My school decided to read the “Dragon Series”, by Ruth Stiles Gannett, with the final one being The Dragons of Blueland. In this final book in the series, Boris the baby dragon that Elmer Elevator saved from the mean animals of Wild Island is now trying to save his own family from cruel dragon hunters who want to capture his family and sell them to zoos. Boris, having fallen from a cloud when he was a baby, was trapped by the animals of Wild Island and made to carry them across the river all the time, or they would treat him badly and twist his wings. Boris and Elmer are successful in their rescue of the dragon family by playing off of the men’s fear that dragons are very dangerous creatures (which, in this story, they are not) and scaring them away. Then, Boris takes Elmer home to his family (as normal) and goes back to live with his unique dragon family.
I like the series, but I must say that after you do one good book, sometimes the second and third books are a bit of a let down. My Father’s Dragon, the first in the series, was very humorous and fun to track, where as The Dragons of Blueland lacks in that humor and tracking ability. The story line is there, and the readers still love cute Boris and helpful Elmer, but they bore easily with the flying back and forth to and from Blueland and Elmer’s home.
Despite my own qualms about the story, my third graders loved the series. They are very much into the Eragon books and Harry Potter, so they naturally took to these with the mere mention of dragons. Maybe I am being desensitized with all the “magic” that the new books bring, and don’t even know it!
On a more positive note, this book has been around for a while, being published in 1951 and renewed in 1979. Fantasy, back in those days, was lacking a bit, so I am sure that this “Dragon” Series was met with applaud and appreciation of young children everywhere. The themes that ring throughout the book are very applicable for today’s readers, helping friends when they are in need and loving your family. Boris and Elmer, even though very different creatures, accept each other and constantly treat each other with respect and kindness. Boris always knows that Elmer will help him with whatever problem he has, without much question. I like the theme that different people (or in this case, different creatures) can be sound friends. I wonder if the author was trying to make this point again racism and for diverse friendships when she wrote this book, whose illustrations were done by her mother-in-law? Now isn’t that an interesting duo!
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