📖 Overview
Ruth Plumly Thompson was an American children's author who became the second Royal Historian of Oz, writing 19 official sequels to L. Frank Baum's original Oz series between 1921 and 1939. She was selected by publishers Reilly & Lee to continue the series after Baum's death, making her one of the most prolific contributors to the Oz canon.
Thompson began her writing career early, selling her first fairy tale to St. Nicholas Magazine while still in high school. In 1914, she became a children's columnist for the Philadelphia Public Ledger, and published her first children's book, The Perhappsy Chaps.
Her Oz books introduced many new characters and expanded the geography of Oz, with stories that often featured quests and transformations. Notable titles include The Royal Book of Oz (1921), The Cowardly Lion of Oz (1923), and Ozoplaning with the Wizard of Oz (1939).
Thompson continued writing children's literature after concluding her work on the Oz series, publishing several other fantasy books and fairy tales. Her contributions to children's literature and the Oz series remained her most significant legacy until her death in 1976.
👀 Reviews
Readers appreciate Thompson's whimsical characters and imaginative world-building in continuing L. Frank Baum's Oz series. Many note her skill at creating memorable side characters and maintaining the playful tone of the original books.
Fans highlight her books "Kabumpo in Oz" and "The Purple Prince of Oz" as among her strongest works, praising the adventure-driven plots and humor. Several reviews mention that her writing style feels more structured than Baum's.
Critics point out her tendency toward formulaic plots, with some finding her characterizations of Dorothy and other established characters inconsistent with Baum's versions. Multiple readers note that her later books become repetitive.
Ratings across platforms:
Goodreads: Average 3.8/5 across her Oz books
Amazon: 4.1/5 average
Internet Archive: 3.9/5
Most common positive comments mention "fun adventures" and "creative new characters"
Most common criticisms cite "predictable storylines" and "straying from Baum's original character personalities"
📚 Books by Ruth Plumly Thompson
The Royal Book of Oz (1921) - Dorothy helps the Scarecrow discover his royal heritage as Emperor of the Silver Islands while searching for his family tree.
Kabumpo in Oz (1922) - An elegant elephant named Kabumpo embarks on a quest with Prince Pompadore to save the kingdom of Pumperdink.
The Cowardly Lion of Oz (1923) - The Cowardly Lion is kidnapped by a collector of rare beasts, leading to an adventure with a boy named Notta Bit More.
Grampa in Oz (1924) - An elderly sailor and his young companion find themselves in Oz after their boat is caught in a whirlpool.
The Lost King of Oz (1925) - Mombi's old magic leads to the discovery of the long-lost King of Oz, Pastoria.
The Hungry Tiger of Oz (1926) - The Hungry Tiger helps Princess Betsy Bobbin rescue Prince Evered from the cruel King of Rash.
The Gnome King of Oz (1927) - Peter Brown from Philadelphia is transported to Oz where he confronts the troublesome Gnome King.
The Giant Horse of Oz (1928) - A giant horse named Quox helps Princess Trot save Prince Philador from an evil witch.
Jack Pumpkinhead of Oz (1929) - Jack Pumpkinhead encounters new friends while trying to save his home from destruction.
The Yellow Knight of Oz (1930) - A boy named Sir Hokus awakens after a long enchantment to find himself in modern Oz.
Pirates in Oz (1931) - Captain Salt and his crew embark on a sea voyage that leads to discoveries of new Oz territories.
The Purple Prince of Oz (1932) - Randy and Kabumpo search for a missing prince and a magical pearl.
Ojo in Oz (1933) - The unlucky Munchkin boy Ojo faces new adventures when he's captured by Gypsies.
Speedy in Oz (1934) - A boy named Speedy is transported to Oz by a giant umbrella during a rainstorm.
The Wishing Horse of Oz (1935) - Dorothy helps the people of Skampavia defeat their enemies with the aid of a magical horse.
Captain Salt in Oz (1936) - Captain Salt explores new islands and encounters strange creatures during his seafaring adventures.
Handy Mandy in Oz (1937) - A seven-handed girl from Mt. Mern helps save the Silver King's kingdom.
The Silver Princess in Oz (1938) - A young girl named Randy helps the Silver Princess recover her stolen kingdom.
Ozoplaning with the Wizard of Oz (1939) - The Wizard invents flying machines called Ozoplanes, leading to new aerial adventures.
The Enchanted Island of Oz (1976) - David Perry discovers a magical island that has broken away from the Land of Oz.
Yankee in Oz (1972) - A Connecticut boy named Tompy embarks on various adventures throughout the Land of Oz.
Kabumpo in Oz (1922) - An elegant elephant named Kabumpo embarks on a quest with Prince Pompadore to save the kingdom of Pumperdink.
The Cowardly Lion of Oz (1923) - The Cowardly Lion is kidnapped by a collector of rare beasts, leading to an adventure with a boy named Notta Bit More.
Grampa in Oz (1924) - An elderly sailor and his young companion find themselves in Oz after their boat is caught in a whirlpool.
The Lost King of Oz (1925) - Mombi's old magic leads to the discovery of the long-lost King of Oz, Pastoria.
The Hungry Tiger of Oz (1926) - The Hungry Tiger helps Princess Betsy Bobbin rescue Prince Evered from the cruel King of Rash.
The Gnome King of Oz (1927) - Peter Brown from Philadelphia is transported to Oz where he confronts the troublesome Gnome King.
The Giant Horse of Oz (1928) - A giant horse named Quox helps Princess Trot save Prince Philador from an evil witch.
Jack Pumpkinhead of Oz (1929) - Jack Pumpkinhead encounters new friends while trying to save his home from destruction.
The Yellow Knight of Oz (1930) - A boy named Sir Hokus awakens after a long enchantment to find himself in modern Oz.
Pirates in Oz (1931) - Captain Salt and his crew embark on a sea voyage that leads to discoveries of new Oz territories.
The Purple Prince of Oz (1932) - Randy and Kabumpo search for a missing prince and a magical pearl.
Ojo in Oz (1933) - The unlucky Munchkin boy Ojo faces new adventures when he's captured by Gypsies.
Speedy in Oz (1934) - A boy named Speedy is transported to Oz by a giant umbrella during a rainstorm.
The Wishing Horse of Oz (1935) - Dorothy helps the people of Skampavia defeat their enemies with the aid of a magical horse.
Captain Salt in Oz (1936) - Captain Salt explores new islands and encounters strange creatures during his seafaring adventures.
Handy Mandy in Oz (1937) - A seven-handed girl from Mt. Mern helps save the Silver King's kingdom.
The Silver Princess in Oz (1938) - A young girl named Randy helps the Silver Princess recover her stolen kingdom.
Ozoplaning with the Wizard of Oz (1939) - The Wizard invents flying machines called Ozoplanes, leading to new aerial adventures.
The Enchanted Island of Oz (1976) - David Perry discovers a magical island that has broken away from the Land of Oz.
Yankee in Oz (1972) - A Connecticut boy named Tompy embarks on various adventures throughout the Land of Oz.
👥 Similar authors
L. Frank Baum
As the original creator of Oz, Baum established the fantasy world and writing style that Thompson continued. His 14 Oz books feature similar whimsical characters and quest-based plots that follow the pattern Thompson used in her sequels.
Edward Eager Eager wrote children's fantasy books in the 1950s that blend magic with everyday life. His Tales of Magic series features children discovering magical objects and going on adventures, similar to Thompson's approach to storytelling.
E. Nesbit Nesbit wrote fantasy books for children in the early 1900s featuring magical adventures and parallel worlds. Her stories about ordinary children encountering magic influenced many later fantasy authors, including Thompson.
Andre Norton Norton wrote numerous fantasy series featuring young protagonists on quests through magical realms. Her work includes elements of transformation and discovery that mirror Thompson's narrative approach in the Oz books.
John R. Neill Neill illustrated many Oz books and later wrote three Oz novels himself. His work maintains the same universe and storytelling style as Thompson, with focus on magical journeys and fantastical characters.
Edward Eager Eager wrote children's fantasy books in the 1950s that blend magic with everyday life. His Tales of Magic series features children discovering magical objects and going on adventures, similar to Thompson's approach to storytelling.
E. Nesbit Nesbit wrote fantasy books for children in the early 1900s featuring magical adventures and parallel worlds. Her stories about ordinary children encountering magic influenced many later fantasy authors, including Thompson.
Andre Norton Norton wrote numerous fantasy series featuring young protagonists on quests through magical realms. Her work includes elements of transformation and discovery that mirror Thompson's narrative approach in the Oz books.
John R. Neill Neill illustrated many Oz books and later wrote three Oz novels himself. His work maintains the same universe and storytelling style as Thompson, with focus on magical journeys and fantastical characters.