The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: Adapted for Children recap

A cyclone carries Dorothy and Toto from Kansas to the Land of Oz, where her house kills the Wicked Witch of the East. Wearing the witch's silver shoes, Dorothy follows the yellow brick road to ask the Wizard of Oz for a way home. She is joined by a Scarecrow seeking brains, a Tin Woodman seeking a heart, and a Lion seeking courage. Oz refuses their requests unless they defeat the Wicked Witch of the West. Dorothy destroys the witch with water, but the supposed wizard is exposed as an ordinary man using tricks. He gives her companions symbolic gifts that confirm qualities they already possess, yet his attempt to take Dorothy home by balloon fails. After a journey south, Glinda explains that Dorothy's shoes can carry her anywhere. Dorothy uses them to return to Aunt Em in Kansas, while her friends remain as rulers in Oz.

Dorothy lives with Aunt Em, Uncle Henry, and her dog Toto on the Kansas prairie. A cyclone lifts the farmhouse before Dorothy can enter the storm cellar and carries her and Toto to the colorful Land of Oz. The house lands on and kills the Wicked Witch of the East, freeing the Munchkins she ruled. The good Witch of the North gives Dorothy the dead witch's silver shoes and tells her that the Wizard in the Emerald City may know how to send her home. Dorothy follows the yellow brick road. In a field she meets a talking Scarecrow who believes he cannot be intelligent because he has no brain. She frees him from his pole, and he joins her so he can ask Oz for one. Despite his stated lack, the Scarecrow already solves practical problems on the road.

Dorothy and the Scarecrow find a Tin Woodman rusted motionless in the forest and restore him with oil. He says he wants a heart and joins their journey. They next meet a Lion who attacks with a roar but admits that he is frightened and wants courage. The four travelers continue together, protecting and carrying one another across broken roads, deep ditches, dangerous creatures, and a broad river. Their actions repeatedly contradict what they believe about themselves: the Scarecrow devises plans, the Tin Woodman shows compassion, and the Lion faces danger to help the group. Near the Emerald City, a field of enchanted poppies sends Dorothy, Toto, and the Lion into a deadly sleep. The Scarecrow and Tin Woodman carry Dorothy and Toto clear, but the Lion is too heavy for them to move alone.

The travelers recruit the Queen of the Field Mice and her subjects to pull the sleeping Lion out of the poppies. Reunited, the party reaches the Emerald City, where everyone wears green spectacles and the Wizard receives them one at a time in different frightening forms. Oz will grant nothing unless they kill the Wicked Witch of the West. In the Winkie Country, the witch sends wolves, crows, bees, soldiers, and finally the Winged Monkeys against them. The monkeys capture Dorothy and Toto, damage the Scarecrow and Tin Woodman, and cage the Lion. The witch enslaves Dorothy while trying to steal the silver shoes. Enraged when one shoe is taken, Dorothy throws water over her, and the witch melts away. The freed Winkies help restore Dorothy's companions, and the group returns toward the Emerald City with the witch's golden cap.

Using the golden cap, Dorothy summons the Winged Monkeys to carry the restored party back to the Emerald City. Oz delays meeting them until they demand that he keep his promises. Toto then knocks over a screen, revealing not a supernatural ruler but an ordinary old man operating mechanical effects. He came from Omaha by balloon and has maintained authority through illusion. Although he has no magic, he gives the Scarecrow a symbolic brain, the Tin Woodman a symbolic heart, and the Lion a drink presented as courage. Each accepts the token as the gift he sought, even though the journey has already shown that he possessed the quality. Oz plans to fly Dorothy home in a balloon and leave the Scarecrow as ruler. The balloon departs accidentally while Dorothy is chasing Toto, stranding her in Oz.

After the balloon is lost, Dorothy learns that Glinda, the good witch of the South, may be able to help. She, Toto, the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and Lion set out across new country. They pass living trees that try to bar their way and enter a delicate land where people, buildings, and animals are made of china. Beyond it they reach a forest troubled by a giant spider. The Lion kills the creature, and the grateful animals ask him to become their king after he has helped Dorothy. The travelers continue toward the Quadling Country, still relying on the intelligence, compassion, and bravery that the three companions once believed only the Wizard could provide.

The travelers cross the final obstacles and reach Glinda's palace. Glinda explains that Dorothy's silver shoes have always had the power to carry her home. In exchange for the golden cap, Glinda uses the Winged Monkeys to return the Scarecrow to rule the Emerald City, the Tin Woodman to rule the grateful Winkies, and the Lion to the forest whose animals chose him as king; she then gives the cap to the monkeys, ending their forced service. Dorothy says goodbye, takes Toto in her arms, and commands the shoes to carry them to Kansas. She arrives safely near Aunt Em and Uncle Henry, though the silver shoes are lost during the flight over the desert. Aunt Em embraces her, and Dorothy declares her happiness at being home. Her journey ends where it began, while each companion remains in Oz with a life that confirms the abilities he sought.

Glinda tells Dorothy that the silver shoes she has worn since arriving can carry their wearer anywhere. Dorothy says goodbye to the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and Lion, who now have kingdoms and responsibilities of their own. She takes Toto in her arms, strikes the shoes together, and asks to return to Aunt Em. The magic carries her over the desert, but the shoes fall off during the journey and are lost. Dorothy lands on the Kansas prairie near the farmhouse. Aunt Em runs to meet her, astonished by her sudden appearance, and Dorothy tells her that she has returned from the Land of Oz and is glad to be home. Her three companions remain in Oz: the Scarecrow rules the Emerald City, the Tin Woodman rules the Winkies, and the Lion rules the forest, each already demonstrating the quality he once believed he lacked.