Grampa in Oz

1924, 1985 Del Rey edition
Ruth Plumly Thompson
Illustrated by John R. Neill
Grampa in Oz
Bought newish for $5.95
Slightly worn paperback
B-

This is similar to Kabumpo in that a young prince goes in search of a princess bride, who turns out to be the enchanted girl he's already befriended.  Urtha shows up at an earlier point than Peg Amy, so she has more time to befriend her prince.  The story also resembles Royal Book in that there's a parallel and pointless story for Dorothy.  I do like the various lands that Grampa and company go to, even if the back cover of this edition gives away that they "fall, swim, explode, sail, and fly above and below Oz and Ev."  Grampa isn't an actual grandfather, it's more of a courtesy title.  Thompson dedicates the book to "Uncle Billy," who was briefly referenced in Cowardly Lion. 

I'm taking off the "utopias" tag until further notice.  It is in this book that it becomes clear that Thompson is not a Baumian socialist.  There's a mention of money in Mudge, but that's one of the "bad kingdoms," and Ragbag is supposed to be a "good kingdom."  In a utopia, a royal family (or any family) wouldn't be impoverished.  At this point, the only thing that Thompson is definitely carrying over is talking animals, and that's not enough in itself.  Is the farm in Charlotte's Web a utopia?  I didn't think so.

Well, Thompson does continue the tradition of sticking the Winkies in the East, which comes up several times.  She also apparently has forgotten The Magical Monarch of Mo, when she writes that Fumbo is the first king to go on living after losing his head.  Like the Mo King, Fumbo gets a dough-head, although his is not eaten by birds.

There are fewer double entendres than usual, unless you count the Fire Islanders waving their arms gaily or the weather cock rising excitedly.  Incidentally, Bill does not meet Billina, although there is a gold-brick-laying hen.

Nothing too notable about Neill this time, except that he has Urtha wear flowers but not look like she's made of flowers.  The Del Rey cover makes Urtha look like walking shrubbery, which isn't exactly an improvement.