The Frank Baum Library

In which Trot is taken captive by the imperious Six Snubnosed Princesses and confined to their lavish apartments, where, despite their cruel commands, she shows kindness to their peculiar blue pets, earning their loyalty and protection. As the haughty Princesses plot her punishment, Trot finds solace and unexpected friendship among the strange creatures in her care.

In which our three friends find themselves unexpectedly captured but quickly freed, only to be made slaves to the peculiar and haughty inhabitants of Sky Island, including six singularly snubnosed princesses. The whimsical and imperious Boolooroo assigns them odd and humiliating roles within his court, setting a curious tone for their unusual captivity.

In which Trot, Button-Bright, and Cap’n Bill find themselves carried far beyond their intended destination by the Magic Umbrella, soaring through a billowing sky of shifting cloud shapes and rainbows. Their descent ends abruptly upon a mysterious land suspended in the heavens, where unexpected inhabitants swiftly make their presence known.

In which our travellers unexpectedly encounter the peculiar and imperious Boolooroo of the Blues, a sky-blue native who insists on their punishment for trespassing in his wondrously blue garden. Despite their polite protests and shared repast, Cap'n Bill’s defiant spirit leads to a tense standoff, leaving them suddenly bound and at the mercy of this curious sovereign.

In which Button-Bright, Trot, and Cap’n Bill embark upon delightful aerial excursions aided by the Magic Umbrella, exploring the marvels of flight and inventiveness amid their seaside village. Their spirited resolve leads them to undertake a newfound venture toward the distant and alluring Sky Island, embracing the promise of adventure with hopeful hearts.

In which a curious and earnest boy named Button-Bright arrives quite unexpectedly on the rocky Pacific coast near the home of a lively young girl named Trot and her one-legged, kindly friend Cap’n Bill. The trio quickly find themselves drawn together as Button-Bright hints at a tale most strange and wondrous, promising adventures yet to unfold.

In which Button-Bright, a boy with a curious and ancient umbrella, tells Trot and Cap'n Bill the story of how he discovered its wondrous power to fly him great distances, much to their amazement and delight. They welcome him into their home by the sea, where plans are made for an adventurous journey, and even the sceptical Cap'n Bill begins to ponder the strange magic of the umbrella.

In which Rob returns home to the warm embrace of his family, finding comfort in their love while resolving to be more thoughtful and aware of their feelings. As he prepares for an impending encounter in his workshop, the soothing tones of his mother’s lullaby bolster his courage and quiet his restless heart.

In which a boy, wearied by the troublesome gifts of the Demon of Electricity, resolutely rejects the marvels of science that have caused him naught but grief and distraction from a normal life. The Demon, frustrated and resigned, acknowledges that the world is not yet prepared for his wonders, and he must patiently await an era of greater wisdom before his gifts may be wisely embraced.

In which a solitary young lad, overcome by a sudden burst of homesickness, discovers two famished and despairing shipwrecked sailors upon a tiny island in the vast ocean. With a generous heart and a wondrous flying machine, he devises a daring plan to carry the weary men back to civilisation, braving fears and fatigue in a gallant aerial rescue.

In which a courageous boy rescues two shipwrecked sailors on a rugged Oregon bluff, meeting curious fishermen and earning their astonishment by his mysterious departure through the air. He then soars over the majestic landscapes and grand cities of the western United States, observing with wide-eyed wonder the marvels of his native land from a bird’s-eye view.

In which a young traveller encounters the bustling throngs of a great city and narrowly escapes a treacherous attempt upon his life, revealing the dark hearts that covet his remarkable inventions. Disgusted yet undeterred, he silently returns to the quiet solace of home, reflecting upon the dangers and moral perils that accompany wondrous discoveries.

In which a young traveller, seeking relief from the stifling heat of Paris, inadvertently veers far from his intended route and drifts over vast deserts and mysterious cities, where he encounters unfriendly strangers who seize his precious devices and leave him stranded. Despite his protective garment’s quirks, he is left to ponder his plight beneath an alien sun, watching with uneasy apprehension...

In which a young adventurer finds himself amidst the fierce Black Tatars of Thibet and joins their siege against the city of Yarkand, employing wondrous electrical devices to shift the tide of battle and reclaim stolen treasures. Amidst clashes and cunning stratagems, he navigates alliances and enmities in a strange land, ultimately taking flight upon a marvel of invention that whisks him away fro...

In which our young adventurer, navigating the skies with steadfast confidence in his wondrous electrical device, traverses distant lands and ancient cities, observing their customs and mysteries from afar. During a peaceful rest above the fabled sea, he is startled by fierce, monstrous birds whose savage attack tests his courage and quick wits before he resumes his voyage eastward across the vast...

In which a young adventurer, having spent the night amidst the reverberations of a London church tower, takes to the skies and visits Paris, encountering a curious and excitable French scientist eager to comprehend his wondrous flying machine. The encounter, laced with revelation and a touch of danger, is but a prelude to the boy’s exploration of the grand city’s bustling streets and stately hotel...

In which a young American boy named Rob, armed with a wondrous electrical device called the Record, ventures boldly into the heart of Paris to alert the Republic's president of a menacing conspiracy threatening his nation. Amidst the beautiful boulevards and the swirling intrigue of politics, Rob's earnest interference is met with both astonishment and gratitude as he seeks to uphold the liberty s...

In which a young American boy journeys swiftly over oceans and lands, encountering curious villagers and the bustling streets of London, before boldly gaining entry to the royal palace. There he displays miraculous inventions that reveal distant battles and hidden truths, earning the king’s gratitude and a new measure of respect.

In which young Rob returns home from his remarkable adventures to find his family relieved and curious, while his mysterious visitor, the Demon, arrives once more with reproaches and a stern demand that Rob share his wondrous inventions only with the cultured minds of the world. The Demon’s ire gradually softens as he exchanges Rob’s damaged machine for a sturdier one and promises further magnific...

In which the Demon presents Rob with remarkable electrical gifts, including a protective garment, an enchanted Record of Events that reveals the happenings of the world, and spectacles that reveal the true nature of those he meets. These wondrous inventions, brimming with the promise of knowledge and safety, impress upon Rob the importance of wisdom and patience in wielding such power.

In which Rob, a lively American lad with a thirst for electrical marvels and a somewhat reckless spirit, prepares silently for a clandestine nocturnal voyage, cloaked in mysterious and potent garments. With a pocketful of modest savings, familiar maps, and a compass, he embarks on a swift and solitary flight toward London beneath a canopy of stars, eager to embrace the adventures that the coming w...

In which a bright and curious youth, gifted with wondrous electrical contrivances and a miraculous sustenance, embarks upon an aerial journey that confounds his family and awakens their concern. With a light heart and cheeky confidence, he explores distant cities and deftly evades trouble, all while marveling at the boundless possibilities that float beneath the starry canopy.

In which a young adventurer, traversing the ocean skies, alights upon a mysterious, wooded island inhabited by formidable natives with a fearsome reputation. Though swiftly captured and threatened by these cannibals, he relies on wit and strange inventions to evade his grim fate and attempts a daring escape amidst the bewildered tribespeople.

In which a young adventurer deftly escapes a hostile island with a wondrous, though temperamental, flying machine, encountering a band of fearsome pirates whose cunning is no match for his electric tube. After a perilous voyage above a stormy ocean, he finally draws near to home, guided by a mixture of hope and the uncertain yet faithful workings of his remarkable device.

In which a boy encounters a luminous and somewhat impatient Demon of Electricity who offers to bestow upon him three remarkable gifts each week for three weeks, illustrating the simple yet profound powers of electricity. These wondrous presents include nourishing tablets, a non-lethal defence tube, and a curious wrist device that commands the unseen forces of gravity and magnetism for swift travel...