Books with author Ruth Stiles Gannett

The classic fantasy trilogy of Elmer Elevator and the flying baby dragon has delighted children and their parents for generations. Now, on the occasion of their fiftieth anniversary, Random House is proud to bring the three timeless tales together in one beautiful commemorative edition, complete with the original delightful illustrations. A Newbery Honor Book and an ALA Notable Book, My Father's Dragon is followed by Elmer and the Dragon ("rich, humorous, and thoroughly satisfying"*) and The Dragons of Blueland ("ingenious and plausible, the fantasy well-sustained"*). Each story stands alone, but read in succession, they are an unforgettable experience.*Library Journal, starred review

When Elmer Elevator tells a stray cat about his dream of being able to fly, he learns of a captive dragon on Wild Island. The dragon has been forced by the jungle residents to serve as their shuttle across a wide river — and anyone who rescues the dragon from its cruel captors might be entitled to a free ride.Elmer needs no further encouragement to stow away aboard a ship to the island, where he matches wits with hungry tigers, an irate gorilla, cranky crocodiles, and other moody creatures. A charmingly illustrated Newbery Honor Book, this comic adventure story has delighted generations of children.

The classic fantasy trilogy of Elmer Elevator and the flying baby dragon has delighted children and their parents for generations. Now, on the occasion of their fiftieth anniversary, Random House is proud to bring the three timeless tales together in one beautiful commemorative edition, complete with the original delightful illustrations. A Newbery Honor Book and an ALA Notable Book, My Father's Dragon is followed by Elmer and the Dragon ("rich, humorous, and thoroughly satisfying"*) and The Dragons of Blueland ("ingenious and plausible, the fantasy well-sustained"*). Each story stands alone, but read in succession, they are an unforgettable experience.*Library Journal, starred review

My Father’s Dragon is a 1948 illustrated children’s novel by American author Ruth Stiles Gannett. Narrated by the unnamed son of Elmer Elevator, it tells the story of when a young Elmer traveled to Wild Island to save a dragon hatchling. Elmer uses his creativity and quick thinking to complete his rescue mission. The novel, the first in a trilogy, is followed by Elmer and the Dragon, and The Dragons of Blueland. It has been adapted into both an anime and an animated movie, and was awarded the Newbery Honor, one of the highest awards in children’s literature.The story begins in an unnamed city where Elmer lives as a child. After he befriends an alley cat and decides to take him home, his mother refuses to take the cat in. Though he cannot give him a permanent place to stay, Elmer and the cat remain friends. When Elmer tells the cat about his dream of being able to fly wherever he wants, the cat tells Elmer his story of Wild Island. On the island, a young dragon is enslaved by the local traders, who force him to carry them and their goods back and forth across the river. Elmer resolves to travel to Wild Island to save the baby dragon; the cat helps him pack enough supplies for his trip. Then, Elmer sneaks aboard a ship in the harbor and sets out to sea.

"A real delight." — The New YorkerWhen Elmer Elevator strikes up a friendship with an alley cat, he learns of a baby dragon that is being forced to serve as a ferry for the selfish animals of Wild Island. Elmer determines at once to free the enslaved dragon, and with a bit of advice from the savvy cat, he arms himself with chewing gum, lollipops, rubber bands, and some other unlikely items. With these tools and his own sharp wits, Elmer is prepared to face hungry tigers, cranky crocodiles, and other challenges.Both a Newbery Honor Book and an American Library Association Notable Book, this charming story has delighted generations of readers since its original publication in 1948. The imaginative tale has served as inspiration for a play, as well as a Japanese anime version and a forthcoming animated film. With bold artwork newly reproduced from the artist's originals, this edition of My Father's Dragon is the definitive version of an enduring children's classic.

My Father's Dragon is a children's novel by Ruth Stiles Gannett about a young boy, Elmer Elevator, who runs away to Wild Island to rescue a baby Dragon. The narrative mode is unusual, in that the narrator refers to the protagonist only as "my father", giving the impression that this is a true story that happened long ago. The illustrations within the book are black and white done with a grease crayon on a grained paper, done by Ruth Chrisman Gannett, who also illustrated other children's books such as My Mother Is the Most Beautiful Woman in the World, Paco Goes to the Fair, Miss Hickory, Hipo the Hippo, and adult books such as Tortilla Flat by John Steinbeck.

A boy risks his life to free a flying dragon in this beloved children’s classic and Newbery Honor Book. Elmer Elevator has always wanted to fly, and when he takes in an old alley cat out of the rain, he gets his chance. The grateful cat tells him about a flying dragon that lives on the faraway Wild Island, where it has been tied up by a bunch of cruel animals and forced to work incessantly. Not being the kind of boy who stands for such things, Elmer packs his knapsack and sets off to free the downtrodden dragon. Stowing aboard a ship and braving many dangers, Elmer will let nothing stop him from reaching Wild Island. But if he’s going to save the dragon and finally fly, he’ll have to dig deep into his knapsack and outwit all sorts of tricky creatures inhabiting the isle.

When Elmer Elevator tells a stray cat about his dream of being able to fly, he learns of a captive dragon on Wild Island. The dragon has been forced by the jungle residents to serve as their shuttle across a wide river — and anyone who rescues the dragon from its cruel captors might be entitled to a free ride.Elmer needs no further encouragement to stow away aboard a ship to the island, where he matches wits with hungry tigers, an irate gorilla, cranky crocodiles, and other moody creatures. A charmingly illustrated Newbery Honor Book, this comic adventure story has delighted generations of children.