When I created the sweet, little Brave Knight, I already knew his story well. I knew it because I had told it to my young boys each night when they were scared and alone. The tale got longer and larger with each of their curious questions. Where did the Brave Knights come from? How do they help children sleep without fear? What happens if I wake up at night and am scared?
All these questions came up in the days after meeting their Brave Knight, Sir William. I knew that if Sir William was going to help other children sleep without fear like he had my own boys, then I would need to write a book about him. This book came to be the Magical Order of Brave Knights Storybook.
The Tale of the Brave Knight
The story begins with a fearful young boy who is getting ready for bed. He repeats his wish: “night, night, sleep tight, please don’t let anything scare me tonight.” This is a wish that I had heard my own son say repeatedly. It broke my heart to hear him saying that, as I knew fear was filling his heart. I wanted my son to have something he could give his worries to rather than just keep them inside and hoping they don’t wake him up in a form of a nightmare. He needed something to stay in his room and protect him.
That is how the Brave Knights came to be. The Brave Knights in the story exist to make the child’s wish come true, to come help the little boy in the middle of the night. Sir William brings the boy a new wish, one that will keep him safe. “Brave Knight help me sleep tight. Please guard me all through the night.” And that’s just what Sir William does in the Magical Order of Brave Knights Storybook, and what he does in your child’s life.
Themes and Purpose
This storybook isn’t just about safety and protection. It highlights themes of courage, friendship and loyalty. The storybook shows how a bond can form and a friendship can happen that can bolster a child’s self-esteem and confidence. The story shows the little boy and Sir William having fun at the park and bouncing on the bed together. The themes of love and friendship run deep throughout the book.
Of course, The Magical Order or Brave Knights Storybook brings children the peace they need to sleep, but it also does so much more. That’s why the plot is bright and uplifting with positive messages. Illustrator Bert Farache took these themes and the story and found a way to bring Sir William to life in ways that words alone cannot. The tale is impactful. The images are impactful. They’re both designed to help your child thrive both at night and throughout their day.
The Tools Beyond the Book
The Brave Knights are more than just a stuffed animal, they are a way for children to express their fears and relieve some of their emotional stress related to their fears. The magical projecting flashlight, which matches the one your child has, is introduced in the story. The heartwarming illustrations show the little boy’s fear melting away as he and Sir William clear his room of anything that scares him. Sir William helps the little boy shine it under his bed and in his closet. The room is drawn in a warm safe glow.
The end of the book has a personalized Knighting Ceremony for your child. It is a great way to further that bond between them and their new forever friend Sir William. The animal, the book and the flashlight are all tools to help your child sleep better, but the friendship and lessons they offer go far beyond their bedtime routine.
The words written on these pages are words that I have lived and loved. I hope I did them justice and I hope they bring your family sleep.
