Nobody, said Cap'n Bill solemnly, "ever sawr a mermaid an' lived to tell the tale." "Why not?" asked Trot, looking earnestly up into the old sailor's face. They were seated on a bench built around a giant acacia tree that grew just at the edge of the bluff. Below them rolled the blue waves of the great Pacific. A little way behind them was the house, a neat frame cottage painted white and surrounded by huge eucalyptus and pepper trees. Still farther behind that - a quarter of a mile distant but built upon a bend of the coast - was the village, overlooking a pretty bay.

This captivating tale by the "royal historian of Oz" recounts the further adventures of a little girl named Trot and Cap'n Bill, an old sailor, after their visit to the Sea Fairies. A remarkable fairyland in sky country, Sky Island turns out to be a place that Trot, Cap'n Bill, and their friend—a little boy nicknamed Button-bright—were glad to leave after having experienced some unpleasant moments there. Transported by a magical umbrella that whisks the three travelers off to this island in the sky, they meet the six snub-nosed princesses, discover the King's treasure chamber, encounter a blue wolf, meet Tourmaline the poverty Queen and Rosalie the Witch, and eventually make the long journey home. A charming addition to Dover's successful line of Oz books, this volume will delight long-time Oz fans as well as newcomers to L. Frank Baum's realms of fantasy. 86 black-and-white and 12 full-color illustrations.

Cap'n Bill and Trot journey to Oz and, with the help of the Scarecrow, the former ruler of Oz, overthrow the villainous King Krewl of Jinxland. Cap'n Bill and Trot had previously appeared in two other novels by Baum, The Sea Fairies and Sky Island. Based in part upon the 1914 silent film, His Majesty, the Scarecrow of Oz. This was allegedly L. Frank Baum's personal favourite Oz book.