Elmer and the Dragon

Elmer and the Dragon is the second novel in Ruth Stiles Gannett’s trilogy: My Father’s Dragon (1948), Elmer and the Dragon (1950), and The Dragons of Blueland (1951). This novel continues directly from the events of the first novel, bringing the reader back to Elmer and the dragon’s ongoing adventure. In her first chapter, the author provides just enough context for the reader to understand Elmer and the dragon’s situation, even if they are new to the series.

The first novel, My Father’s Dragon, is narrated by Elmer’s future child, who refers to him as “Elmer” or “my father.” At the time of the story’s main events, Elmer Elevator is only nine years old and a kind and generous boy. He meets an old alley cat near his home in the land of Popsicornia, and since the cat is wet and uncomfortable, Elmer kindly invites him into his home and offers him some milk. Despite his mother’s disapproval of the cat and her punishment for feeding him, Elmer quickly befriends the cat. One day, he tells the cat of his dream to fly someday. The alley cat reveals that he is well-travelled and that he has an idea of how Elmer could fulfill his dream of flying.

The cat tells him to travel to the remote and dangerous Wild Island and rescue a baby dragon from captivity there. In addition to helping the dragon, Elmer will get to fly on his back. Elmer is intrigued by this idea, and, after packing his bag and receiving advice from the cat, he stows away on a boat heading toward the island of Tangerina. After six days of hiding on the boat, Elmer arrives on the island. He walks along a rocky shore to Wild Island, where he encounters tigers, monkeys, gorillas, and rhinos.

Elmer manages to use his wit and supplies like lollipops, magnifying glasses, and chewing gum to stay safe. After outsmarting some crocodiles, Elmer crosses the river, where he finally finds the baby dragon. As the cat had reported, the dragon is enslaved as a ferry boat for the island’s animals. Elmer cuts him free from his ropes, and the baby dragon joyfully flies away from his life of captivity, with Elmer riding on his back.

Gannett begins her second book just moments after this triumphant escape, writing, “Into the evening sky flew Elmer Elevator aboard the gentle baby dragon, leaving Wild Island behind forever” (9). She connects the main events of the first book with the adventure these characters share in the second book, as the dragon offers to pay back Elmer for his kindness by taking him anywhere he needs to go. Gannett writes, “Now the dragon was free, and happy and grateful, and he said, ‘Elmer, you were wonderful to come all the way to Wild Island just to rescue me. I’ll never be able to thank you enough! […] I’ll take you on a trip! Where would you like to go?’” (9-10). This beginning continues Elmer’s journey, with the additional company of his new dragon friend, in Elmer and the Dragon.