Where in Oz are we now?
Today we begin looking at Book 5, The Road to Oz.. We remember from last Wednesday that Princess Ozma used her magic belt to return Dorothy to the farm in Kansas so she could visit her Aunt and Uncle. As Book 5 opens we find Dorothy at the farm in Kansas being asked by a shaggy man, “Please, Miss, can you tell me the road to Butterfield?”
Dorothy noticed that he and his clothes were certainly shaggy, but he had a pleasant twinkle in his eye. “Oh, yes,” she replied, “I can tell you. But it isn't this road at all.”
As Dorothy begins giving him directions, it becomes clear that her directions are confusing him. And she decides that it will be easier just to take him to the right road. So she runs into the farm house to get her sunbonnet. She returns with her little dog Toto and the three of them start walking down the road.
Along the way they find a little boy sitting under a tree by the side of the road. He is all by himself and busy digging a hole in the ground with a small board. He tells them his name is Button, Button – Bright. He doesn't know his real name, he doesn't know who or where his parents are or where he lives. Since it is starting to rain, Dorothy suggests he go with her and the shaggy man to find some place dry to wait for the rain to pass.
They soon encounter some civilized fox-people who give them shelter. Dorothy realizes that they certainly aren't in Kansas anymore, and must have wandered into a fairy-land of some kind. Dorothy is equally surprised that the fox-king knows who she is. When she is introducing Button-Bright, and the shaggy man, and herself to the fox-king, he smiles and says.” Oh yes, you're Dorothy, the friend of Princess Ozma. Everyone knows who you are!”
The next morning, the rain having passed, Dorothy and Toto, the shaggy man, and Button-Bright are out on the road again. Realizing they're not in Kansas, they hope to find someone who can help them find the road to Oz. At a bend of the road they find a beautiful little girl, humming a happy song and dancing gaily in a multi-colored gossamer gown.
The little girl tells them her name is Polychrome, and her father is the Rainbow. She slid off the end of a rainbow that touched down nearby then it disappeared before she could climb back on. She would dearly love to find her father, but she doesn't know where in the world he is now. When Dorothy explains they're on their way to Oz and she's sure Princess Ozma can help the little girl find her father, Polychrome is happy to join their company.
The four travelers: Dorothy with little Toto, shaggy man, Button-Bright, and Polychrome stay together through many strange, sometimes scary adventures. Eventually they find their way to the land of Oz where Dorothy is reunited with old friends and learns that Ozma has named her, Dorothy, as a Princess of Oz. While Princess Ozma rules as Queen from her Palace in the Emerald City, Dorothy is now royalty, too. Dorothy also learns that they have arrived in time to celebrate Ozma's birthday, which will be a grand affair with invitees from across fairy land attending.
I am not yet finished with Book 5. But as we leave, Ozma is busy preparing for the Grand Banquet in another part of the palace, and Princess Dorothy is seated on Ozma's throne, officially greeting the important arrivals who have come for the birthday celebration.
and the adventure continues.
posted by Roscoe