Jack Pumpkinhead of Oz

Front matter

Reading edition

Founded on and continuing the Famous Oz Stories

By L. FRANK BAUM "Royal Historian of Oz"

Illustrated by JOHN R. NEILL

The Reilly & Lee Co. Chicago New York

Illustration from Jack Pumpkinhead of Oz

Dear Boys and Girls: Did YOU ever hear of the Land of the Barons, of a Red Jinn or the City of Scares? Well, neither did I! Neither did Jack Pumpkinhead. But there they were all the time, and trouble brewing for everybody. And speaking of Jack Pumpkinhead, I've always suspected he was brighter than he appeared to be and had more in his head than pumpkin seeds and now I'm convinced of it.

Why, even when Jack lost his head, he kept on thinking, and a chap who can serve his country after he is beheaded and use his head after he has been officially executed deserves a place with the greatest celebrities of the day. So, no wonder this book is about Jack. If it had not been for him, Ozma would be polishing the palace piano and Dorothy and Betsy washing the dinner dishes, like as not, and all of the other famous folk swinging mops, brooms and dusters; slaves of Mogodore the Mighty, who descended from the Land of the Barons to capture the Emerald City.

Even now, the mere mention of Mogodore makes Ozma shudder and the Cowardly Lion shake. And right here, I must put in a good word for Peter, the little boy from Philadelphia. Peter, wishing himself to Oz, dropped into the middle of the excitement, was captured and imprisoned, threatened and enchanted, during his efforts to save the country from the wicked baron. But seeing his old friends again, and meeting the Iffin made up for all the discomfort and danger and as I am anxious for you to meet this new merry monster, I'll stop writing so you can begin the story. A whole year of happiness and fun!

Ruth Plumly Thompson

254 S. Farragut Terrace, West Philadelphia, Penn., May, 1929.