"
The Reluctant Dragon" is an
1898 children's story by
Kenneth Grahame (originally published as a chapter in his book
Dream Days), which served as the key element to the 1941
feature film with the same name, from
Walt Disney Productions. The story has also been set to music as a children's
operetta by
John Rutter, with words by David Grant. In 1960, it was presented as a live-action episode starring
John Raitt as St. George, on the television anthology
The Shirley Temple Show. On March 21, 1968,
Burr Tillstrom and
Kukla, Fran and Ollie starred in a puppet version on
NBC. In 1970–1971, it formed part of the anthology television program
The Reluctant Dragon and Mr. Toad Show. In 1987,
Cosgrove Hall Films adapted it for Thames ITV. In 2008,
Tony DiTerlizzi wrote
Kenny & the Dragon as a tribute to Grahame's story, including naming the two heroes Kenneth and Grahame.