Knights & Their Dragons (Paperback) | Released: 23 Sep 2016

These stories were designed to help young people learn to cope with fears and frustrations. In these stories, Sir Stephen and Sir Henry were young knights and long lost brothers separated from each other at birth. They had to face fears and fight frustrations in order to meet little orphaned brother dragons and make them their friends.

Sir Stephen was naturally fearful and cautious. He had to build up his courage to overcome his fear. His brother, Sir Henry, was fearless, but he was challenged by frustration that burned within him. He had to cool that frustration so he could think of a plan to achieve his goals.

Both knights befriended little brother dragons that grew to become powerful helpers. The fearful dragon became "Protector Dragon" and protected the village sheep from packs of wolves. The frustrated dragon became "Drag-on Dragon" and pulled huge logs to help construct buildings in the village.

The knights had complimentary characteristics, and each of their tendencies became strengths in certain situations. Fearful Sir Stephen developed a plan when caution was needed, and bold Sir Henry was fearless when quick action was needed.
However, after the brothers and their dragon friends met, fearful and cautious Stephen had to learn that bold action was sometimes needed, and quick to action Henry had to learn to learn to think before he acted. Protector Dragon, who was afraid of his own fire, had to learn to control his fire to keep the village safe from a pack of wolves, Drag-on Dragon, who loved to help build log buildings, had to learn to control his temper when logs got stuck so he didn't burn the buildings down with his furious fire.

The nights and their dragon friends had great adventures together. As they worked together and learned from each other, they became a closely connected team in which they took turns being brave enough to face fears and bold enough to fight frustrations.
About the Author: Dr. Bob Peddicord is a Psychologist who has long believed in the power of analogous stories to teach the young. He created the stories included in "Knights & Their Dragons" to help kids face the dragons of fear and frustration, and make them their friends. Dr. Bob told these stories many times at schools, initially as part of two Character Education Grants from the Maine Department of Education. He also told them at the Child & Parent Center, and subsequently at his home office. Youths have been fascinated by the stories, which are based on sound psychological principles, such as O.H. Mowrer's Two-factor Theory of Avoidance Learning. Stories were also inspired by comparative psychology and anthropology. Our history provides many examples of human beings facing, befriending, and taming powerful beasts. Wolves became domestic dogs that protected us (much like the Dragon of Fear became the "Protector Dragon"); and, mustangs became domestic horses that helped us build our homes and villages (much like the Dragon of Frustration became "Sir Drag-on"). Elephants were perhaps the most powerful beasts we befriended and tamed, unless one considers other sources of power, such as fire, electricity, wind, and solar or nuclear energy. Fear and frustration are powerful forces within each of us that can help us accomplish our goals if we work with them. On the other hand, avoidance of fear or frustration can keep us captive in an "avoidance trap," which is like the cave of the dragon. However, if we befriend and tame the Dragons of Fear and Frustration they can help each of us attain our own purpose in life. Fear can become fascination, which is the bed rock of scientific exploration, while frustration can give us the power to attack problems and overcome obstacles. "Knights & Their Dragons" is the first part of a planned three part trilogy about the brothers, their offspring, and their adventures with their dragon friends. The other parts have been written and will hopefully soon be illustrated and published.