Excerpt
The cyclone had set the house down in a country of marvelous beauty.
While Dorothy stood looking eagerly at the strange and beautiful sights, she noticed coming toward her a group of the queerest people she had ever seen. They were not as big as the grown folk she had always been used to; but neither were they very small. Three were men and one a woman, and all were oddly dressed.
The little old woman walked up to Dorothy and said in a sweet voice, "You are welcome, most noble sorceress, to the land of the Munchkins. We are so grateful to you for having killed the Wicked Witch of the East and for setting our people free from bondage."
Dorothy looked and gave a little cry of fright. There, indeed, just under the corner of the house, two feet were sticking out, shod in silver shoes with pointed toes. "But who was she?" asked Dorothy.
"She was the Wicked Witch of the East," answered the woman. "She has held all the Munchkins in bondage for many years."
"Who are the Munchkins?" inquired Dorothy.
"They are the people who live in this land of the East, where the Wicked Witch ruled. I am their friend. When they saw the Witch of the East was dead, the Munchkins sent a swift messenger to me. I am the Witch of the North."
"But I thought all witches were wicked," said the girl.
"Oh, no; that is a great mistake, for I am one myself. Those who dwelt in the East and West were, indeed, wicked witches; but now that you have killed one of them, there is but one Wicked Witch in all the Land of Oz -- the one who lives in the West."
"But," said Dorothy, "Aunt Em has told me that the witches were all dead. She is my aunt who lives in Kansas, where I come from."
"I do not know where Kansas is. In the civilized countries, I believe that there are no witches left; nor wizards. But, you see, the Land of Oz has never been civilized, for we are cut off from all the rest of the world. Therefore we still have witches and wizards amongst us."
"Who are the Wizards?" asked Dorothy.
"Oz himself is the Great Wizard," answered the Witch. "He is more powerful than all the rest of us. He lives in the City of Emeralds."
Dorothy was going to ask another question, but just then the Munchkins gave a loud shout and pointed to where the Wicked Witch had been lying. The feet of the dead Witch had disappeared entirely and nothing was left but the silver shoes.
"She was so old," explained the Witch of the North, "that she dried up quickly in the sun. But the silver shoes are yours. There is some charm connected with them."
"I am anxious to get back to my aunt and uncle, for I am sure they will worry about me. Can you help me find my way?"
The Munchkins and the Witch looked at one another and then shook their heads.
"The North is my home," said the old lady, "and at its edge is the great desert that surrounds this land of Oz. You must go to the City of Emeralds. Perhaps Oz will help you."
"Will you go with me?" pleaded the ...girl.
"No, I cannot do that," she replied. "But I will give you my kiss, and no one will dare injure a person who has been kissed by the Witch of the North." Where her lips touched the girl, they left a round, shining mark.
"The road to the City of Emeralds is paved with yellow brick," said the Witch, "so you cannot miss it." The Witch gave Dorothy a friendly little nod, whirled on her heel, and disappeared.
Robert Sabuda is one of the most innovative and inventive children's book creators and is known worldwide for his amazing pop-up paper engineering. His books include Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, The Twelve Days of Christmas, The Night Before Christmas, The Winter's Tale, Peter Pan, Beauty and the Beast, to name but afew, have garnered numerous awards and have made the New York Times bestseller lists on many occasions. He lives in New York City.