The classic fantasy trilogy of Elmer Elevator and the flying baby dragon has delighted children and their parents for generations. Now, on the occa...
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reviews
Jan 12, 2012
Ann
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These were three cute books. I liked the first book My Father's Dragon the best of the three. I can see why it won awards while the two sequels did not. Only ever referring to the main character as "my father" leant a perfect note to the cozy story. I missed that element when the other two books started calling him Elmer. I also thought the plot of the first book (such as it was) was more distinguished as well. While it is very episodic in nature, it certainly achieves what it sets out
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Jul 31, 2011
Laura
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This book was an attempt to spend my week with my 7 yr old niece reading something other than princesses and fairies. Not that I don't like princesses and fairies, but there is a lot of great stuff out there without them that she might like if she only tried it so..... I picked up this classic Newburry Medal winner. I suspect the book would have been a winner if the hero had been a heroine - having no girls at all in a story was a bit too far out of the box and my niece didn't much enjoy a sto
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Jul 27, 2009
Emma
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This was one of the very first chapter books I ever read, and I loved every word of it. I think this book, most of all, is what started my intense love of books and words. It teaches you about the importance of friendship and using your imagination to get out of sticky situations. My teacher Mrs. Matthews read the first story out loud to us over the course of the school year, but once the first was done I moved on to the other two by myself. My favorite was always the classic "My Father's D
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Oct 19, 2011
Tanya D
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I've been reading chapter books to my seven year old, with my four year old kinda listening and mostly jumping on us. We all liked these three tales about Elmer and Boris the dragon. I liked that the chapters are short, good for bedtime and reading aloud. It had fun illustrations every couple page to keep my four-year old interested too. I loved that the story was fun and exciting while at the same time being so simple and innocent. So many "children" books have sad and terrible things
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May 12, 2011
Vikki
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a bookseller friend recommended these stories to read with my 5-year-old son, and they were a great success. my daughter's first chapter book, around this age, was "james & the giant peach," but my son isn't quite ready for a commitment of that magnitude. the three books that make up this collection are actual chapter books, but they're short enough and contain enough silliness and great illustrations to keep my son coming back several nights in a row. we read all three in the span of
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Jun 09, 2010
Mike
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An alternate choice for the Mother/Daughter book group my wife and daughter attended. My daughter read it even though it was a bit below her reading level. As one of the books collected here was a Newbery Honor book, I decided to read it, too.
The stories have a quaint charm, as do the illustrations (which fit the book quite well). Interesting that the books have stayed in print so long, but beyond that they didn't seem that special. Of course I may feel different had I come upon More...
The stories have a quaint charm, as do the illustrations (which fit the book quite well). Interesting that the books have stayed in print so long, but beyond that they didn't seem that special. Of course I may feel different had I come upon More...
Jan 20, 2011
Jeff
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My Father's Dragon is a fantastic story of high adventure, talking animals, and tangerines. Originally published in the 1940's and 50's as three separate books, this is a great introduction to chapter books for young kids. In someways the plot unfolds like a story written by a third grader. That is to say totally randomly, but it is funny and keeps you reading. It is simple whimsy that my four year old loved.
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Jan 16, 2012
Alice
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I read the first two books -- at least, I don't really remember the third one -- when I was much younger. They captured my imagination, and in a fit of nostalgia that's the internet's fault, I decided to track down the books again.
Going back to them, I found myself realizing how much they were written for children. Not that this is a bad thing -- there is just this rhythm to the words, the use of numbers and alliteration, and the silly names, that gives the feeling that the book should More...
Going back to them, I found myself realizing how much they were written for children. Not that this is a bad thing -- there is just this rhythm to the words, the use of numbers and alliteration, and the silly names, that gives the feeling that the book should More...
Sep 26, 2011
Lena
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This book has three tales about the a courageous boy and an enslaved baby dragon whom he helps to escape. The three stories are full of adventure and imagination, and good for readers as young as five. In the first story, we get to know the father, Elmer(when he was a boy), and Boris the baby dragon. Elmer goes through many trials and cleverly outsmarts all the wild animals who have trapped the baby dragon to work as their ferry across the river so they can avoid the alligators. Through use of E
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Mar 10, 2011
Natalie
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I'm reading this out loud to the kids. Tom sat through the first story (45 minutes) because there were enough pictures to hold his interest. He started losing interest near the end but Sam never did.
Book 2 took 45 minutes too, and again Tom struggled through the end but Sam was definitely in it for the long haul :-)
Book 3 took 45 minutes too :-) I think that one was the kids' favorite. Sam re-read it this morning and she hasn't the other two. I think the 3rd one has More...
Book 2 took 45 minutes too, and again Tom struggled through the end but Sam was definitely in it for the long haul :-)
Book 3 took 45 minutes too :-) I think that one was the kids' favorite. Sam re-read it this morning and she hasn't the other two. I think the 3rd one has More...
Jul 20, 2010
kingshearte
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My Father's Dragon and its two sequels are books that Da read to us when we were little, and they're very cute. I'd actually kind of forgotten about them until I started working with books and saw them again. Then I spotted an edition of all three books in one hardcover volume at a used book sale, and snapped it up. I don't have a blurb for it because it didn't have its dust jacket at that time, but suffice it to say that it's about a boy named Elmer who has adventures with a baby dragon named B
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Nov 18, 2009
Stephanie
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This was one of the first books that I carried around as an instant escape into one of three stories: the first one was by far the best, but the last one pretty good as well. I think Elmer's list of what-one-needs-to-rescue-a-dragon must have sat in the back of my mind as the basis for my adventure box. (Although personally, I think mine was more practical. Nonetheless ... its contents were never used, so Elmer is one up on me in that regard, alas.)
May 26, 2011
Kikki
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I first had this book read to my classmates and I in 3rd or 4th grade. I decided to get it and read it now, 12 years later. I think I'll still like it ^.^
Yup. Definitly still like it. Read it in an hour this time, though, instead of a few days. It's an excellent one for kids who have just learned to read chapter books. Cute and amusing, some old-fashioned language in it, but nothing kids wouldn't understand.
Yup. Definitly still like it. Read it in an hour this time, though, instead of a few days. It's an excellent one for kids who have just learned to read chapter books. Cute and amusing, some old-fashioned language in it, but nothing kids wouldn't understand.
Feb 25, 2011
Katie
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This is my favorite little series that Ayva(6) and I have read together. Such clever writing that really pulls readers of all ages into this imaginary world of make-believe. I felt like I could here my Dad's voice telling me this story at bedtime. He always made up clever stories like this on the spot...boy, I wish I had some of them recorded. Thanks for the tip Amanda Chase!
Aug 05, 2011
Milka
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Great chapter book for children 4 to 8 years old (to read on their own or with a parent). This is a trilogy and each book follows the previous story towards the conclusion. The drawings on most pages help the child understand what is going on. Lots of adventures, intricate situations requiring imagination and intelligence to get out of. I highly recommend it!
Apr 27, 2009
Cynthia
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I just read these books aloud to my two boys (ages 5 & 3) and they ate them up. The stories are amusing and totally improbable, but my boys loved that. They are a good choice for younger readers who are beginning to enjoy chapter books because there is an illustration on nearly every page. After every chapter my boys would beg for just one more. Very fun.
Feb 02, 2012
Heather
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I finally got around to reading these classic books by Gannett. The audio included all three titles: "My Father's Dragon", "Elmer and the Dragon", and "The Dragons of Blueland". Despite being a bit dated, they are still very readable.
Elmer travels to a distant island to rescue a baby dragon who is being mistreated. Next Elmer and the dragon make their way back home. And finally, Elmer helps the dragon rescue his family.
Elmer travels to a distant island to rescue a baby dragon who is being mistreated. Next Elmer and the dragon make their way back home. And finally, Elmer helps the dragon rescue his family.
Feb 16, 2011
Kelli
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I remember reading these a long time ago and liking them so I decided to give them another try. They are cute little kid stories. I don't think I had ever read the 2nd book before and that was by far the worst one, it was kind of pointless. But I will probably read the 1st and 3rd books to my kids because they are fun stories.
Sep 07, 2011
Cynthia
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We got the audio version of this book for a road trip. It's a really fun story for kids 5-8, especially boys (Girls will like the story if they're not hung up on the fact that there are no girl characters). I thought the first of the three tales was best, but my 5yo loved all of it.
Sep 25, 2010
PJ
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This is a sweet, adventure story. It is about a boy who sets off to a fantasy land to save a dragon he heard about from his father. It has several different kinds of animals in the story and the animals can be quite humorous. A great read aloud for third grade and under.
Oct 13, 2009
Noah
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I loved this book. I own it and can't wait to discover it again when I am picking books off the shelf for myself, to read alone. There is a map, there is the idea of befriending and rescuing a dragon. What more could a 4 year old (or 5 or 6) want?
May 25, 2008
Woodge
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Over a period of six nights, I read these tales aloud to my six-year-old son, Luke, and three-year-old daughter, Kajsa. Last night after finishing the book I asked Luke if he enjoyed the stories. "I loved it," said Luke. (Meanwhile, Kajsa got far too squirmy to pay much attention after the first 10 minutes of any story). Luke ate it up though. The first of these three tales was published back in 1948! They concern the adventures of a young boy named Elmer Elevator and a baby drag
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May 10, 2011
Christina
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My children (boy 4 & girl 5) LOVED this book. We read the stories one after another. I know they are published as three separate novels, but you need to read them one after the other, or I think you'd be left feeling unsatisfied.
Mar 22, 2011
Bethany
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I read this to my 6 and 3 year olds a chapter at a time and they both loved it. There are pictures every few pages to keep the littlest one interested and frequent chapter breaks to prevent mommy-reading burnout. Fun stories!
Jul 24, 2011
Rachel
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Our new bedtime chapter book.
This adventure book was so much fun to read. We couldn't do just one chapter at a time so we got through it pretty quickly. The little ones were so excited to see what Elmer and the baby dragon would do next!
This adventure book was so much fun to read. We couldn't do just one chapter at a time so we got through it pretty quickly. The little ones were so excited to see what Elmer and the baby dragon would do next!
Jun 01, 2011
Teri
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My kids always love stories about dragons. This one is fun and creative--we just got 3/4 through the book and then went on a big trip and it was hard to pick back up--but we definitely recommend it.
Jul 26, 2009
Maryanne
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A beloved classic that I just re-read. My boys loved these stories when I read them aloud years ago, and the tales hold up well. Engaging and easy enough for those 2nd grade reluctant readers in my future.
Feb 01, 2012
Jen
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This series was recommended to me by Nate's preschool teacher. A series she read her own children. Delightful tale of a young boy on an adventure. Completely clean, no editing out required.
Jan 31, 2011
Christina
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Jonas and I have been reading this aloud. It's actually three chapter books that all go together. It's a cute story, and easy for J to follow. I'm really not sure why I've never heard of it before.
