Tik-Tok of Oz

The very marked success of my last year's fairy book, "The Patchwork

Girl of Oz," convinces me that my readers like the Oz stories "best of

all," as one little girl wrote me. So here, my dears, is a new Oz story

in which is introduced Ann Soforth, the Queen of Oogaboo, whom Tik-Tok

assisted in conquering our old acquaintance, the Nome King. It also

tells of Betsy Bobbin and how, after many adventures, she finally

reached the marvelous Land of Oz.


There is a play called "The Tik-Tok Man of Oz," but it is not like this

story of "Tik-Tok of Oz," although some of the adventures recorded in

this book, as well as those in several other Oz books, are included in

the play. Those who have seen the play and those who have read the

other Oz books will find in this story a lot of strange characters and

adventures that they have never heard of before.


In the letters I receive from children there has been an urgent appeal

for me to write a story that will take Trot and Cap'n Bill to the Land

of Oz, where they will meet Dorothy and Ozma. Also they think

Button-Bright ought to get acquainted with Ojo the Lucky. As you know,

I am obliged to talk these matters over with Dorothy by means of the

"wireless," for that is the only way I can communicate with the Land of

Oz. When I asked her about this idea, she replied: "Why, haven't you

heard?" I said "No." "Well," came the message over the wireless, "I'll

tell you all about it, by and by, and then you can make a book of that

story for the children to read."


So, if Dorothy keeps her word and I am permitted to write another Oz

book, you will probably discover how all these characters came together

in the famous Emerald City. Meantime, I want to tell all my little

friends--whose numbers are increasing by many thousands every

year--that I am very grateful for the favor they have shown my books

and for the delightful little letters I am constantly receiving. I am

almost sure that I have as many friends among the children of America

as any story writer alive; and this, of course, makes me very proud and

happy.


L. Frank Baum.