The Rundelstone of Oz [Hardcover]

Eloise McGraw (Author), Eric Shanower (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 15, 2001

Join the living marionette Pocotristi Sostenuto—better known as Poco—on his desperate search for the missing Rundelstone of Oz.

Poco and his fellow Troupadours travel through remote corners of the magical Land of Oz, presenting plays to entertain the inhabitants. But after a triumphant performance in Whitheraway Castle, Poco suddenly finds himself alone and thrust into a new line of work—as major-domo to Slyddwyn the Whitherd.

Soon, unanswered questions trouble Poco. Who is the mysterious black-bearded stranger repeatedly donning disguises to gain entrance to the castle? What scheme is Slyddwyn the Whitherd planning? And where did Poco’s fellow players really go?

To get answers, Poco must find the mysterious Rundelstone—and he better find it fast, or else the sun will never rise again on the hidden Oz kingdom of Fyordi-Zik.

At first, Poco’s only ally is a Gillikin boy named Rolly. But even when Ozma, Dorothy, the Cowardly Lion, and the Wizard of Oz join Poco, can anyone hope to untangle the devious designs of Slyddwyn?

The Rundelstone of Oz bursts with magic and surprises right up to its final page.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Eloise McGraw was born in 1915 in Houston, Texas. She grew up in Oklahoma, and for much of her adult life lived in Oregon. Her first book for children, Sawdust in His Shoes (1950), was followed by twenty others, including the perennially popular Mara: Daughter of the Nile (1953) and three Newbery Honor books, Moccasin Trail (1952), The Golden Goblet (1961), and The Moorchild (1996). She was married to William Corbin McGraw, also a writer of books for children. They had two children and five grandchildren. Mrs. McGraw’s two previous additions to the Oz series, co-authored with her daughter, Lauren Lynn McGraw, are Merry Go Round in Oz (1963) and The Forbidden Fountain of Oz (1980). She died in 2000.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Hungry Tiger Pr; First Edition edition (June 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1929527047
• ISBN-13: 978-1929527045
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #974,457 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A "must" for Oz fans, November 7, 2001

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Rundelstone of Oz (Hardcover)

In The Rundelstone Of Oz, author Eloise McGraw demonstrates the kind of writing skills that have marked her as a three time Newbery honoree. The latest entry into the legendary fantasy world of Oz first created by L. Frank Baum, The Rundelstone Of Oz is a welcome addition that will become as classic an entertainment as any in the Oz series. Superbly illustrated by Eric Shanower in the "Oz Tradition", The Rundelstone Of Oz is a "must" for Oz fans, as well as a highly recommended acquisition for school and community library collections.

4.0 out of 5 stars Romancing the Rundelstone, November 7, 2010

By 

J. Alford (Atlanta, GA. United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Rundelstone of Oz (Hardcover)

This, the final Oz novel to be written by Eloise McGraw, was published a year after her death in 2001. McGraw also wrote Merry Go Round Of Oz, the last of the official "Famous Forty" line of Oz books stemming from the orignal series by L. Frank Baum and Rudy Thompson, as well as The Forbidden Fountain Of Oz which wasn't counted as canon in the Famous Forty. The Rundelstone Of Oz was put together by her daughter, Lauren Lynn McGraw. This was illustrated Eric Shanower, and printed by his company of Hungry Tiger Press. The story is independent from any of Elioise McGraw's previous books, although it was first concieved as a segment from Forbidden Fountain.

It opens up with a group of living marionettes called Troopadours traveling around with their human leader, Maestroissimo Furioso, who tour Oz and entertain its citizens. They enter a small village in Gillikin, and after puting on a successful show, they all go missing, except for Poco. Poco takes up being the major domo for a local "witherd", the crafty Slyddwyn. He tells Poco that his friends left him, but Poco doesn't believe him, and he starts to search Slyddwyn's castle for clues on their wherabouts. Poco befriends the local orphan boy Rolly, and frequently encounter the very perturbed Shmodda who claims that Slyddwyn stole one of seven mystic rocks called the Rundelstones. With Rolly's help, Poco manages discovers that Slyddwyn had transformed his friends into various objects, which Poco believes he was able to do with the magic of the Rundelstone. Poco eventually discovers the stone, and restores his marrionette friends to their natural forms. Along with Shmodda, they finally confront Slyddwyn who locks himself in a special room magically sealed from the inside. However, Ozma, Dorothy, the Wizard, and Lion arrive to help them. They find that a stray dog is really Furioso changed by the Rundelstone, and is actually Rolly's father. All is restored as the Troopadours head out for more fun.

This was a pretty good story, one that was focused more on original characters in the land of Oz instead of the regular cast. Eloise McGraw told a compelling tale about an uncertain fellow looking for his lost commrades. Eric Shanower offers alot of great illustrations for this, and did a great job publishing it. This makes for a fine addition to anyone's Oz collection, but also stands alone a wonderful children's book.