The Discontented Gopher: A Prairie Tale

Prairie Tales

by L. Frank Baum, Carolyn Digby Conahan (Illustrator)

When Zikky the Gopher wins the golden ball, he faces a tough decision - riches or happiness? Zikky follows his choice and enjoys his new life for a short wile, but soon he finds himself in trouble. Did the little gopher make the wisest decision, or will it be the end of him? L. Frank Baum's Discontented Gopher is a true American fairy tale. Danger lurks around every corner, and wisdon is hard-earned in this classic fable.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1905

About the author

also wrote under the names:
* Edith van Dyne,
* Floyd Akers,
* Schuyler Staunton,
* John Estes Cooke,
* Suzanne Metcalf,
* Laura Bancroft,
* Louis F. Baum,
* Captain Hugh Fitzgerald

Lyman Frank Baum was an American author best known for his children's fantasy books, particularly The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, part of a series. In addition to the 14 Oz books, Baum penned 41 other novels (not including four lost, unpublished novels), 83 short stories, over 200 poems, and at least 42 scripts. He made numerous attempts to bring his works to the stage and screen; the 1939 adaptation of the first Oz book became a landmark of 20th-century cinema.
Born and raised in Chittenango, New York, Baum moved west after an unsuccessful stint as a theater producer and playwright. He and his wife opened a store in South Dakota and he edited and published a newspaper. They then moved to Chicago, where he worked as a newspaper reporter and published children's literature, coming out with the first Oz book in 1900. While continuing his writing, among his final projects he sought to establish a film studio focused on children's films in Los Angeles, California.
His works anticipated such later commonplaces as television, augmented reality, laptop computers (The Master Key), wireless telephones (Tik-Tok of Oz), women in high-risk and action-heavy occupations (Mary Louise in the Country), and the ubiquity of advertising on clothing (Aunt Jane's Nieces at Work).

Reviews

[Geriann Albers · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. Interesting to read an American-set fairy tale.

[Miriam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was charming, as L. Frank Baum's stories invariably are. The writing is characteristically concise, evocative, and cheerful. The pictures in this edition are very cute and serve to illustrate not only Baum's story and characters. but also his tone and setting. Unlike most of his stories, this is a true fairy tale in the oldest tradition, including the unhappy ending for poor Zikky, the titular gopher. Still, it's worth having and reading, in this lovely compact edition, with a small glossary for young readers.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute! Refreshing! Fun!