Aunt Jane's Nieces at Millville; the freckled and red-haired Patsy still sports a sunburn from her summer in the Adirondacks. She and Louise have received letters from their "cousin" Kenneth Forbes, the young...

Before he wrote the Oz books, L. Frank Baum wrote this book which was the best selling book of 1897. Taking 22 beloved nursery rhymes, he explains their meaning and fascinating history. What is the true story of Little Boy Blue? Why was Mary contrary?As he says in the introduction, "Many of these nursery rhymes are complete tales in themselves, telling their story tersely but completely; there are others which are but bare suggestions, leaving the imagination to weave in the details of the story. Perhaps therein may lie part of their charm, but however that may be I have thought the children ...

Written under pseudonym of Edith Van Dyne. The story continues the adventures of three cousins, Louise, Patsy and Beth,with their debuts in society and the appearance of suitors, one of whom is rejected and kidnaps Louise. (Summary by Lynne Thompson)

After visiting Louise, Arthur and Toodlums at their ranch in Southern California, Beth and Patsy, together with Uncle John, decide to spend the winter at an hotel in the little village of Hollywood, where they get drawn into the new motion picture industry. New friends, adventures and mysteries await. (Summary by Lynne Thompson)

L. Frank Baum takes us through the adventures of Santa Claus beginning with his adoption as an infant by Necile the nymph. As a youth, Claus discovers fellow humans on earth and returns to their world where he decides his duty is to make children happy through the gift of toys. Claus has to fight Awgwa’s and eventually gets help from the Flossie and Glossie, the first reindeers. Through his tireless work Claus is declared a Saint and is bestowed with immortality. His work lives on today with the help of good parents around the world. Summary by Linette Geisel. Cast List: Cast Narrator: KHand...

Birds, Boughs, and Belonging invites listeners into a quieter America—where meaning is discovered not in noise or ambition, but through attentive companionship with nature. Across gardens, forests, seashores, and mountain vistas, classic American writers—including Nathaniel Hawthorne, Louisa...

Aunt Jane's Nieces and Uncle John picks up the continuing story of the three cousins Patsy Doyle, Beth De Graf, and Louise Merrick, and their family; the plot of the book begins three days after the wedding of Louise and her fiancé Arthur Weldon, the event that concluded the sixth book in the series, Aunt Jane's Nieces in Society. Uncle John hires a touring car and the party makes a tour of the South West, visiting New Mexico and Arizona. (Summary by Lynne Thompson)

The Marvelous Land of Oz Being an account of the further adventures of the Scarecrow and Tin Woodman and also the strange experiences of the highly magnified Woggle-Bug, Jack Pumpkin-head, the Animated Saw-Horse and the Gump; the story being A Sequel to The Wizard of Oz. (Summary by L. Frank Baum) Cast: Narrator: Bob NeufeldTip, Ozma: Charlotte DuckettMombi: Shauna KennettJack Pumpkinhead: Jeff K.Saw-Horse, Sad-Looking Man: Frances BrownFerryman: Andy CotterlyGuardian of the Gates: Matthew WalkerSoldier with the Green Whiskers: nomorejeffsScarecrow: tovarischJellia Jamb, Army of Girls, ...

Dorothy, a farm girl is whisked away from her home by a cyclone. She lands in the marvelous land of Oz, where she finds out she has saved the Munchkins from The Wicked Witch of the East. She is given the witch's Silver Slippers and told to go to the Wonderful Wizard of Oz for he is the only one who can send her back home. With the help of a Scarecrow, a Woodsman of Tin and a Cowardly Lion, she must travel to see Oz and avoid the Wicked Witch of the West, as well as the rest of dangers that lay in Oz. (Summary by T.Craft)

Twinkle is a little girl who often finds herself caught up in fantastic adventures. Whether it be being put on trial by angry woodchucks, raising a hateful baby crow, visiting a town full of talking prairie dogs, finding magical turtles, meeting strange creatures, or stumbling upon a country of sugar people, she never knows what she'll encounter next! First published as a series of six short chapter books in 1905 under the pen name Laura Bancroft, Frank L. Baum's The Twinkle Tales were collected into one collection titled Twinkle and Chubbins; Their Astonishing Adventures in Nature-Fairyland ...

Aunt Jane's Nieces at Millville is a 1908 young-adult novel written by L. Frank Baum, famous as the creator of the Land of Oz. It is the third volume in "the successful Aunt Jane Series," following Aunt Jane's Nieces and Aunt Jane's Nieces Abroad. Aunt Jane's Nieces at Millville picks up the story of the three cousins, Patsy Doyle, Beth De Graf, and Louise Merrick, soon after their return from Europe in Aunt Jane's Nieces Abroad. As in that earlier book, their benign and eccentric millionaire Uncle John devotes much of his fortune to helping others — an effort managed by Patsy's father, ...

Ozma of Oz was the third title in the Oz series by L. Frank Baum. In this book Dorothy is shipwrecked and lands on the shores of a fairy country that adjoins Oz, the land of Ev. There she meets Tiktok, a wind-up mechanical man; a talking chicken, Billina; and Ozma, the girl ruler of Oz who is leading a quest to rescue the royal family of Ev from their captivity by the Nome King. Dorothy is also reunited with her old friends, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion. Together the adventurers travel to the Nome King’s underground kingdom and have many exciting adventures before ...

In this gentle and heartwarming tale, young Bo-Peep sets out to find her lost sheep, encountering charming characters, clever animals, and magical surprises along the way.

Step into the enchanting world of The Bluebird Books, a beloved series that captivated teenage girls in the 1910s and 1920s. Originally conceived by the renowned L. Frank Baum under his Edith Van Dyne pseudonym, this series features the adventurous escapades of adolescent girl detectives. Baum penned the first four novels, possibly with assistance from his son, Harry Neal Baum, on the third. The series kicks off with Mary Louise, a heartfelt tribute to Baums cherished sister, Mary Louise Baum Brewster. After an initial rejection from his publisher, who deemed the heroine too headstrong, Baum ...

Dive into the enchanting world of Mary Louise in the Country, part of the beloved Bluebird Books series that captured the hearts of teenage girls in the early 20th century. Originally created by L. Frank Baum under the pseudonym Edith Van Dyne, this captivating series follows the adventures of Mary Louise Burrows, a spirited young detective. Set against the backdrop of a charming summer at Craggs Crossing, Mary Louise and her companion, Granpa Jim, encounter a cast of quirky characters and unravel a delightful mystery. Baums unique storytelling, inspired by his favorite sister, brings to life ...

Dive into a whimsical collection of fantasy stories that first captivated audiences through serialized publications in regional newspapers, before being compiled into a single volume. Unlike the grand high-fantasy tales of Baums Oz, these narratives embody a more satirical and tongue-in-cheek essence, often concluding with ironic or nonsensical morals. Their adult-oriented serialization made them a perfect fit for readers seeking something a bit different from typical childrens literature. (Introduction by Wikipedia and Matthew Reece)

The 10th and final book in the series for adolescent girls sees two of the three cousins react to atrocities in World War I by volunteering in the Red Cross. Written under the pseudonym of Edith Van Dyne, this is the 1915 version, which reflects United States' neutrality. A later version, published in 1918, differed significantly to reflect changes in the position of the United States. (Summary by Lynne Thompson)

The story that started it all, and inspired plays, movies, and more. Young Dorothy Gale is whisked away to a magical land, meets wonderful friends, and has several adventures. - Summary by W. Blaine Dowler