perhaps i should admit on the title page that this book is "by l. frank baum and his correspondents," for i have used many suggestions conveyed to me in letters from children. once on a time i really imagined myself "an author of fairy tales," but now i am merely an editor or private secretary for a host of youngsters whose ideas i am requestsed to weave into the thread of my stories.

these ideas are often clever. they are also logical and interesting. so i have used them whenever i could find an opportunity, and it is but just that i acknowledge my indebtedness to my little friends.

my, what imaginations these children have developed! sometimes i am fairly astounded by their daring and genius. there will be no lack of fairy-tale authors in the future, i am sure. my readers have told me what to do with dorothy, and aunt em and uncle henry, and i have obeyed their mandates. they have also given me a variety of subjects to write about in the future: enough, in fact, to keep me busy for some time. i am very proud of this alliance. children love these stories because children have helped to create them. my readers know what they want and realize that i try to please them. the result is very satisfactory to the publishers, to me, and (i am quite sure) to the children.

i hope, my dears, it will be a long time before we are obliged to dissolve partnership.

l. frank baum.

coronado, 1910