'My Father's Dragon' Summary

"My Father's Dragon" is an adventurous and whimsical tale about a young boy named Elmer Elevator who, driven by his kindness and sense of adventure, embarks on a daring mission to rescue a baby dragon. The story begins with Elmer meeting an old alley cat who tells him about the plight of a baby dragon being held captive on Wild Island. The animals on the island use the dragon as a means to cross a wide and muddy river, exploiting his strength and mistreating him.

Elmer's journey is filled with challenges, clever problem-solving, and magical elements. His determination to save the dragon despite the dangers highlights themes of bravery, empathy, and the power of friendship. The story's imaginative narrative and charming illustrations make it a captivating read for children, encouraging them to dream big and act courageously. Through Elmer's eyes, readers experience a fantastical world where kindness and courage can overcome obstacles and lead to extraordinary adventures.

A Japanese animated film based on the original novel and its illustrations premiered in 1997, while the character Boris the Dragon was produced into a plush toy designed by Sunflower Publishing Company and released in the fall of the same year. A second animated film, based on the trilogy in general, with animation production by Cartoon Saloon, is being produced for Netflix for release in 2022.

The narrative mode of the original novel 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 other two books in the trilogy are narrated in the third person.

The illustrations are by Ruth Chrisman Gannett and hand-drawn in black and white with a grease crayon on grained paper. Gannett also illustrated a number of other children's and adult books, including Tortilla Flat by John Steinbeck.