Ruth Stiles Gannett (1923–2024)
Author of My Father's Dragon
About the Author
Series
Works by Ruth Stiles Gannett
Associated Works
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Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- Kahn, Ruth Stiles Gannett
- Birthdate
- 1923-08-12
- Date of death
- 2024-06-11
- Gender
- female
- Education
- George School, Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Vassar College (BA|Chemistry|1944) - Occupations
- children's book author
- Relationships
- Gannett, Ruth Chrisman (stepmother)
Kahn, Peter (spouse; art historian) - Short biography
- Ruth Stiles Gannett attended City and Country School in New York City, then graduated from Vassar College with a bachelor's degree in chemistry in 1944. In 1948, she published her first novel for children, My Father's Dragon, which won the Newbery Medal. The book was illustrated by her stepmother, Ruth Chrisman Gannett, and the typography was designed by her husband Peter Kahn, with whom she had seven children. She wrote two more novels in the series, Elmer and the Dragon (1950) and The Dragons of Blueland (1951), among other books.
- Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- Brooklyn, New York, USA
- Places of residence
- New York, New York, USA
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Louisiana, USA
Hampton, Virginia, USA
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Ithaca, New York, USA (show all 7)
Trumansburg, New York, USA - Associated Place (for map)
- USA
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CHILDRENS, boy flies to mountains, impassable desert, dragons or dinosaurs in Name that Book (March 2014)
Reviews
With writing is so elegant and illustrations so charming and distinctive, how could I not love this story? True, there's not a whole lot to it--boy meets talking cat, boy runs away from home, boy outsmarts wild animals, boy rescues dragon--but it's a perfect read-aloud for 4- to 7-year-olds. My favorite part is when Elmer brushes the rhino's teeth.
I also really enjoy the fact that even though Elmer is just a little boy to us, he's also the narrator's father, which makes the telling of the show more story more affectionate than the usual third-person narration. show less
I also really enjoy the fact that even though Elmer is just a little boy to us, he's also the narrator's father, which makes the telling of the show more story more affectionate than the usual third-person narration. show less
This is a book that I grew up with. I can't remember the very first time I read it, but I can remember the countless times that I read it myself. I owned a small paperback copy, and I'd curl up in bed and read it over and over, loving the adventures of Elmer. It's funny how in revisiting it now, I can still remember just how I pictured each of the animals and the island itself. The imagination is a powerful thing.
Elmer Elevator, frustrated by his mom's rudeness to a stray cat he has been show more feeding, decides to go on an adventure. He runs away, though only for a very short while, in order to release a dragon from Wild Island so that he may fulfill his dream of flying before he is grown. What follows is Elmer's delightful adventure to Wild Island, where the various strange items in his pack aid him in escaping a variety of fearsome beasts. Honestly, it's worth picking up for the hilarious illustration of the Lion alone.
I loved this book as a child, and I loved this book rereading it now. It's a whimsical, light-hearted adventure that is coupled with beautiful illustrations. The book is equally funny read out loud or read to myself, and is easily accessible for a young child. The illustrations aid the imagination rather than hinder it, and there is just enough of a whiff of adventure to let the imagination soar. This is one of my favorite children's books, and I'm delighted to now know there are sequels and that the adventure continues. :) show less
Elmer Elevator, frustrated by his mom's rudeness to a stray cat he has been show more feeding, decides to go on an adventure. He runs away, though only for a very short while, in order to release a dragon from Wild Island so that he may fulfill his dream of flying before he is grown. What follows is Elmer's delightful adventure to Wild Island, where the various strange items in his pack aid him in escaping a variety of fearsome beasts. Honestly, it's worth picking up for the hilarious illustration of the Lion alone.
I loved this book as a child, and I loved this book rereading it now. It's a whimsical, light-hearted adventure that is coupled with beautiful illustrations. The book is equally funny read out loud or read to myself, and is easily accessible for a young child. The illustrations aid the imagination rather than hinder it, and there is just enough of a whiff of adventure to let the imagination soar. This is one of my favorite children's books, and I'm delighted to now know there are sequels and that the adventure continues. :) show less
I missed this book as a child, and as an adult I looked at it a few times in the library, but it didn't have immediate attraction for me, so my children missed out on it too. Finally, and before my grandchildren could outgrow it too, I read the whole thing and discovered that it's not the kind of book where you can open it and read a few pages to get the flavour. Taken as a whole, however, it's a perfect example of the Quest as found in the best fairytales and folk tales. Talking animal show more advises young person and helps prepare; young person brings random and inexplicable items; random items suddenly become perfectly sensible in helping young seeker to overcome obstacles, mostly by helping those he meets along the way; quest successfully accomplished; Finis. I now see why so many people insist that My Father's Dragon is the very best first chapter book to offer to new readers. I hope my 8yo Dragon (2012) grandson is not too old for it, but there are still two 4yo boys and a younger girl coming along! show less
I got a copy of this book to read with my five year old son. It is a very fun and clever children’s read with some great lessons and some wonderful illustrations.
When Elmer Elevator hears about the plight of a poor overworked baby dragon from an old neighborhood cat he is determined to save the dragon. He travels to Wild Island and, through a series of crazy events, saves the dragon from the animals keeping it prisoner.
This book was first published in 1948 and I am amazed at how well it show more has aged. The writing is fairly simple and is definitely at a younger level but it still made for an excellent story. There are a couple spots where the language is a bit archaic but not many.
Elmer Elevator encounters a number of less than friendly animals and for each encounter he finds a clever (and sometimes hilarious) way to distract the animals. For example he gives the rhino a toothbrush and toothpaste for his very dirty horn and he gives the tigers chewing gum. It was great fun to see how Elmer would combat the next group of animals.
Additionally all the lands have wonderfully fun names. Elmer lives in the land of Popsicornia and travels through Tangerina (known for its tangerines) to get to Wild Island.
Elmer uses cleverness instead of violence or force to get through his adventures. He also frees the poor baby dragon from slavery. All while eating tangerines. The only part of the story parents might object to is the fact that Elmer runs away from his parents at the age of nine to do all of this.
My son loved this book and immediately wanted to start on the second book of the trilogy, Elmer and the Dragon. The pictures throughout are fun and wonderfully done. They match the tone of the story excellently.
Overall a wonderful fantasy read for children. This is a chapter book but is written at a lower reading level that is easy for younger children (5+) to understand even if they can’t quite read it yet. Elmer uses cleverness and humor to survive his noble adventure. The wonderful pictures only add to the excellent story. Highly recommended to read with kids, especially those interested in adventure and fantasy. show less
When Elmer Elevator hears about the plight of a poor overworked baby dragon from an old neighborhood cat he is determined to save the dragon. He travels to Wild Island and, through a series of crazy events, saves the dragon from the animals keeping it prisoner.
This book was first published in 1948 and I am amazed at how well it show more has aged. The writing is fairly simple and is definitely at a younger level but it still made for an excellent story. There are a couple spots where the language is a bit archaic but not many.
Elmer Elevator encounters a number of less than friendly animals and for each encounter he finds a clever (and sometimes hilarious) way to distract the animals. For example he gives the rhino a toothbrush and toothpaste for his very dirty horn and he gives the tigers chewing gum. It was great fun to see how Elmer would combat the next group of animals.
Additionally all the lands have wonderfully fun names. Elmer lives in the land of Popsicornia and travels through Tangerina (known for its tangerines) to get to Wild Island.
Elmer uses cleverness instead of violence or force to get through his adventures. He also frees the poor baby dragon from slavery. All while eating tangerines. The only part of the story parents might object to is the fact that Elmer runs away from his parents at the age of nine to do all of this.
My son loved this book and immediately wanted to start on the second book of the trilogy, Elmer and the Dragon. The pictures throughout are fun and wonderfully done. They match the tone of the story excellently.
Overall a wonderful fantasy read for children. This is a chapter book but is written at a lower reading level that is easy for younger children (5+) to understand even if they can’t quite read it yet. Elmer uses cleverness and humor to survive his noble adventure. The wonderful pictures only add to the excellent story. Highly recommended to read with kids, especially those interested in adventure and fantasy. show less
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