Gnome King of Oz (The Wonderful Oz Books, #21) (Ballantine Books)

Ruggedo, the wicked old Gnome King, escapes from Runaway Island and sets out to reclaim his own kingdom and ravage Oz. Together with Peter, an unsuspecting lad from Philadelphia, he discovers the magic casket of Soob the Sorcerer and a flying cloak of Invisibility.

Meanwhile, Scraps, the extraordinary Patchwork Girl of Oz, has been kidnapped from the Emerald City. Along with Peter, Grumpy the Bear, and Ozwold the Oztrich, she tries to save the capital of Oz before Ruggedo's new sorcery can take effect. But it's up to Peter and his baseball pitching skill to make the final stand against the Gnome King of Oz!

Praise for the Oz series

"Where the young stay young and the old grow young forever--these books are for readers of all ages."--Ray Bradbury

"The land of Oz has managed to fascinate each new generation. . . . The Oz books continue to exert their spell . . . and those who read [them] are often made what they were not--imaginative, tolerant, alert to wonders."--Gore Vidal

"I was raised with the Oz books, and their enchantment, humor and excitement remain with me. They are still a joy and a treasure. I welcome this Oz revival."--Stephen R. Donaldson