Events

Events

December 2021

May, 2020

A lovely blog article written by Deborah Iwabuchi, who is currently translating Aki Maezawa’s biography of Ruth Stiles Gannett.

https://ihatov.wordpress.com/2018/08/11/when-translating-japanese-childrens-literature-helps-you-meet-ruth-stiles-gannett/

September, 2019

Cousins Chloe and Dugan, from Swarthmore, PA., came to have their “My Father’s Dragon” book signed, and took a ride on Rocking Boris, who lives in Ruth’s barn.

There is a new man in Ruth’s life! His name is Saver and he is 8 years old. She adopted him from the SPCA “Seniors for Seniors” program.

August, 2019

Ruth was delighted to receive a very special visitor from Ireland and Cartoon Saloon, Nora Twomey, who is directing an animated film based upon “My Father’s Dragon”. Nora brought a Boris and Elmer birthday card with caricatures and messages from many of the animators who are working on the film in Kilkenny, Ireland.

May, 2019

Ruth’s daughter Louise went to visit the Kerlan Children’s Literature Research Collection at the University of Minnesota, where the original drawings, lithographs and manuscripts for the My Father’s Dragon series, and other illustrations by Ruth Chrisman Gannett are archived. The curator of the collection, Lisa Von Drasek, took us on a tour of the cave archives deep beneath the Elmer K.  Anderson Library, https://www.lib.umn.edu/clrc

They have wonderful resources and Ms. Von Drasek is charming, If you are lucky enough to meet her, she may recite a poem for you!

July and August, 2018:

Ruth Stiles Gannett Kahn and two of her seven daughters, Louise and Peggy, were invited to Japan by PUK Puppet Theater (http://www.puk.jp) and spent 10 fabulous days in Tokyo and Hakone.

Photos of the fabulous PUK puppeteers with Ruth:

Ruth met many fans in Japan, some of whom told her about how important the “Elmer books” were to them. Yu Todo, pictured below with Ruth, agreed to share her comments and a photo of her with Ruth here.

The lovely card Yu made for Ruth says:

Dear Ruth-San,

Welcome to Japan! I came to see you to say “Thank you”. Your book saved my childhood. Even I had sad, hard and miserable feeling, the story of Elmer gave me a shelter. I can fly, be brave with them. I appreciate you so much. Now, I will be ( want to be) a children book writer like you, give hope to children. Love, Yu Todo

Yu – Ruth appreciates you and all the wonderful fans in Japan who were so kind and welcoming to her books and to us!!  And we all send our appreciation to Aki Maezawa,

the author of Ruth’s biography ( in Japanese), who took us to Hakone, and who guided us with grace and humor throughout our visit!

August, 2018:

As part of the Bedford, Massachusetts public library summer reading program, eight year old Hanna Suzuki developed a medal and awarded it to Ruth Stiles Gannett  for “My Father’s Dragon”.

The reasons she gave for liking the book so much were:

1. It is so mysterious, adventurous, and funny!
2. Every time I  turn the page I have no idea of what is going to happen next. Even if I’ve read it so many times!
3. I liked how Elmer fools the animals. It is really funny!
4. I’ve always wished to be like Elmer or an AWESOME author like Ruth!

Ruth says ” Thank you so much for the beautiful medal Hanna!”

Enchantment Theatre of Philadelphia  completed  a national tour of My Father’s Dragon!

They reached over 100,000 children on their tour across the U.S. ! You can watch a short promotional video by going to youtube and typing in “enchantment theater my father’s dragon”.