In Kabumpo in Oz, young Prince Pompadore ("Pomp") of Pumperdink travels to the Emerald City with his wise and elegant elephant, Kabumpo, intending to ask for Princess Ozma's hand in marriage to save his kingdom from an old prophecy. Their journey is quickly derailed by the meddling Ruggedo (the former Nome King), leading to Pomp and Kabumpo being separated from their entourage and embarking on a series of whimsical and sometimes perilous adventures through strange lands. This story highlights themes of loyalty (particularly Kabumpo's devotion and good sense), facing unexpected challenges, and the character growth of the initially sheltered Prince Pompadore as he learns resourcefulness and bravery, culminating in their eventual arrival in the Emerald City and a confrontation with Ruggedo alongside familiar Oz friends.

In The Royal Book of Oz, the beloved Scarecrow feels downhearted, believing he lacks the distinguished ancestry of his friends like Ozma. Determined to discover his "family tree," he leaves the Emerald City, accompanied by Dorothy and the Cowardly Lion, journeying back to the cornfield where he was first created. His quest leads him up a magical beanstalk originating from his old pole, taking him to the fascinating Silver Islands ruled by the regal descendants of Emperor Chang Wang Woe. There, the Scarecrow makes the astonishing discovery that he is royalty, descended from the Emperor himself who was transformed centuries ago, providing a whimsical exploration of identity, self-worth, and the idea that unique origins are just as valuable as traditional lineage.

An old wizard, exiled from a wizarding school, adopts a dog and cat and educates them. They embark on a journey to deliver rent money to Fairy Jocapa, who lives with an enchanted green king. The dog and cat learn that Wizard Zidoc caused the enchantment. They attempt to reason with Zidoc but are drawn into a chaotic battle where Zidoc and Serponel transform to trick them. The old wizard arrives, uses the spell Zidoc tried to ban, destroying the castle and evil wizards. The king is freed, and the old wizard returns home with his beloved dog and cat, living happily ever after.

Margery, an orphaned girl wandering with her brother Tommy, receives a pair of shoes from a kind gentleman. Overjoyed at finally having two shoes, she proudly shows them off to everyone, repeating "Two shoes!" so often that she becomes known as "Goody Two Shoes." The story explains the origin of her nickname, highlighting her previous state of poverty and her delight in a simple act of kindness.

Nelly, forbidden from swimming due to a cold, wishes to be a mermaid and is granted her wish by a Great Seagull. As a mermaid, she befriends Goldfin and Silvertail, but soon finds mermaid life dull and emotionless. Missing her family and human connection, she asks the Great Seagull to turn her back. He agrees, and she wakes up on the beach, realizing the value of her human life and the love of her family after what seemed like a long dream.

A grumpy Goose worries that the farmer is fattening them up for Thanksgiving, while a cheerful Duck enjoys the extra food. The Turkey, observing their debate, remains indifferent and content, simply gobbling. The barnyard creatures laugh at the Turkey's wise indifference, reminding everyone to live in the present and appreciate the moment.

In "Prince Darling," a well-meaning king wishes for his son, Prince Cheri, to be good, leading Fairy Candide to gift the prince a magic ring that pricks him whenever he misbehaves. Initially ignoring the warnings, Cheri becomes cruel and arrogant, eventually leading the fairy to transform him into various animals as punishment, forcing him to experience hardship and learn empathy. Through suffering and performing acts of kindness in his humbled forms (saving a man, feeding the hungry, trying to rescue the virtuous girl Zélie he once wronged), Cheri undergoes genuine character transformation. Ultimately, his remorse and good deeds restore him to human form, allowing him to reclaim his throne and rule wisely, demonstrating that true goodness is learned through consequence, self-reflection, and choosing kindness over entitlement.

In Hans Christian Andersen's "Little Claus and Big Claus," the clever but poor Little Claus faces the cruelty and envy of the wealthy Big Claus, who kills his only horse. Little Claus, however, uses his wits and a series of cunning tricks – first convincing a farmer his horsehide is a magical item to gain riches, then escaping Big Claus's murderous attempt to drown him by swapping places with an old drover, and finally deceiving the greedy Big Claus into believing cattle could be found at the bottom of the river – to turn his misfortunes around. The story culminates with Big Claus meeting his demise through his own avarice, tricked by Little Claus into being drowned, leaving the resourceful protagonist prosperous and victorious over his tormentor.

In L. Frank Baum's final Oz book, Princess Ozma, accompanied by Dorothy, embarks on a diplomatic mission to prevent war between two isolated and hostile communities: the brain-stealing Flatheads and the clever Skeezers living in a submerged glass dome. When Ozma and Dorothy become trapped by the Skeezers, the wise and powerful sorceress Glinda the Good must utilize her vast magical knowledge and resources, including her Great Book of Records, to devise a rescue and bring peace to these warring factions. The story highlights themes of conflict resolution, the dangers of prejudice born from isolation, leadership, and problem-solving, showcasing Glinda's significant power and wisdom in maintaining harmony within Oz.

In "The Magic of Oz," excitement builds for Princess Ozma's birthday, prompting Dorothy, the Wizard, Trot, and Cap'n Bill to embark on separate quests for unique magical gifts. Unbeknownst to them, the grumpy exiled Nome King, Ruggedo, has teamed up with a mischievous boy named Kiki Aru from Mount Munch, who possesses the powerful, transformation-inducing magic word "Pyrzqxgl." Planning to conquer Oz, the pair infiltrates the Emerald City and begins transforming its inhabitants, causing chaos. Ultimately, the Oz heroes must figure out the source of the trouble, confront the villains, counter the difficult magic word, and restore everyone to normal just in time for Ozma's grand birthday celebration, reinforcing themes of friendship, ingenuity, and the responsible use of power.