Author's Note
Myfriendsthechildrenareresponsibleforthisnew"OzBook,"astheywereforthelastone,whichwascalledTheLandofOz.Theirsweetlittleletterspleadtoknow"moreaboutDorothy";andtheyask:"WhatbecameoftheCowardlyLion?"and"WhatdidOzmadoafterward?"--meaning,ofcourse,aftershebecametheRulerofOz.Andsomeofthemsuggestplotstome,saying:"PleasehaveDorothygototheLandofOzagain";or,"Whydon’tyoumakeOzmaandDorothymeet,andhaveagoodtimetogether?"Indeed,couldIdoallthatmylittlefriendsask,Iwouldbeobligedtowritedozensofbookstosatisfytheirdemands.AndIwishIcould,forIenjoywritingthesestoriesjustasmuchasthechildrensaytheyenjoyreadingthem.
Well,hereis"moreaboutDorothy,"andaboutouroldfriendstheScarecrowandtheTinWoodman,andabouttheCowardlyLion,andOzma,andalltherestofthem;andhere,likewise,isagooddealaboutsomenewfolksthatarequeerandunusual.Onelittlefriend,whoreadthisstorybeforeitwasprinted,saidtome:"BillinaisREALOZZY,Mr.Baum,andsoareTiktokandtheHungryTiger."
Ifthisjudgmentisunbiasedandcorrect,andthelittlefolksfindthisnewstory"realOzzy,"IshallbeverygladindeedthatIwroteit.ButperhapsIshallgetsomemoreofthoseverywelcomelettersfrommyreaders,tellingmejusthowtheylike"OzmaofOz."Ihopeso,anyway.
L.FrankBaum.
Macatawa,1907.