Ruth Stiles Gannett

Born in New York City in 1923, Ruth Stiles Gannett became a treasured voice in children's literature through My Father's Dragon and its sequels, Elmer and the Dragon and The Dragons of Blueland. The first book was named a Newbery Honor title, and the trilogy became her best-known work.

Her writing grew out of family life in a memorable way: the stories were connected to her father, the critic and writer Lewis Gannett, and the original books were illustrated by her stepmother, Ruth Chrisman Gannett. That close-knit, handmade spirit helped give the series its distinctive charm.

Gannett lived a long life and remained closely associated with the world of My Father's Dragon. She died in 2024, leaving behind a small but much-loved body of work that still feels fresh, adventurous, and funny to young readers.