A troop of children transform a meadow and its shadowy woodlot into a realm of jousts and quests, staging knightly games that lead one boy to discover and befriend a small dragon. The narrative alternates playful domestic scenes with episodic fantasy voyages: the dragon's meetings with the children and their grandmother, its departures and unexpected returns, and a string of encounters involving an enchanted pair of silver toes, a captive princess, a traveling magician, an armorer, fairs and highways, whimsical towns, and comic trials that test courage and loyalty. The story mixes rustic charm, adventure, and gentle enchantment as the group undertakes rescues and comes home.