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Book reviews for "Gannett,_Ruth_Stiles" sorted by average review score:

My Father's Dragon
Published in Paperback by Knopf (1993)
Authors: Stiles Gannett and Ruth Stiles Gannett
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My Father's Dragon
My Fathers Dragon is the first book out of a series of three. It is a fiction story about a kid named Elmer, who loves to go on adventures. One of his adventures is rescuing a baby dragon that has been captured by animals, and taken to Wild Island to be used as a way to get across the river there. Elmer hears this news from a stray ally cat that he finds one day, and decides he's going to run away and go to Wild Island to free this dragon. Elmer has to outsmart a bunch of animals to get to the dragon, but it's easy for him because he's really clever. I thought the book was very exciting and fun to read. It's the kind of book you don't want to put down and want to read it over and over again. I gave this book such a good rating because it was fun; I never got tired of it. It was a great book!!!! I would recommend it to anyone that likes thrilling and adventurous books. I liked this book because it was easy to understand, it's funny, and exciting. It's a fun book to read to your self, or to a little brother or sister. No matter how old you are you will always enjoy it. This book is ten chapters long with about 5 to 6 pages each chapter and the chapters are very easy to read. This book would be good for kids that are starting to read chapter books because the words in it are easy to understand and it has pictures in it and they are very detailed. Also in every book there is a detailed map showing where things are and where Elmer went and it's really fun to look at them. I had a great time reading the book.

My Fathers Dragon
This Book is a fiction story about a kid named Elmer, who loves to go on adventures and one of his adventures is rescueing a baby drogon who has been captured by animals, and taken to Wild Island to be used as a way to get across the river there. Elmer hers this news from a stray ally cat that he finds one day, and decides he going to run away and go to Wild Island to freethis dragon. Elmer has to outsmart a buch of animals to get to the dragon but it's easy for him because he's relly clever. I thought the book was very exciting and fun to read. It the kind of book you don't want to put down and want to read it over and over agan.

The Start of a Fun Series
MY FATHER'S DRAGON tells the story of Elmer Elevator. When he hears the plight of a baby dragon captured and enslaved by the residents of Wild Island, he leaves home to free the animal. Armed only with gum, lollipops, magnifying glasses, hair ribbons, and other such items, he sets out. But will this be enough to face lions, tigers, gorillas, and crocodiles?

This is a fun early reader chapter book. The chapters are the perfect length to hook the beginning reader. The story is imaginative, delightful, and downright funny in spots while still being simple enough for young kids to follow. I reread it recently for the first time in years and was surprised at how short and simple it really was. When I was a boy, it seemed much longer and more complicated. There are numerous drawings that wonderfully highlight some of the funnier parts of the story. Adults should enjoy it just as much as their kids.

Readers of this book will want to get the other two in the series and read the further adventures of Elmer. This is a series that will be enjoyed for generations to come.


Three Tales of My Father's Dragon
Published in Hardcover by Random House (Juv) (1997)
Authors: Ruth Stiles Gannett, Ruth Chrisman Gannett, and Berman
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Outstanding read-aloud book, very clever story
Much like Harvey Potter's Balloon Farm, the My Father's Dragon trilogy is a fun read, and has a mixture of absurdity and humor that appeals on multiple levels. It's an easy read to a toddler, with several pictures throughout, and journey maps on the inner covers.

Since the chapters are short, you can do two or three a night without losing continuity. At the same time, the story has enough depth and cleverness that the parent can remain engaged. Thus, it's a catalyst for bonding.

One of the things that makes it special is the main character. Elmer Elevator, on the advice of a stray cat, starts out on a noble odyssey to free a baby dragon from its animal tormentors. In his preparation, Elmer packs dozens of seemingly useless items, including a magnifying glass, brush, sandwiches, and lollipops. While he travels across Wild Island, all these items become essential, and you wonder if the story was being told by MacGyver :-)

We've read the trilogy to completion five times and it's still a hit with everyone.

This outstanding story will capture young readers
I first read this story as a boy of 7, only 7 years after it was originally published in 1948. My own father was concerned because, as a child, I did not seem to enjoy reading. He read the first few pages of "My Fathers Dragon" then pretended to fall asleep. I was so engrossed in the story that, for the first time in my life, I picked the book up and read it to the end. This was the beginning of my love of books. Now as a third grade teacher, I read the first few pages of this wonderful story to my class and then quietly put the book down.

A favorite read aloud book!
These three adventurous tales by Ruth Gannett kept my 5 year old son spellbound night after night--he continually begged me to read "just one more chapter!" and we are almost finished with our second time reading it. The trilogy begins with the main character, Elmer Elevator, venturing away from home to save a baby dragon from being abused by the animals of Wild Island. What follows are a series of Elmer's and the baby dragon's exciting adventures. This is a great read aloud book for ages 5-9!


Elmer and the Dragon
Published in Library Binding by Bt Bound (1999)
Author: Ruth Stiles Gannett
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The Journey Home
Freeing the dragon in the first book (My Father's Dragon) was only half the journey. Elmer now needs to get back home. The dragon is so thankful he offers the boy a ride. But when a storm blows them off course, they find themselves on an island with canaries that are dieing of curiosity. Can they help the birds and still get Elmer home in time for his father's birthday?

This book is a fun sequel to the original. It doesn't quite hold up to the nonsensical fun of the first one, but is still a great read. Early readers will enjoy being able to get through the short chapters themselves and should enjoy the plot and characters.

This series is the perfect series to use to introduce kids to reading. They'll be able to handle the story and characters well and enjoy the journey to another world. Pick them up today and start them on the road to exploring other worlds through books.

Don't Forget To Read Elmer And The Dragon!
Elmer And The Dragon by Ruth Stills Gannet

Have you ever ridden on a dragon? This book is about Elmer and the dragon. After Elmer rescued the dragon from Wild Island the dragon was going to fly Elmer home. But a storm hit and blew Elmer and the Dragon off course. They landed on a sandbar a couple yards from an island. The next morning Elmer and the Dragon went to the island. When they got to the island the Dragon said ," I'm stiff." Will Elmer and the Dragon get off the island?

I liked the part when the Dragon ate some tangerine peels and said they were delicious. It was kind of funny because tangerine peels would be gross to eat!

I think the author was trying to show people perseverance. Elmer and the Dragon were trying to go home when the storm hit. Even though they ended up on a sandbar, they still kept trying to get home.

great boy's book
I remember hearing these stories as a child and loving them, now my son is loving them too. I would recommend these to kids ready to listen to simple chapter books. The stories are cleverly written so adults can enjoy the reading too. We like to read this series aloud to the kids, and if you read one they will want you to read all of them! Some nice illustrations accompany the stories.


The Dragons of Blueland
Published in Library Binding by Random Library (1987)
Authors: Ruth Stiles Gannett and Ruth C. Gannett
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Could have been better
Not every childrens book can be The Wizard of Oz, Charlotte's Web or James and the Giant Peach. My son and I liked this one, but I'm sure within a few months we will have forgotten what is was about. It just wasn't very memorable.

Elmer's adventures come to an end
Elmer has arrived safely home, but not for long. When his friend the Dragon leaves to find his own family, he discovers they've been taken prisoner by some men who want to sell them to zoos. Now the Dragon must find Elmer in time to help his family without being spotted by other humans. But what if Elmer can't come up with a plan?

This is the final in the My Father's Dragon series. It lives up to the second book, but both fall a little short of the creativity and humor of the first. Still, fans will want to know how the series ends and won't be disappointed with the story presented here. As with the others, the storyline and vocabulary are perfect for the beginning reader or as a read aloud story.

This series is a great way to introduce kids to the joys of reading. Parents will also enjoy the clever fantasy storylines. This is a fun book in a fun series that will entertain children of all ages.

4.5* Excellent Old-Fashioned Dragon Tale!
I love children's books that open with a map, and the "Dragons of Blueland" (the third in Gannett's series about the dragon) promises adventures in such exciting locales as "Seaweed Bay," "The Awful Desert," "Popsicornia," and the "Spiky Mountain Range."

The book delivers, as Elmo Elevator, a "brave boy of nine," helps his dragon friend Boris rescue his family. The story is comforting yet cleverly exciting and humorous. The soft black and white illustrations (done by the author's stepmother, who also did the illustrations for the first edition of Steinbeck's "Tortilla Flat") are a gentle compliment to the text. First published in 1951, this is good fun!


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