My Father’s Dragon

By Ruth Stiles Gannett

Copyright 1948

I first read this book to my own children as one of the first chapter books we read together.  I hadn't heard of it until reading about it on a list of recommended chapter books for young children.  I think the story of Elmer Elevator in My Father’s Dragon is a perfect first non-picture book.  It won a Newbery Honor in 1949, but has stood the test of time. Sprinkled throughout are several illustrations that depict Elmer’s adventures, but they aren’t really necessary.  The story itself is so humorous and engaging that the words themselves paint the pictures.  

In this story, 9-year-old Elmer has learned from an old alley cat that a baby dragon is being held captive on Wild Island.  Surely, if rescued, the dragon would be happy to fly Elmer anywhere on his back.  So Elmer packs his backpack full.  Besides 25 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and, Elmer packs a comb, six magnifying glasses, chewing gum, some rubber bands, a toothbrush, and two dozen pink lollipops.  Although he meets dangerous and predatory animals, Elmer is able to use his ingenuity, in often hilarious ways, to escape their clutches and reach the poor dragon.

My favorite part was when he fashioned a bridge across a river teaming with crocodiles by tying the pink lollipops onto each tail.  The crocodiles then lined up in order to lick the lollipop fastened to their friends’ tails, allowing Elmer to run across their backs to the other side of the river.  

  

Resourcefulness is the lesson here.  Be creative with what you have on hand to solve your problems.  Elmer was armed with a backpack full of simple, random items yet was able to use those items to rescue an oppressed dragon from its captors.  Use your head, and use what you have on hand.  You may not be able to outwit the lions and crocodiles in order to rescue a dragon, but you can tackle other obstacles on the way to your goals.