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Dear Children:

You will remember that, in the front part of Glinda of Oz, the Publishers told

you that when Mr. Baum went away from this world he left behind some

unfinished notes about the Princess Ozma and Dorothy and the jolly people

of the Wonderful Land of Oz. The Publishers promised that they would try to

put these notes together into a new Oz book for you.

Well, here it is--The Royal Book of Oz.

I am sure that Mr. Baum would be pleased that Ruth Plumly Thompson,

who has known and loved the Oz Stories ever since she was a little girl, has

made this new Oz story, with all the Oz folks in it and true to life.

You see I am Mrs. Baum, the wife of the Royal Historian of Oz, and so I

know how he feels about everything.

Now, about the story:

Of course, we all knew the Scarecrow was a very fine fellow, but surely we

never guessed he ascended from an emperor. Most of us descend from our

ancestors, but the Scarecrow really ASCENDED.

The Scarecrow had a most exciting and adventurous time on the Silver Isle

and Dorothy and the Cowardly Lion just ran out of one adventure into

another trying to rescue him. They made some charming new friends in

their travels--Sir Hokus of Pokes, the Doubtful Dromedary, and the

Comfortable Camel. You'll find them very unusual and likable. They have

the same peculiar, delightful and informal natures that we love in all the

queer Oz people.

Of course every one of us is happy that John R. Neill has drawn the funny

and lovely pictures for the new book. Mr. Neill surely is the Royal Painter of

Oz.

This note is intended for all the children of America, who knew and loved

Mr. Baum, and it goes to each of you with his love and mine.

MAUD G. BAUM.

OZCOT HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA IN THE SPRING, 1921