From The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Toto
Dorothy’s little dog • Playful and true
Dorothy’s lively little black terrier, who goes everywhere with her.
Who is Toto?
Toto is Dorothy’s lively little black dog with silky fur and twinkling eyes. He chases grasshoppers on the farm, rides the cyclone all the way to Oz in Dorothy’s arms, and trots beside her on every step of the adventure. He is small, but he barks bravely at anything that seems to threaten his friends.
Toto is a character in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the 1900 novel by L. Frank Baum, retold for ages 6–9 by Sean Lee.
What is Toto like?
- playful
- loyal
- curious
Toto’s story
Toto is the reason Dorothy stays cheerful in gray Kansas. When the cyclone arrives, he hides under the bed, and Dorothy goes back for him. She catches him by the ear just as the house lifts into the sky. He is with her through the whole trip.
In Oz he barks at birds and at the scarecrow on his pole. He chases the Field Mice and has to be called back, and he rushes at the Lion before Dorothy slaps the Lion’s nose. In the poppy field he curls up asleep beside Dorothy, just as she does.
At the Emerald City he is the one who accidentally uncovers the Wizard’s secret by tipping over the screen. Later he runs into a crowd and keeps Dorothy from boarding the Wizard’s balloon. When she finally reaches home, Toto leaps out of her arms and runs to the barn, barking happily.
“It was Toto that made Dorothy laugh, and saved her from growing as gray as her other surroundings.”
A moment to remember
When Toto dashes behind a tall green screen in the throne room, it tips over and reveals a surprise that nobody expected.
Family and friends
- Dorothy Gale: his owner
- The Wizard of Oz: revealed his secret
- Cowardly Lion: Dorothy defended him from the Lion
- Scarecrow: barked at him on the pole
Talk about it
Toto goes everywhere with Dorothy. If you had a pet who followed you on an adventure, what would you want to do together?
Questions about Toto
- What kind of dog is Toto in the book?
- Toto is a little black dog with long silky hair and small black eyes. Baum does not name a breed.
- How does Toto reveal the Wizard of Oz?
- When the Lion roars, Toto jumps away and tips over the screen in the corner. This reveals the little old man behind it.
- Does Toto make it back to Kansas?
- Yes. He returns with Dorothy and runs to the barn, barking happily when she arrives home.
Read the story in
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Ages 6–9, 72 pages
