My Father's Dragon

When Elmer Elevator tells a stray cat about his dream of being able to fly, he learns of a captive dragon on Wild Island. The dragon has been forced by the jungle residents to serve as their shuttle across a wide river — and anyone who rescues the dragon from its cruel captors might be entitled to a free ride.
Elmer needs no further encouragement to stow away aboard a ship to the island, where he matches wits with hungry tigers, an irate gorilla, cranky crocodiles, and other moody creatures. A charmingly illustrated Newbery Honor Book, this comic adventure story has delighted generations of children.

Ruth Stiles Gannett graduated from Vassar College in 1944 with a degree in chemistry. My Father's Dragon was the first of her children's books, and it proved so popular that she wrote two sequels. The three books have remained continuously in print since their initial publication more than 60 years ago.