Honestly, old RPT can do no wrong in my book. True, her books are a lot looser than L. Frank Baum's were, and sometimes verge on the silly, but Ruth wrote books that were FUN and amusing. She created characters that were engaging and memorable, lovable. And with this book, Aunt Ruthie created the elegant elephant of Pumperdink: Kabumpo. This guy was such an enduring fixture in the Oz books that he appeared in several subsequent books, and he's always the delightful, pompous blowhard with a heart of gold that he is in this book.John R. Neill's illustrations are just as much fun as they always are, and bring a smile to the reader. He created the crucially permanent depictions of the Oz characters that true Oz fans know them to be.This book has some of the best adventuring and merging storylines in an Oz book, and having Ruggedo, the old Nome King, return as a recurring villain MIGHT have been trope, but Thompson treated his villainy with a new, original twist that is sure to please anyone.This book can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. It endures because it has just the right ingredients. Fun, whimsy, adventure, magic, love, and Oz.