Showing results by author "Frank Baum" in All Categories

Join Dorothy, the young girl from the Kansas prairie, and her little black dog, Toto, as they go on their adventure through the magical Land of Oz. On the way, they will encounter a Scarecrow who longs for brains, a Tin Woodman who wishes he only had a heart, and a Cowardly Lion who seeks true courage.

In The Capture of Father Time, L. Frank Baum spins a whimsical and imaginative tale of young Jim, a mischievous boy who, through sheer curiosity, manages to capture the legendary figure of Father Time. With time itself seemingly under his control, Jim embarks on a series of playful and chaotic adventures, unaware of the consequences of meddling with the natural order of things.

This beloved nursery rhyme tells a story that is both a bit scary (she lost her sheep!) and funny (they lost their tails!). The poor tiny girl, trying to do a job that is quite hard for her with her short legs, becomes bewildered. But help is there in the shape of an old lady who plays a trick on her, telling her that her sheep have lost their tails which she must find and somehow put them back on. Will the distraught little BoPeep find the missing tails? And if she does will she be able to re-attach them? Listen and learn!

Old King Cole was not always a king, nor was he born a member of any royal family. It was only chance that made him a king at all. He had always been a poor man, being the son of an apple peddler, who had died and left him nothing but a donkey and a fiddle. But that was enough for Cole, who never bothered his head about the world's goods, but took things as they came and refused to worry about anything. So begins the story of how this happy soul became the king of a country by accident.

The Man in the Moon was rather lonesome, and often he peeked over the edge of the moon and looked down upon the earth and envied all the people who lived together. He thought it must be vastly more pleasant to have companions to talk to than to be shut up on a big planet all by himself.

Mary was the beloved daughter of a sailor and his wife who lived on a hill close to the sea. She was called "Mistress Mary, quite contrary" because she was a contrary child who often did the exact opposite of what she was told. But her parents loved her and knew that she would someday grow out of this peevish behavior. One day her father and brothers set off on a long sea journey and she asked him when he would return. He replied that they would be away for the time that it took for a garden of cowslips, dingle bells, and cockle shells to sprout, grow, blossom, and wither and die away again.

Gilligren was an orphan and lived with an uncle and aunt who were very unkind to him. They cuffed him and scolded him upon the slightest provocation, and made his life very miserable indeed. Gilligren never rebelled against this treatment, but bore their cruelty silently and with patience, although often he longed to leave them and seek a home amongst kinder people.

Little Bobby was the only son of a small farmer who lived out of town upon a country road. It was lonely on the farm, especially when his father and mother were both busy working, but the boy found a special way to amuse himself. He was very fond of music, and his father one day brought him a small fiddle, which he soon learned to play. Bobby enjoyed learning new tunes and the fiddle soon became his constant companion. To find out how the cow, the cat, and the moon became involved, you will need to listen to this delightful tale and become much wiser.

This odd little nursery rhyme is familiar to us all but have you ever wondered, like I have, about what Miss Muffet was thinking as she sat dreamily eating her curds and whey? And what are curds and whey, anyway? Her tuffet? Would that be a piece of furniture or a piece of her anatomy? And of course the large spider, what was she thinking?

That wonderful storyteller Baum, of Wizard of Oz fame, tells us the delightful story behind this little rhyme and we all will feel much better knowing that the little boy had excellent reasons to be asleep that morning. Listen and enjoy the whole nifty story. Many of our most loved nursery rhymes are complete tales in themselves, telling their story tersely but completely; others are but bare suggestions, leaving the imagination to weave in the details of the story.

This delightful story tells of the Little Bun Rabbit who is befriended by Dorothy, a little girl. She knows the rhyme and asks the little rabbit about it. Bun Rabbit tells her that indeed, he sees Santa every year as he drives by in his sleigh loaded with toys. One year Santa stopped to talk with him and ask if he would come to his workshop at the North Pole so he could use him as a model to make toy rabbits for little babies. He agrees and this is his exciting adventure with Santa. That is why so many stuffed bunny rabbits are made and given at Christmas to be loved by children everywhere.

Within the hollow wall of an old brick mansion, away up near the roof, there lived a family of mice. It was a snug little home, pleasant and quiet, and as dark as any mouse could desire. Mamma Mouse liked it because, as she said, the draught that came through the rafters made it cool in summer, and they were near enough to the chimney to keep warm in wintertime.

Ojo and Unc Nunkie live in the land of Oz in Munchkin Country. Their neighbor, Dr. Pipt, has been devotedly working on the Powder of Life for many years. This magical powder will turn inanimate objects into living things. While demonstrating its power on a stuffed doll made of patchwork, Dr. Pipt accidentally turns his wife and Unc Nunkie to stone. It is up to Ojo to collect the necessary ingredients to destroy the spell and turn them back.

Prince Inga, aided by three magic pearls, is set to rule the island of Pingaree. King Rinkitink arrives with his talking goat, Bilbil, determined to take a vacation on Pingaree. Inga's father, King Kitticut, is captured by Regos' invaders along with all the rest of the people of Pingaree except for Rinkitink, Bilbil, and Inga himself.

"Mother Goose in Prose" is a collection of stories by L. Frank Baum, in which he retells popular nursery rhymes in prose form, providing imaginative backstories for each rhyme. Published in 1897, the book offers charming and whimsical explanations for how these well-known rhymes came to be. For example, the story behind "Little Bo-Peep" explores how she lost her sheep and how they eventually returned. Each tale is crafted with Baum's signature storytelling style, combining fantasy and humor, making the book a delightful read for both children and adults. This version of the book preserves the ...

Are you ready for a Christmas adventure? In this story Santa Claus is kidnapped to prevent him from delivering his gifts to children on Christmas Eve. Find out if this evil plan is successful or will Santa Claus' helpers save the day and save Christmas.

Cap'n Bill and a little girl named Trot are out in their rowboat when a whirlpool capsizes their craft. Finding themselves in an underwater cave, they meet up with an Ork. Further along their journey, they run into Button-Bright, the little boy from The Road to Oz, who has seemingly lost his way once again. The group learns of the unjust behavior of King Krewl, who has cut off Jinxland from the rest of Oz, and how the rightful king's daughter, Gloria, is being forced to marry old Googly-Goo, despite her being in love with Pon, the gardener's son.

The Big Book of Christmas: Classic Stories and Poems is a grand compilation that assembles a treasure trove of holiday tales and poems from a remarkable array of authors. This extensive collection includes 100 classic works, each thoughtfully illustrated, to immerse readers in the magic and wonder of the Christmas season. This anthology spans a rich tapestry of Christmas literature, including timeless favorites such as "The Gift of the Magi," "The Red Room," "A Letter from Santa Claus," "The Fir Tree," "Song of the Holly," and many more.

A selection of magical stories to entertain your children whilst you are waiting at the airport and are flying to your holiday.

After the orphan boy Tip escapes from the evil witch Mombi with the help of Jack Pumpkinhead (yes, his head is a pumpkin, and yes, magic is involved), they set out for the Emerald City. But they find the City in turmoil as the fierce General Jinjur and her all-female Army of Revolt try to overthrow the Scarecrow's male rule.