Other editions of book My Father's Dragon

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.

Armed with two dozen pink lollipops, rubber bands, chewing gum, and a fine-toothed comb, young Elmer runs away with an alley cat to a faraway island. There, he must overcome fierce beasts in order to rescue a baby dragon. The first of a three-part series, which includes Elmer and the Dragon and The Dragons of Blueland, this Newbery Honor Book and ALA Notable Book has been in print continuously for more than 40 years.

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 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.

On Wild Island a group of lazy animals had captured a baby dragon and put him to work. This little dragon could fly, so they used him to ferry them across the river. He didn’t like it. So went the tale that Elmer Elevator (“my father”) heard from his friend, the cat, long ago. Being a kind-hearted boy, Elmer set out to rescue the dragon. With the advice of the cat, he made elaborate preparations for his secret journey, but he never dreamed what adventures were to befall him once he set foot on Wild Island. How he outwitted the lions, tigers, wild boars and other animals and freed the dragon makes an appealing and delightfully humorous tale.

The Newbery Honor-winning classic about a daring dragon rescue!When Elmer Elevator hears about the baby dragon being held captive on Wild Island, he knows just what to do. First, he packs his knapsack with important supplies, like chewing gum, lollipops, and lots of rubberbands. Then he stows away on a ship headed for theisland. Along the way, Elmer meets many exotic animals. Each tries to sidetrack him, but Elmer has sometricks up his sleeve . . . or more precisely, in his knapsack. One way or another, he will rescue the dragon!First published in 1948, My Father’s Dragon has delighted generations of young readers. It is classic storytelling at its finest.AN ALA NOTABLE BOOK A COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS TEXT EXEMPLAR IN APPENDIX B "A real delight." —The New Yorker

On Wild Island a group of lazy animals had captured a baby dragon and put him to work. This little dragon could fly, so they used him to ferry them across the river. He didn’t like it. So went the tale that Elmer Elevator (“my father”) heard from his friend, the cat, long ago. Being a kind-hearted boy, Elmer set out to rescue the dragon. With the advice of the cat, he made elaborate preparations for his secret journey, but he never dreamed what adventures were to befall him once he set foot on Wild Island. How he outwitted the lions, tigers, wild boars and other animals and freed the dragon makes an appealing and delightfully humorous tale.

One cold rainy day when my father was a little boy, he met an old alley cat on his street. The cat was very drippy and uncomfortable so my father said, "Wouldn't you like to come home with me?"This surprised the cat—she had never before met anyone who cared about old alley cats—but she said, "I'd be very much obliged if I could sit by a warm furnace, and perhaps have a saucer of milk."