Publisher's Synopsis
Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz by L. Frank Baum
In the novel, Dorothy is a young farmer living with her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry on the Kansas prairie. Their one-room house has a storm shelter underground and Dorothy's bed is around the corner. Dorothy's best friend and playmate is her loyal dog Toto.
Dorothy wakes up in the beautiful, colorful territory of Munchkin in the Land of Oz. A group of three very small men approach her. They are joined by the Witch of the North who thanks Dorothy for killing the Wicked Witch of the East, the evil ruler of the Munchkins.
Unbeknownst to Dorothy, her house had landed on the Wicked Witch of the East and killed her. The Evil Witch of the East's legs protrude from under the house, shod in silver shoes. The Witch of the North presents the shoes to Dorothy.
Dorothy is very confused and doesn't understand where she is. She doesn't remember killing anyone. And she believes all witches are bad. The Witch of the North explains that there are good witches and bad witches. Witches in the North and South are good, while those in the East and West are bad. She also mentions a great wizard named Oz.
Dorothy asks the Witch of the North and the Munchkins how to get home to Kansas. The Witch of the North tells him to follow the yellow brick road to Oz, because the High Wizard might know what to do. She kisses Dorothy to grant her safe passage for her trip to Oz. Before leaving on a trip, Dorothy transforms into a blue gingham dress and silver slippers.
Dorothy, Toto, and the Scarecrow continue their journey to Oz together. While drinking and bathing in a forest in a stream, a rusty Tin Woodman appears. Tin Woodman is elated when Dorothy lubricates his joints and he can finally move again. After hearing that they are going to Oz, the Tin Woodman asks if he can join them in asking the Wizard of Oz for a heart.
Joined now by the Tin Woodman, the group plunges deeper into the spooky woods. A large lion jumps up and prepares to attack Toto. Dorothy saves Toto by slapping the lion on his nose and yelling at him not to bite his dog. The Cowardly Lion apologizes and explains that to hide his cowardice, he roars to scare everyone. He asks to join them on their journey to Oz to ask the sorcerer for courage.
Dorothy, Toto, and their three companions finally reach Oz and are taken to see the wizard one by one. Dorothy explains to the wizard how she got the silver shoes and the mark on her head and asks for help to return home to Kansas. Oz says he will only grant their wishes if they kill the Wicked Witch of the West.
They travel to the land of the Winkies to kill the witch. The evil witch attacks Dorothy and her friends with wolves and crows, which they are able to fight. The witch uses a golden cap to send winged monkeys to enslave the lion, drop the lumberjack on sharp rocks, and smash the scarecrow. Dorothy is captured and forced to work in the witch's kitchen. The witch wants Dorothy's powerful silver shoes, but can't figure out how to get them off her. The witch trips Dorothy with an invisible bar, causing a shoe to fall. Angry, Dorothy throws a bucket of water at the witch, causing her to melt.
Dorothy reunites with her friends and returns to Oz to ask the wizard to fulfill his market share. They discover that the great and mighty Oz is just an old man who used disguises to appear as a great wizard. The next morning, Oz gives the scarecrow a new head filled with a brain made of bran, pins and needles. It gives the Tin Woodman a heart of silk stuffed with sawdust. He gives the Lion a potion of courage. The magician agrees to bring Dorothy and Toto home in a hot air balloon but he flies off before Dorothy and Toto get on board.
