The Dummy that Lived

This story revolves around a young girl who discovers a magical dummy that comes to life when no one is looking. The dummy possesses supernatural powers and becomes her confidant and companion. As the girl grows older, she must confront the consequences of keeping the dummy's existence a secret from the world.

By L. Frank Baum · First published 1906 · Genre: Fantasy, Children's Literature, Adventure · 3,113 words

First lines

In all Fairyland there is no more mischievous a person than Tanko-Mankie the Yellow Ryl. He flew through the city one afternoon-quite invisible to mortal eyes, but seeing everything himself-and noticed a figure of a wax lady standing behind the big plate glass window of Mr. Floman's department store.

The wax lady was beautifully dressed, and extended in her stiff left hand was a card bearing the words:

What this Textopian page supports

The Dummy that Lived is listed on Textopian as a short story by L. Frank Baum, dated 1906 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

• Work type: Short story
• Author: L. Frank Baum
• Date: 1906 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Fantasy, Children's Literature, Adventure, Humor, Allegory
• Length: 3,113 words
• Structure: 1 section, 88 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for The Dummy that Lived by L. Frank Baum
• Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
• Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
• Readability and classroom-planning context
• Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

Discussion starters

• What should a reader notice first when entering The Dummy that Lived?
• How does this short story by L. Frank Baum fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
• Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

• The Story Of Tommy Tucker by L. Frank Baum
• The Riches Of Content by L. Frank Baum
• The Beautiful Child Rescues The Puppet by Carlo Collodi
• Little Bun Rabbit by L. Frank Baum
• The Surprising Adventures Of The Magical Monarch Of Mo And His People by L. Frank Baum
• Rudy And Babette by Hans Christian Andersen

Genres

• Fantasy — The plot revolves around a magical transformation, where a wax figure comes to life, embodying elements of fantasy and the supernatural.
• Children's Literature — The story is suitable for a younger audience, featuring whimsical characters and a moral lesson about identity and understanding.
• Adventure — The wax lady's journey through the city and her encounters with various characters create an adventurous narrative.
• Humor — The absurdity of a wax lady navigating the human world and the reactions of those around her provide comedic elements.

Tags

Fantasy · Children's Literature · Puppetry · Magic Realism · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Fairy Tale · Adventure · Coming of Age · Self-Discovery · Friendship

More by L. Frank Baum

• The Enchanted Buffalo (1919)
• The Tigers Eye: A Jungle Fairy Tale (1902)
• A Kidnapped Santa Claus (1902)
• The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900)
• Tip Manufactures a Pumpkinhead (1906)
• The Marvelous Powder of Life (1905)
• The Flight of the Fugitives (1907)
• Tip Makes an Experiment in Magic (1903)
• All works by L. Frank Baum