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The Magical Monarch of Mo
Adventures in a land even stranger than Oz, where people do not die and animals talk. Over 100 black and white illustrations and 15 Color Plates in this Dover edition.
237 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1903
30 people are currently reading
542 people want to read
About the author
L. Frank Baum
3,219 books2,773 followersalso wrote under the names:
* Edith van Dyne,
* Floyd Akers,
* Schuyler Staunton,
* John Estes Cooke,
* Suzanne Metcalf,
* Laura Bancroft,
* Louis F. Baum,
* Captain Hugh Fitzgerald
Lyman Frank Baum was an American author best known for his children's fantasy books, particularly The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, part of a series. In addition to the 14 Oz books, Baum penned 41 other novels (not including four lost, unpublished novels), 83 short stories, over 200 poems, and at least 42 scripts. He made numerous attempts to bring his works to the stage and screen; the 1939 adaptation of the first Oz book became a landmark of 20th-century cinema.
Born and raised in Chittenango, New York, Baum moved west after an unsuccessful stint as a theater producer and playwright. He and his wife opened a store in South Dakota and he edited and published a newspaper. They then moved to Chicago, where he worked as a newspaper reporter and published children's literature, coming out with the first Oz book in 1900. While continuing his writing, among his final projects he sought to establish a film studio focused on children's films in Los Angeles, California.
His works anticipated such later commonplaces as television, augmented reality, laptop computers (The Master Key), wireless telephones (Tik-Tok of Oz), women in high-risk and action-heavy occupations (Mary Louise in the Country), and the ubiquity of advertising on clothing (Aunt Jane's Nieces at Work).
* Edith van Dyne,
* Floyd Akers,
* Schuyler Staunton,
* John Estes Cooke,
* Suzanne Metcalf,
* Laura Bancroft,
* Louis F. Baum,
* Captain Hugh Fitzgerald
Lyman Frank Baum was an American author best known for his children's fantasy books, particularly The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, part of a series. In addition to the 14 Oz books, Baum penned 41 other novels (not including four lost, unpublished novels), 83 short stories, over 200 poems, and at least 42 scripts. He made numerous attempts to bring his works to the stage and screen; the 1939 adaptation of the first Oz book became a landmark of 20th-century cinema.
Born and raised in Chittenango, New York, Baum moved west after an unsuccessful stint as a theater producer and playwright. He and his wife opened a store in South Dakota and he edited and published a newspaper. They then moved to Chicago, where he worked as a newspaper reporter and published children's literature, coming out with the first Oz book in 1900. While continuing his writing, among his final projects he sought to establish a film studio focused on children's films in Los Angeles, California.
His works anticipated such later commonplaces as television, augmented reality, laptop computers (The Master Key), wireless telephones (Tik-Tok of Oz), women in high-risk and action-heavy occupations (Mary Louise in the Country), and the ubiquity of advertising on clothing (Aunt Jane's Nieces at Work).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
October 1, 2015
L Frank Baum wrote not only the Oz books, which are still wonderful to read, but he created whole other worlds, such as The Surprising Adventures of the Magical Monarch of Mo and His People. Even though the inhabitants of this magical land are, in effect, immortal, they still wind up having fantastic adventures.
In one of my favorites, there is even a sly comment on the theory of evolution. Prince Zingle is carried by his giant kite to a strange land peopled by dressed-up monkeys who speak a strange language. These monkeys throw peanuts and cocoanuts at the poor prince without understanding a word he says:
In one of my favorites, there is even a sly comment on the theory of evolution. Prince Zingle is carried by his giant kite to a strange land peopled by dressed-up monkeys who speak a strange language. These monkeys throw peanuts and cocoanuts at the poor prince without understanding a word he says:
"Sweet!" grunted a man-monkey standing beside her, "he's the ugliest looking brute I ever saw! Scarcely has any hair on him at all, and no tail, and very little chin. I wonder where on earth the creature came from?"And, a few paragraphs later:
"It may be one of those beings from whom our race is descended," said another onlooker. "The professors say we evolved from some primitive creature of this sort."
"Heaven forbid!" cried a dandy-monkey, whose collar was so high that it kept tipping his hat over his eyes. "If I thought such a creature as that was one of my forefathers, I should commit suicide at once."
Not knowing what he said, none of the monkeys paid any attention to this question. But one of the professor-monkeys appeared to listen attentively, and remarked to friend: "There seems to be a smoothness and variety of sound in his speech that indicates that he possesses some sort of language. Had I time to study this brute, I might learn his method of communicating with his fellows. Indeed, there is a possibility that he may turn out to be the missing link."Baum was endlessly inventive, and his inventions have managed to stand the test of time.
July 4, 2017
Omg I loved this! It was so good to read. It has that old fashioned feel as Baum's books do. This collection of short stories is a definite favourite! Each story was so good. There is violence such as, A dragon biting the head off a king, a king kicking a dog and A monster cutting of a princes arms and head with a claw. More talk of a father cutting off his childrens heads etc so its not exactly child friendly. There was one story I rather really liked as it was what im calling Baum's version of Alice in Wonderland. Its called, "THE DUCHESS BREDENBUTTA'S VISIT TO TURVYLAND".
Still this book will be treasured. I love also that my copy is quite well worn/well read. It gives it that pre-loved feel.
Still this book will be treasured. I love also that my copy is quite well worn/well read. It gives it that pre-loved feel.
Read
February 10, 2021My kids (eight-year-old twins) and I were completely delighted by this book. I read a story to them each night before bed. It brought back memories of having my fourth-grade teacher read an L. Frank Baum to us every day after lunch. It's my only distinct memory from fourth grade. The stories in this book are absurd, a little grotesque, and deeply weird in the best way possible. We want to read all his books now.
November 22, 2020
This is probably the longest titled book I've read.
I was thinking there should be more with the animal-crackers after being sunk in chocolate mud.
Came across as absurd than magical. The succeeding Oz books are definitely better.
I was thinking there should be more with the animal-crackers after being sunk in chocolate mud.
Came across as absurd than magical. The succeeding Oz books are definitely better.
September 10, 2020
Totally bizarre. 1 1/2 stars for the book, and a bonus 1/2 star for the excellent LibriVox narration.
March 4, 2009
I thought this one was sillier than his other books, but I enjoyed it. It was primarily about the King of Mo and his royal family. The chapters are called "surprises" and I love the details in it. Like how everything the citizens of Mo need grow on trees, whether it be bicycles, swords or animal crackers. No citizen of Mo dies, though wild beast can die. The names were amusing like Duchess Bredenbutter, or the Chamberlain Nufsed. They have a river of root beer and one of milk, and an island of fruitcake.
February 26, 2013
This book strangely feels like it was written for an audience younger than the Oz books. That's strange because violence seems to abound in it! People are getting their limbs or head cut off right, left and center; an entire country gets destroyed; a son tries to imprison his father to steal his throne; a woman get given drugs to make her temperament better against her will and last but not least a dog gets smacked around. Still seemed like a place I wouldn't mind living (candy growing on trees? Sign me up!)but I don't think I'll be reading this one again (It's no Oz).
May 26, 2015
I thought I'd read and loved everything by L. Frank Baum, but I missed the MMM.
How could that happen?
Anyway, I loved this collection of stories about King Mo and his family who inhabit a world somewhat like OZ, but different.
Hilarious characters who do wrong, but make it right. Rivers of milk and trees laden with whatever one needs. Always the ability to undo what's been done.
I so wish I'd read this during my Baum period (1958-1962), but so glad to meet and read it at age 66.
The illustrations are wonderful, too.
Go, Mo!
How could that happen?
Anyway, I loved this collection of stories about King Mo and his family who inhabit a world somewhat like OZ, but different.
Hilarious characters who do wrong, but make it right. Rivers of milk and trees laden with whatever one needs. Always the ability to undo what's been done.
I so wish I'd read this during my Baum period (1958-1962), but so glad to meet and read it at age 66.
The illustrations are wonderful, too.
Go, Mo!
May 4, 2013
I LOVE this book. its filled with fantasy and fiction and it takes place in a land where no one dies and you don't need money because every thing grows on trees! this book is awesome I loved it so much!! I don't really know how to explain it, it is so great. I HIGHLY recommend it for people who like fantasies and fiction stories. it isn't all one story though. every chapter is different characters with different situations and that's what makes it the best!
May 16, 2008
I liked this book, but it was not my favorite. I definitely loved OZ much better. The one part I really liked about the kingdom of MO was the magical aspect of the land itself - hats, clothes, rings & animal crackers growing on trees. Root beer rivers, milk lakes - All the things I would want for myself in my magical kingdom!!
June 22, 2011
It took many months of a couple of pages each night, but Connor and I finished his first real book. When he can actually understand the words, I'll wait until I can have a conversation with him about why it's okay to drown people, squish them flat, and dismember them in this book but not okay in real life. I absolutely appreciate the whimsy though.
May 9, 2013
I think this book is really funny.It is also really funny.This book is fantasy.The Monarch of Mo goes to fight the Purple Dragon, which has just eaten all of the caramels in the land. The Dragon bites off his head, and the King is forced to go home headless. The king plans to destroy Mo.This book is really enjoying to read.
August 3, 2008
How could you not love the magical land of Mo, with its rootbeer rivers and ponds of custard? Amusing stories set in a wonderfully imaginative land (though I did feel a little sorry for the Wicked Wizard - he just wanted to be taller so no one would laugh at him!).
September 27, 2013
Good but not great. Pretty inventive at times. You can tell that this was originally meant to be a set of short stories rather than any kind of connected narrative. Because of that, it suffers a bit. Still, pretty good overall.
May 9, 2008
Had this read to me when I was a kid.
February 10, 2012
One of the coolest fantasy books I have ever read. It is by Frank L. Baum that wrote the Wizard of OZ. Very cool and a very little known book.
On the hardcover shelf.
On the hardcover shelf.
June 4, 2008
Amusing stories about the fantasy land of Mo.
July 21, 2008
This is one of Ben's childhood books and it was so fun to read together. Very creative and fun!
August 8, 2010
Emma says kind of silly, but also kind of funny. Ian thought it was cool that things like cupcakes grew on trees and there were rivers of root beer.
August 4, 2014
A quick, fun, clever set of short stories. A nice complement to The Scarecrow of Oz (which partially takes place in the Land of Mo).
November 8, 2016
Some of Baum's earlier writings, fun and fanciful, and you can see the beginning of many of the Oz stories here.
February 15, 2017
There are some early Oz characters in the making within the Mo stories. Quirky and very random but enjoyed reading this.
March 6, 2022
Baum at his best. This collection of 14 morbidly funny tales really showcases both his sharp sense of humor and the boundless creativity that made him such a popular children's author.
The Magical Monarch of Mo, originally called A New Wonderland and set in a world rather foolishly called "Phunnyland," was revised a few years after its original publication to try to capitalize oon Oz's success (which came out in the same year and completely drowned out any interest in Baum's other books). This included a new title, a rewritten first chapter to introduce the land of "Mo," and the replacement of that new name throughout the text.
Honestly, I like these changes - "Phunnyland" doesn't sound like an actual place, and part of what made Oz such a success is how grounded and real it feels. It's a distant land that you can almost believe exists, and that you might even be able to reach some day, if you're lucky enough to get caught up in a tornado like Dorothy.
Mo is still a bit different in that it's more cut off from the real world, without any American boys or girls accidentally slipping past its borders and having adventures there. It fits more within the classic fairy tale tradition, a bit like Queen Zixi of Ix: or the Story of the Magic Cloak, but with wittier writing and an array of imaginative characters and landscapes that bring in a bit of that Oz feel, too.
The king and his children feature in most of the stories, with various princes and princesses having adventures, setting off on quests, fighting greedy purple dragons, accidentally getting flattened by gentle giants, etc. There's no "through" narrative, but since it does start and end with the purple dragon causing problems, it still feels like an interesting and satisfying world where lots of things are always happening, and the characters you care about always come out okay.
And it is absolutely gruesome, in that harmless, funny way that gets scrubbed out of children's books nowadays but had always been present in fairy tales. Since Mo is like Oz, where no one dies, heads and limbs can get chopped or bitten off without anyone truly being harmed in the process. In Oz, you wind up with someone like the Tin-Man, who used to be a man made out of the usual flesh, but in Mo, everyone more or less gets their body parts glued back into place.
There was an interesting little scene where a wood-chopper accidentally gets the King's head stuck onto his neck (thanks to that dratted purple dragon), and the confusion over which king is therefore the real king is both amusing and thought-provoking. I laughed at the poor queen kissing her husband's head, set on the wood-chopper's shoulders, and being reprimanded by the actual (?) husband who was currently wearing a replacement wooden head. Which is which?? Fortunately, they're able to swap back and everything returns to normal, in typical Baum fashion.
This was just fun, start to finish. Anyone reading it with kids, or handing it off to them, should be aware of the comedic violence, but while some made me gasp a little bit, it's all ultimately harmless, and no worse than the things you'd find in unedited Grimm.
I was also very happy to have an edition with all the illustrations, plus some lovely color plates. Baum had said that this book had his favorite illustrations of any of his books, up to that point, and considering his thoughts on his later Oz illustrators, etc, this would probably still hold true in later years. The illustrations are indeed very charming and humorous and fit the style of the writing very well. As much as I personally love the Oz illustrations we have, I wouldn't have minded seeing Frank Ver Beck's version of Baum's other worlds.
The Magical Monarch of Mo, originally called A New Wonderland and set in a world rather foolishly called "Phunnyland," was revised a few years after its original publication to try to capitalize oon Oz's success (which came out in the same year and completely drowned out any interest in Baum's other books). This included a new title, a rewritten first chapter to introduce the land of "Mo," and the replacement of that new name throughout the text.
Honestly, I like these changes - "Phunnyland" doesn't sound like an actual place, and part of what made Oz such a success is how grounded and real it feels. It's a distant land that you can almost believe exists, and that you might even be able to reach some day, if you're lucky enough to get caught up in a tornado like Dorothy.
Mo is still a bit different in that it's more cut off from the real world, without any American boys or girls accidentally slipping past its borders and having adventures there. It fits more within the classic fairy tale tradition, a bit like Queen Zixi of Ix: or the Story of the Magic Cloak, but with wittier writing and an array of imaginative characters and landscapes that bring in a bit of that Oz feel, too.
The king and his children feature in most of the stories, with various princes and princesses having adventures, setting off on quests, fighting greedy purple dragons, accidentally getting flattened by gentle giants, etc. There's no "through" narrative, but since it does start and end with the purple dragon causing problems, it still feels like an interesting and satisfying world where lots of things are always happening, and the characters you care about always come out okay.
And it is absolutely gruesome, in that harmless, funny way that gets scrubbed out of children's books nowadays but had always been present in fairy tales. Since Mo is like Oz, where no one dies, heads and limbs can get chopped or bitten off without anyone truly being harmed in the process. In Oz, you wind up with someone like the Tin-Man, who used to be a man made out of the usual flesh, but in Mo, everyone more or less gets their body parts glued back into place.
There was an interesting little scene where a wood-chopper accidentally gets the King's head stuck onto his neck (thanks to that dratted purple dragon), and the confusion over which king is therefore the real king is both amusing and thought-provoking. I laughed at the poor queen kissing her husband's head, set on the wood-chopper's shoulders, and being reprimanded by the actual (?) husband who was currently wearing a replacement wooden head. Which is which?? Fortunately, they're able to swap back and everything returns to normal, in typical Baum fashion.
This was just fun, start to finish. Anyone reading it with kids, or handing it off to them, should be aware of the comedic violence, but while some made me gasp a little bit, it's all ultimately harmless, and no worse than the things you'd find in unedited Grimm.
I was also very happy to have an edition with all the illustrations, plus some lovely color plates. Baum had said that this book had his favorite illustrations of any of his books, up to that point, and considering his thoughts on his later Oz illustrators, etc, this would probably still hold true in later years. The illustrations are indeed very charming and humorous and fit the style of the writing very well. As much as I personally love the Oz illustrations we have, I wouldn't have minded seeing Frank Ver Beck's version of Baum's other worlds.
February 20, 2023
Wow, this book is weird! A friend recommended it to me as one of her favorite books from childhood, so I decided to give it a try with the kids. It is a series of about a dozen stories that all take place in the kingdom of Mo. The stories can more or less stand alone, although there is occasionally a character that carries over from an earlier story. Many parts of the stories are utterly delightful. Tasty treats are constantly being mentioned, characters do completely absurd and funny things, and what's not to love about a place where everything you need just grows on trees? But even in the world of magic, some of the things that happen to the characters felt too incredible to my kids. Small spoiler alert coming up here, but as L put it, "This author sure does like to have people get flattened by stuff and then fixed up again!" The nice thing about this book is that it's something all 3 kids (10, 7, and 4 for most of the time we were reading this book) could enjoy listening to together. It took us an entire year to read this, not because we didn't enjoy it but because it's not designed to be a page-turning plot, but rather a book to sit down and read a story out of once in a while. Anyway, it's a greatly creative story and I'm surprised it hasn't become a better known classic.
April 26, 2024
Even though this book is from more than a century ago with somewhat different values than today, it is still delightful and enjoyable. The preface is particularly moving and is my favorite part of the entire book:
“This book has been written for children. I have no shame in acknowledging that I, who wrote it, am also a child; for since I can remember my eyes have always grown big at tales of the marvelous, and my heart is still accustomed to go pit-a-pat when I read of impossible adventures. It is the nature of children to scorn realities, which crowd into their lives all too quickly with advancing years. Childhood is the time for fables, for dreams, for joy.
“These stories are not true; they could no be true and be so marvelous. No one is expected to believe them; they were meant to excite laughter and to gladden the heart.
“Perhaps some of those big, grown-up people will poke fun of us—at you for reading these nonsense tales of the Magical Monarch, and at me for writing them. Never mind. Many of the big folk are still children—even as you and I. We cannot measure a child by a standard of size or age. The big folk who are children will be our comrades; the others we need not consider at all, for they are self-exiled from our domain.
“L. Frank Baum
“June 1903”
“This book has been written for children. I have no shame in acknowledging that I, who wrote it, am also a child; for since I can remember my eyes have always grown big at tales of the marvelous, and my heart is still accustomed to go pit-a-pat when I read of impossible adventures. It is the nature of children to scorn realities, which crowd into their lives all too quickly with advancing years. Childhood is the time for fables, for dreams, for joy.
“These stories are not true; they could no be true and be so marvelous. No one is expected to believe them; they were meant to excite laughter and to gladden the heart.
“Perhaps some of those big, grown-up people will poke fun of us—at you for reading these nonsense tales of the Magical Monarch, and at me for writing them. Never mind. Many of the big folk are still children—even as you and I. We cannot measure a child by a standard of size or age. The big folk who are children will be our comrades; the others we need not consider at all, for they are self-exiled from our domain.
“L. Frank Baum
“June 1903”
June 16, 2020
Found in our inherited library this book written by L.Baum, (before The Wizard of Oz) was a children's book which left me with a lot of mixed feelings.
It was at times, oddly violent than what I'd expect in a children's book. Heads and limbs are regularly hacked off and put back together, dancing bears are ground into sausages (which then become dancing sausages in reaction to music), three wise men are ground up to mincemeat and formed into one. I was a little taken aback by this, but then later remembered that earlier traditional children's reading did not protect children. (i.e., Hans Christian Anderson)
On the other hand, there was a lot of silliness that was truly clever. Names of some of the characters, ( i.e. Duchess Bredenbutta, Upsydoun, Princess Pattycake, Nuphsed ), a river called 'Rootbeer River' filled with of course, root-beer. Honestly many of the tales stretched boundaries with creativity and imagination.
Though I appreciated this read, I did not personally love it. The expectations of it being a ‘children’s book’ most likely swayed my opinion.
It was at times, oddly violent than what I'd expect in a children's book. Heads and limbs are regularly hacked off and put back together, dancing bears are ground into sausages (which then become dancing sausages in reaction to music), three wise men are ground up to mincemeat and formed into one. I was a little taken aback by this, but then later remembered that earlier traditional children's reading did not protect children. (i.e., Hans Christian Anderson)
On the other hand, there was a lot of silliness that was truly clever. Names of some of the characters, ( i.e. Duchess Bredenbutta, Upsydoun, Princess Pattycake, Nuphsed ), a river called 'Rootbeer River' filled with of course, root-beer. Honestly many of the tales stretched boundaries with creativity and imagination.
Though I appreciated this read, I did not personally love it. The expectations of it being a ‘children’s book’ most likely swayed my opinion.
January 29, 2020
This is a sweet book, which is better in some ways than the Wizard of Oz book. The author invents a candy country with characters with silly names. The adventures are like typical fairy tales.
August 29, 2022
The Twelfth Surprise: The Land of the Civilized Monkeys is an excellent standalone story that mocks the silliness of Darwinism. It brought my rating up to four stars, the Gigaboo too.
March 7, 2023
A fun little collection of stories set in the Valley of Mo which is set in the same world as Oz. It is clear that this is intended for young children, but it was fun to read.
April 20, 2024
Well I guess there’s a reason this isn’t as famous as his other works. As I went through it, I was often thinking, “I rather be reading Lewis Carroll.”
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews