The Road to Oz recap

Dorothy and Toto become lost while helping the wandering Shaggy Man find a Kansas road. They meet the forgetful child Button-Bright and Polychrome, a fairy daughter of the Rainbow, then follow a twisting route through Foxville, Dunkiton, and other strange countries. They escape the head-throwing Scoodlers and use a sand boat built by Johnny Dooit to cross the Deadly Desert into Oz. Old friends guide them to the Emerald City, where their arrival joins Ozma's birthday celebration. After a gathering of famous fairyland rulers, the Wizard sends the guests home in magic bubbles. Button-Bright reaches his family, Polychrome returns to the rainbow, Dorothy and Toto go back to Kansas, and the Shaggy Man settles happily in Oz.

Dorothy Gale has made several journeys to Oz and remains a close friend of its ruler, Ozma. Her companions there include the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, Cowardly Lion, Wizard, Tik-Tok, and Billina. Dorothy still lives with Aunt Em and Uncle Henry in Kansas, while Ozma can sometimes observe or assist her through powerful magic.

In Kansas, Dorothy tries to direct a wandering Shaggy Man to the road for Butterfield, but the lanes change and both become lost. Toto follows them. They soon meet Button-Bright, a small boy who cannot remember his home and is rarely troubled by anything. The road leads into Foxville, whose people have human bodies and fox heads; its ruler receives the travelers but uses magic that briefly gives two of them animal-like heads. After the spell is undone, the party meets Polychrome, the Rainbow's Daughter, who fell from the rainbow and cannot return until it appears again. She joins them on the road.

Dorothy's company passes through Dunkiton, a city of donkeys, and encounters a musician whose every breath produces the noise of an orchestra. In a barren country they are captured by the Scoodlers, creatures able to remove and throw their heads. The Scoodlers mean to cook the visitors, but the prisoners escape the soup kettle and flee. Their road ends at the Deadly Desert surrounding Oz. The Shaggy Man summons Johnny Dooit, a tiny master builder, who makes a sand boat. Polychrome's fairy power supplies motion, allowing everyone to sail across the deadly sands without touching them.

Inside Oz, the travelers drink from the Truth Pond and continue through familiar regions. They visit Tik-Tok and Billina, then call on the Tin Woodman and Jack Pumpkinhead. A splendid royal chariot sent by Ozma meets them and carries them toward the Emerald City. Dorothy realizes that Ozma knew of the journey and has timed their arrival for her birthday. Old friends welcome Dorothy and Toto, while Button-Bright, Polychrome, and the Shaggy Man are treated as honored guests rather than strangers.

Ozma receives visitors from many fairylands for her birthday, among them Santa Claus and other famous rulers. Dorothy helps welcome them, and the celebration ends with a grand banquet and gifts. The Wizard sends the departing guests across the Deadly Desert in magic bubbles. Button-Bright is restored to his family, and Polychrome finds her father's rainbow and returns to it. Dorothy and Toto go safely home to Kansas. The Shaggy Man chooses to stay in Oz, where he is loved without needing the charm he carried. His Love Magnet is hung over the gate of the Emerald City so that its kindly influence can benefit all who enter.

Dorothy's arrival in the Emerald City proves to be part of Ozma's birthday plan: Ozma knew her friend was wandering toward Oz and sent the royal chariot to complete the journey. Dorothy's new companions are welcomed and the Shaggy Man is given fresh clothing, though he keeps his old shaggy appearance by choice. Rulers and magical visitors from many lands arrive, including Santa Claus, and Ozma's birthday is celebrated with a great banquet and gifts. The Wizard uses bubbles to carry the guests safely home across the Deadly Desert. Button-Bright is returned to his family, Polychrome rejoins her father's rainbow, and Dorothy and Toto are sent back to Kansas. The Shaggy Man chooses to remain in Oz, where the Love Magnet is placed over the Emerald City's gate so that goodwill may be shared by everyone who enters.