The much beloved “My Father’s Dragon” series was first published in America 76 years ago, and it remains a beloved tale the world over. With this year marking the 60th anniversary of its release in Japan, to commemorate the occasion an exhibition of various art and documents related to the series is coming to Tokyo, Hyogo, and now Fukuoka.

“My Father’s Dragon” is a story about a 9-year-old boy who goes on an adventure to rescue a baby dragon trapped on Wild Island. Between 1948 and 1951 the three books, “My Father’s Dragon,” “Elmer and the Dragon,” and “The Dragons of Blueland” (text by Ruth Stiles Gannett, illustrations by Ruth Chrisman Gannett, mother-in-law) were published in the United States. In Japan the series is widely beloved and books in the series have sold over 7 million copies. 

Elmer, a young boy, leaves his home and embarks on an adventurous journey to help the baby dragon and his family. Whenever Elmer encounters difficulties - frightening animals, mysterious illnesses, and human adults - he accepts them without confrontation and overcomes them with tact, using the tools and wisdom at his disposal. This attitude of accepting others who are different from oneself and using wisdom to solve problems without conflict is the message that author Gannett consistently conveys in her stories, with lasting messages for both children and adults alike. 

In this exhibition, the first of its kind in Japan, more than 130 rare original drawings and dummy books drawn more than 70 years ago and other production materials will be shown in Japan for the first time. Furthermore, to enjoy Elmer's adventures in the exhibition hall, there will be four exhibits that allow visitors to enter and play within the world of Elmer and the Dragon. Just like Elmer you can jump across a river on the back of a crocodile, cross the sea with a dragon in a storm, fly through the sky toward a sky-blue light, and find 15 captive dragons and escape with them. Adults and children alike can embark on the adventurous journey of their dreams!

Highlights of the exhibition

① Roughly 130 breathtakingly beautiful original drawings, rare dummy books and dragon dolls on display for the first time.

For the first time in Japan, approximately 130 original drawings from the Kerlan Collection of the University of Minnesota Libraries, U.S.A. The dazzlingly colorful covers, maps, and meticulously detailed pencil illustrations, drawn over 70 years ago, are beautiful works of art. In addition, three dummy books (prototypes of handmade books) in the possession of the author Gannett, illustrations, a dragon doll she made to illustrate the book, and other valuable production materials will also be on displayed for the first time. 

② Experience the adventure yourself by putting yourself in Elmer’s shoes!

At this exhibit there are sections that faithfully recreate the world of the picture books, and by entering them you can relive segments of the book that Elmer went through for yourself! Based around four scenes from the books, a combination of lighting, video footage, and 3d objects help to take you into the world of the adventure. Furthermore, with the special assistance of Audio-Technica the sounds of various animals, the flapping of the dragon’s wings, and rushing of dragons as they escape the cave help to add to the realism. 

The four scenes
1.    Crossing the river by hopping on the crocodiles’ backs
2.    Flying through the storm on the back of the dragon
3.    Escaping a cave together with 15 dragons
4.    Final farewells with Boris the baby dragon

③ Stuffed animals, water domes, and even tooth brushes and candies! Enjoy all the goodies on offer!

In the adjacent gift shop, one will find plenty of My Father’s Dragon merchandise and goods. “Dragon's Market” brand vintage-inspired cups & saucers, bags, and sundries decorated with beautiful original artwork, as well as three-dimensional items such as stuffed dragon toys, mascots, and water domes. Items that appear in the story, such as toothbrushes and candy, which are indispensable to Elmer's adventure, will also be on display. In addition, there is are colorful T-shirts that can be worn by parents and children alike and themed stationery. 

④ Who is Ruth Stiles Gannett, author of the “My Father’s Dragon” series? Unraveling the author's character through a wealth of documents

Ruth Stiles Gannett, the author of the series, was born in New York in 1923. As a child she enjoyed thinking up and telling stories, and the book she started writing at the age of 22 was published in 1948 under the title “My Father’s Dragon”. Her mother-in-law Ruth Chrisman Gannett would contribute artwork to the books. In 1948, “My Father’s Dragon” won the New York Herald Tribune Spring Children's Book Award, which at the time was as prestigious as the Newbery Award, and the following year it was named a Newbery Honor Book. The three books in the series are international bestsellers and are still loved today. The exhibition will feature the notebooks in which Gannett wrote stories and drawings as a child, small objects of her own making, as well as numerous photographs of Gannett.

⑤ Celebrities from various fields recommend adventure books. Introducing the “Adventure Library,” where beloved adventures from all ages and cultures are collected!

The main character, Elmer, sneaks out of his house under the guidance of his cat, hides himself in a burlap sack, boards a ship, crosses the sea to an island, and after passing through many obstacles, rescues a captive dragon child and takes off into the sky on its back. Adventure is an encounter with the unknown. The trick is to overcome it with courage, wisdom, and only what is given to you. The trick is to accept the situation, be flexible, and make it work. At the end of the adventure, a sparkling discovery and a slightly grown-up version of yourself will be waiting for you, waving at you!

In the “My Father’s Dragon” exhibition, an “Adventure Library” will be opened in the exhibition hall to introduce books of adventure from around the world. Elmer's adventure takes him to the prairie, the air, the ocean floor, caves, uninhabited islands, and unexplored regions. Fantastic adventures in space, in the body, in the future, and intellectual adventures in physics, science, and mathematics. These books are recommended by adventurers, photographers, scholars, athletes, picture book writers, literary scholars, and others who are up to the challenge of striking out and attempting the hitherto unattempted. 

Admission Fee

General: 1,400 (1,200) yen
High School and College: 1,000 (800) yen
Elementary and Middle School: 700 (500) yen

*Entry is free to children who are not yet old enough to be in school
*The price in parentheses is for groups of over 20 individuals
**Free admission for the person presenting a physical disability certificate, mental disability certificate, or rehabilitation certificate and one caregiver, and for the person presenting a certificate of recipient of specified medical expenses (designated intractable diseases), certificate of recipient of medical care for specified diseases, certificate of recipient of medical care for congenital blood clotting factor disorder, etc., or certificate of recipient of medical care for pediatric chronic specified diseases.

Tickets are available at Asobu, Lawson Ticket (L code: 83557), Ticket Pia (P code: 686-983), Rakuten Ticket, etc.