My Father's Dragon facts for kids
My Father's Dragon book cover
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| Author | Ruth Stiles Gannett |
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| Illustrator | Ruth Chrisman Gannett |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | My Father's Dragon trilogy |
| Genre | Children's novel |
| Publisher | Random House |
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Publication date
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1948 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Followed by | Elmer and the Dragon |
My Father's Dragon is a classic children's book written by Ruth Stiles Gannett in 1948. Her stepmother, Ruth Chrisman Gannett, drew all the pictures. The story is about a brave young boy named Elmer Elevator. He goes on an amazing adventure to Wild Island to save a baby dragon.
This book is the first in a series of three. The other books are Elmer and the Dragon and The Dragons of Blueland. All three stories were later put together in a special 50-year anniversary edition. My Father's Dragon is a very popular book. It was even named a Newbery Honor Book and an ALA Notable Book. In 1997, it was made into a Japanese anime movie. Netflix also released a new animated film based on the book in 2021.
The way the story is told is quite special. The person telling the story always says "my father" when talking about Elmer. This makes it sound like a true story that happened a long time ago. The next two books in the series are told in a more common way, using "he" or "Elmer."
The pictures in the book are drawn by Ruth Chrisman Gannett. They are all black and white and look like they were drawn with a grease crayon. She also drew pictures for many other books.
This book is now in the public domain. This means its copyright has ended, and anyone can share or use the story freely.
Contents
What the Story is About
The story begins when a boy named Elmer finds a friendly cat on the street. The cat tells him about a faraway place called Wild Island. On this island, a baby dragon is being held captive and treated badly.
Elmer decides he must help the dragon. He secretly sneaks onto a ship. To hide, he pretends to be a sack of wheat. Later, he is mistaken for dried corn. Once Elmer arrives on Wild Island, he faces many dangers. He meets seven fierce tigers, two wild boars, a big rhinoceros, and a strong gorilla. Finally, he has to cross a river by walking on seventeen crocodiles to find the dragon.
Elmer is very clever. He uses everyday items he packed in his backpack to outsmart the animals. For example, he uses lollipops to distract the tigers and chewing gum to trick the wild boars. He helps the animals with their problems, and in return, they let him pass safely. His goal is to rescue the dragon and help it fly away to freedom.
Awards and Special Mentions
My Father's Dragon has received several important awards. These awards show how much people love and respect the book.
In 1949, the book was a runner-up for the Newbery Medal. This is a very important award given each year by the American Library Association. It celebrates the best children's book published in America. The book was also nominated for the Ambassador Book Award in 1948.
In 2007, a survey of teachers listed My Father's Dragon as one of their "Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children." This shows that teachers think it's a great book for kids to read. In 2012, it was ranked number 49 among all-time children's novels. This ranking came from a survey published by School Library Journal.
Movies and Plays
My Father's Dragon has been adapted into different forms of entertainment. This means the story has been told in new ways for people to enjoy.
In 1997, the book was made into a Japanese anime film. It was called Elmer's Adventure: My Father's Dragon. The main characters were voiced by famous Japanese actors.
In 2011, the book was turned into a children's stage musical in America. This means the story was performed live on a stage with songs and acting.
In 2018, Netflix announced they would make a new animated movie. The film was released in 2021. It was made by an Irish animation studio called Cartoon Saloon. Nora Twomey directed the movie, and Meg LeFauve wrote the script.
Images for kids
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My Father's Dragon book cover
See also
In Spanish: El dragón de papá (novela) para niños
