In this book, Elmer Elevator and his recently liberated dragon friend travel home, but find themselves marooned on another island inhabited by talkative animals.

The illustrations within the book are black and white lithographs, done by the author's stepmother, Ruth Chrisman Gannett.

[1] Elmer and the dragon (Boris, we learn in book 3) are stranded on a remote island inhabited only by canaries.

Elmer helps Flute and the king and queen canaries to dig up a chest that the island's former human settlers left.

Inside are various household items, a watch, a harmonica, and six bags of gold.