36 pages • 1-hour read
Elmer and the Dragon
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Themes
The Nature of Resilience and Adventure
In Elmer and the Dragon, Gannett details how Elmer and the dragon must be brave during their adventures. By showing how her two main characters confront and overcome different kinds of challenges, the author suggests that resilience is a key part of the nature of a successful adventurer.
At the beginning of their trip, the dragon and Elmer confront a very simple obstacle: They realize that they do not know the way home. While this worries them, they do not panic but instead seek out some help from a knowledgeable local, the seagull: “‘The seagulls will know,’ said the dragon. ‘They follow ships out to sea’” (13-14). While Elmer and the dragon are anxious about getting lost, they stay calm and think positively while following the seagull’s directions. The author writes, “‘I’m kind of worried,’ said the dragon. ‘Suppose we never find it. ‘We’ll find it alright,’ said Elmer, who was a tiny bit worried himself” (16). This conversation shows that Elmer and the dragon can take action in spite of their fear.
A more serious challenge to the pair is the enormous storm that sweeps them off-course and into the ocean. While the dragon stands in the water, it assures Elmer that it can wait for the storm to die down, and the two stay calm in spite of their terrible circumstances: “So Elmer lay along the dragon’s back and they were both so tired that they fell asleep while the thunder boomed all around them” (24). This scene shows that even in tough times, Elmer and the dragon are able to make practical choices without overreacting. Elmer retains his positive attitude when he and the dragon settle in on the remote island. Elmer embraces the chance to explore and learn more about the strange place, telling the dragon, “‘I wonder who lives on this island […] I think that’s a path over there. Let’s go exploring’” (30). Elmer’s ability to think on his feet helps the two friends recover from their bad night.
Elmer’s interest and open-mindedness pays off, as he discovers fields of food and fresh water for them, as well as his old friend, Flute. Elmer joyfully discovers “[s]kunk cabbages and ostrich ferns all over the place!” (34-35), ensuring the baby dragon’s survival. Throughout the story, Elmer and the dragon’s ability to work through fear, think positively, and problem-solve shows their resilience and makes their journey from Wild Island all the way home to Popsicornia a success.
The Importance of Teamwork
By working together as well as with their new friends on Feather Island, Elmer and the dragon demonstrate the importance of teamwork. With their different strengths and skills, it is clear that no one character could have been successful all on their own—it is only by working together that they can achieve success, leading to both Elmer and the dragon’s successful journey and the discovery of the treasure chest.
By showing how the dragon and Elmer prepare for their journey, the author suggests that the two have very different strengths. While the dragon has the incredible ability of flight, Elmer has the more human skills of foresight, planning, and packing. As the two characters prepare for their flight over the ocean, “The dragon ran along the beach warming up his wings while Elmer packed sixty-nine tangerines, as many as his knapsack could hold” (16). Elmer thinks carefully about how to provide for them and saves his “seven pink lollipops (which he was saving for an emergency), half a package of rubber bands, three sticks of chewing gum, a very good jack-knife, and a burlap bag” (16-17). Between the dragon’s physical strength and flight and Elmer’s planning skills, the two make it to Feather Island, where they continue to work as a team. When the dragon cannot move, Elmer helps him regain his mobility by working his neck and legs. While the dragon rests, Elmer finds food and water, even bringing it to the dragon and feeding him directly.
When the two characters meet Flute and King Can XI, they have new friends to collaborate with, this time on an exciting treasure hunt. While Flute uses his social skills and the King gives everyone his secret knowledge, Elmer and the dragon must contribute their strengths to the team, too. Elmer uses his smarts to figure out the location of the treasure: “Elmer carefully measured the distance and began to dig” (57). Once Elmer uncovers the chest, the dragon uses his strength to save the day, looping his tail through the chest’s ring and hauling it out.
By working together as a team, Elmer, the dragon, Flute, and the other canaries are able to accomplish what none of them could have done on their own: Find Feather Island’s lost treasure chest. The illustration of Elmer, the dragon, and the whole community of canaries joyfully celebrating together with dance and song demonstrates the many benefits that teamwork brings.
Bonding Through Shared Experiences
In Elmer and the Dragon, Gannett shows how her characters the dragon and Elmer cultivate a close relationship by enjoying good times and enduring bad times together. Through their experiences, the novel explores the joys of bonding through shared experiences.
At the beginning of the story, Elmer and the dragon have mutual respect and admiration, but they do not know each other very well. Having just escaped from the terrible Wild Island, the dragon is grateful to Elmer for his help, and Elmer thinks the dragon is beautiful and enjoys flying on his back. Their first bonding experience is sharing tangerines on Tangerina Island. While the baby dragon thinks the tangerines are disgusting, Elmer helps him eat his favorite part—the peel—and the two enjoy their unusual meal together: “So Elmer and the dragon ate nineteen tangerines, Elmer ate the insides and the dragon ate the peels” (13). When the two acquaintances pass their first night on the road together, the dragon kindly keeps Elmer warm with his tail, further building trust between them: “A chilly wind blew along the beach and the dragon curled his great long tail around the boy to keep him warm” (13).
As the two continue on their trip, they share the terrifying experience of crashing during a thunderstorm. This awful experience brings the two characters closer, as they must support each other and hope for the best. For instance, when the dragon crash lands on the sand bar, he tells Elmer to stay safe on his back: “Splash! ‘Elmer, we’re safe! I landed on sand!’ yelled the dragon. ‘But don’t get off, because the water is up to my knees’” (22-23). Elmer reciprocates the dragon’s kindness when he takes care of him as the dragon stands in the cold water for hours. Elmer says, “‘Poor dragon, would you like a pink lollipop?’ […] Elmer unpacked one for himself and one for the dragon, and then carefully crawled along the dragon’s neck until he could put the lollipop into his mouth” (24-25).
Their landing on Feather Island brings yet more adventures for the pair, and their experience of finding the treasure chest adds another layer of excitement to their already unusual friendship. The two are proud to receive gifts from the King, and Elmer helps the dragon wear his new gold watch: “Elmer hooked the chain around the dragon’s neck, arranging the watch at his throat. ‘How’s that?’ asked Elmer. ‘I can’t see it, but it feels just fine,’ said the proud baby dragon” (66).
By the end of the story, the dragon and the young boy have survived storms and strandings, enjoyed strange and tasty meals, made new friends, and found riches together. These experiences have bonded them as close friends who care for each other and will meet again someday.
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