My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett

A group of lazy animals on Wild Island have captured a baby dragon and put him to work. The little dragon can fly, so they are forcing him to act as a flying ferry across a dangerous river. The dragon doesn’t like it.

So goes the story that reaches a kind-hearted boy named Elmer Elevator (“my father”). Elmer, carrying a bag of most unusual supplies, sets out on a secret journey to rescue the dragon. How Elmer uses these supplies to beguile the nasty in habitants of Wild Island and free the dragon is one of the most exciting adventures ever.