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ABOUT THE BOOK
NO SPOILERSMy Father's Dragon is told by a boy whose father, Elmer Elevator, had an extraordinary adventure when he was young. One rainy day, Elmer befriends a stray alley cat who tells him about a baby dragon trapped on Wild Island, forced to carry animals back and forth across a wide muddy river. The dragon is tied by a heavy rope around his neck and worked day and night, with his wings twisted if he complains. The cat believes that if Elmer can rescue the dragon, the dragon will let him ride anywhere he wants, and Elmer decides to make the dangerous journey alone, packing a knapsack full of ordinary items that might just help him survive a jungle full of very hungry wild animals.
Free Battle of the Books questions for My Father's Dragon
SPOILERSEvery one of these has the same answer, and that is the point. In a real battle the question is read aloud with a dozen other books in play, and students have a few seconds to place it. Here is what a battle might ask about My Father's Dragon. Use them as a quiz, a trivia round, or BOTB practice.
Where in the book they come from
- Early in the book
In what book does a sailor grab a lumpy bag and decide it must be dried corn on the cob?
✓ Answer
My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett
While being unloaded with the wheat, Elmer's bag looks lumpy and unusual. A sailor grabs what turns out to be Elmer's elbow and declares the bag must contain dried corn on the cob. Elmer gets dumped into the net with the real wheat bags.
- First half
In what book does a boy use a compass in a jungle, not knowing the river curves away?
✓ Answer
My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett
After the swamp gets too deep, Elmer uses his compass to figure out a direction to walk near the river. But he doesn't know the river makes a sharp curve just ahead, so he ends up walking farther and farther from it.
- First half
In what book do seven tigers sit in a circle around a boy, each taking turns threatening him?
✓ Answer
My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett
After surrounding Elmer in a clearing, seven tigers walk around him in a big circle looking hungrier all the time. Then they sit down and take turns speaking, each one making a threatening remark before they all roar "Let's begin right now!"
- Second half
In what book does an animal weep because its tusk has turned an ugly yellow-gray?
✓ Answer
My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett
The rhinoceros on Wild Island is miserable because his once pearly-white tusk has turned yellow-gray with age. He weeps about it constantly and even has his own private weeping pool.
- Second half
In what book does a lion prance around clawing at a mane full of blackberry twigs?
✓ Answer
My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett
Elmer finds a lion in a clearing whose mane is completely tangled with blackberry twigs. The lion is yelling at himself for going blackberry picking the day before, getting angrier as the tangles get worse.
- Near the end
In what book do crocodiles line up across a river with their tails in the air, waiting for lollipops?
✓ Answer
My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett
Elmer tells the crocodiles they can save time by lining up across the river. They do, holding their tails up so Elmer can fasten lollipops to each one. The tail of the seventeenth crocodile just reaches the far bank.
