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A Few Ribbons and a Dab of Toothpaste Go a Long Way

© Melanie Howard

Despite the lovely illustration on the cover, had the book not been pointed out to me as a good read, I probably would never have picked up a copy of My Father's Dragon, by Ruth Stiles Gannett. The picture on the cover seems to have a style and color scheme of an earlier era, and had I run across the book in the library, I am ashamed to say that I wouldn't have given it a second glance. That would have been a terrible mistake on my part, because the story is so captivating, taking the reader on a wonderous journey with a quick-thinking little boy. I think that My Father's Dragon was the one book that really taught me not to judge a book by its cover.

My Father's Dragon begins with a cat, who is in need of shelter and food. Edward Elevator, the little boy in the book who is most often referred to as "my father," takes the cat in, despite his mother's objections, and in return, the cat lets Edward in on a secret that will help him to realize his dream of flying.

Soon the cat and the boy are collecting together an odd assortment of things, like ribbons, pink lollipops, toothpaste, six magnifying glasses and rubber bands. And then Edward, toting his father's napsack full of these items, runs away from home and stows away on a ship bound for the Island of Tangerina on a mission to rescue a baby dragon!

And oh, the adventure that awaits him there! From whales to boars to monkeys to crocodiles, and yes, even lions and tigers, but no bears, the tense situations Edward finds himself in never seem to end.

But he's a smart boy, and who knows what a creative young man can do with some ribbon and a tube of toothpaste...

Overall, the book is excellent, and I highly recommend it. It came as no surprise to me to discover that this book has won both a Newbery, and an ALA honor. It delights me to see just how many children's fantasy books have recieved such prestigious awards. The book is highly imaginative and would be great for reading aloud. It even has very nice illustrations throughout, complements of the author's stepmother, Ruth Chrisman Gannett.

And if you like this book, it's one in a three book series.

On a scale of one to ten, this book gets a whole-hearted eight and a half.