About this title: When Elmer Elevator discovers that a baby dragon is being used by a group of lazy animals to ferry them across the river, the brave boy sets out to rescue the dragon from its life of servitude. Illustrated with b&w drawings.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Date Published: 1987
ISBN-13:9780394890487ISBN:0394890485
Description: Gannett, Ruth Chrisman. Very good. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 96 p. Contains: Illustrations. My Father's Dragon Trilogy (Paperback), 1. Intended for a juvenile audience. Very good read more
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Date Published: 1987
ISBN-13:9780394890487ISBN:0394890485
Description: Gannett, Ruth Chrisman. Very good. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 96 p. Contains: Illustrations. My Father's Dragon Trilogy (Paperback), 1. Intended for a juvenile audience. Very good read more
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Date Published: 1987
ISBN-13:9780394890487ISBN:0394890485
Description: Gannett, Ruth Chrisman. Good. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 96 p. Contains: Illustrations. My Father's Dragon Trilogy (Paperback), 1. Intended for a juvenile audience. Good read more
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Date Published: 1987
ISBN-13:9780394890487ISBN:0394890485
Description: Gannett, Ruth Chrisman. Very good. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 96 p. Contains: Illustrations. My Father's Dragon Trilogy (Paperback), 1. Intended for a juvenile audience. Very good read more
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Date Published: 1987
ISBN-13:9780394890487ISBN:0394890485
Description: Gannett, Ruth Chrisman. Very good. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 96 p. Contains: Illustrations. My Father's Dragon Trilogy (Paperback), 1. Intended for a juvenile audience. Very good read more
"he went to wild island and he met a cat and he met 7 tigers, he met a gorill,a he met a lion and he met ... um ... he met a couple monkeys while he was meeting the gorilla and he, uh... and the cat - he didn't find on wild island.
when he grew up he wanted to fly a plane and a cat told him about wild island and he wanted to go there because of the dragon and the dragon can fly and he got out his super sharp jackknife and started cutting through the rope tied to the dragon's neck and he started cutting through the rope and it didn't cut the dragon. and then they finally flew away. and something yelled down below "we need our dragon!" and that's it.
"Elmer Elevator, the narrator's father, is nine years old when he meets a talking alley cat, who tells him about his journey to a Wild Island where a baby dragon is held captive, forced to ferry animals across the river that divides the island. Elmer, annoyed with his mother for being rude to the cat, packs twenty-five peanut butter sandwiches, six apples, and assorted gear and stows away on a ship bound for the nearby Tangerina, then crosses a bridge of rocks to explore the island. There he outwits a succession of fierce animals bound on devouring him and frees the dragon.
This story is masterfully written, in very short chapters that each pack a punch and end with a cliffhanger. The plot points are simple enough that young children will be able to follow them, but clever enough that adults will enjoy the author's absurd sense of humor. It's perfect for children transitioning out of picture books. Published in 1947, it reflects mainly wholesome values of kindness, courage, and generosity, with a refreshing naivete, and it will appeal to children who enjoy fantasies. Older children who care about facts, however, may be annoyed with its lighthearted disregard of realism.
Some concerns that parents ought to consider when deciding about this book are that (as in many fantasies of this type) Elmer does disobey his mother by feeding the alley cat and sneaking out for walks with him. He also runs away, and during his travels he lies to some animals in order to protect himself. His mother does relent about the cat, and Elmer never lies outright to his parents, who in a later book welcome him home with glad relief. These moral elements can be dealt with through discussion, but the power of the story is far greater than a conversation. I believe that the warm family relationships, and other positive values in the story outweigh the effect Elmer's rebellion and lying.
All told, this is a positive, funny and lighthearted fantasy with a potentially problematic plot device of lying and running away."
"This was a nice bedtime read-aloud for my youngest two kids, ages 7 and 9. My husband read this series to our older two kids, and I decided it was time that I read it for myself and let the younger two share in this classic. We finished up the first book in the series and will start the second one tonight. What I liked best about the book is that each chapter seemed to stand alone and made a good stopping point, yet at the same time it also left the kids wanting more and begging me to keep reading."
"Newbery Honor from decades ago. My 8 year old loved this one! This book is in omniscient pov, yet it is peculiar, and the narrator speaks of the main character as "my father." The beginning doesn't connect to the ending (what happens to the cat?), yet the items the MC takes with him are critical to both plot and humor. A nonsense tale with enough action, adventure and characters for forward movement."
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