The Enchantment of Dragons

By Mary Jo Hazard, M.A., M.F.T

"Smile and Say Hi," my newly published children's book, is about conquering shyness—a subject no child in the world would find captivating unless the book had a unique hook. A larger-than-life creature that fascinated emboldened and encouraged children to smile and say hi in a playful, non-threatening way? Cue the dragons!

Dragons have quite a history; myths and legends about them exist all over the world. The mystical creatures breathe fire; they have wings and scales and horns and large pointed teeth.

Whatever their differences, dragons fascinate and excite us and make us tremble in fear. Dragons enchant children and adults who want to believe that dragons are real even though they know they aren't. But why? What makes dragons so unique? Why are we captivated by them? Why do they have so many fans and populate everything from songs to books and movies?

History has it that not all dragons are alike—some are bad, others are good. Although they physically resemble each other, they act differently, and they're poles apart. If you mix them up, you do so at your own peril.

The Western (European) dragons are the bad guys—evil, frightening, nasty beasts. Symbols of sin and corruption, they're vicious creatures that carry off damsels in distress whom virtuous heroes must outwit or eliminate—think about England's patron saint, Saint George, Beowulf, and Sir Lancelot.

Remember those ruthless fire-breathing creatures in the Harry Potter books? Loosely based on Western dragon myths, the enormous dragons were wicked; they created havoc; they were treacherous. The wisest well-trained wizards were the only ones who could handle them.

But Western dragons aren't all bad. Famous for their strength, they're recognized as emblems of nobility and power.

The Eastern (Asian) dragons are the good guys—friendly, benevolent creatures that help people. The dragons symbolize positive qualities such as boldness, self-confidence, excellence, perseverance, and happiness. They make sure the earth has enough rain, and somehow, they control large bodies of water. Asian cultures believe dragons represent physical and spiritual well-being, strength, and long life. They believe that dragon representations chase away evil spirits and attract blessings and prosperity.

Asian dragons are loved and celebrated and have "real" relationships with people. Children love being friends with a dragon, adults are warier, but eventually, even they warm up.

Remember the famous Disney Movie Pete's Dragon? Pete's grown-up guardians were petrified when they happened upon Elliot. "A dragon! A dragon! I swear I saw a dragon, a green and seething fire-breathing monster is in sight with eyes of red, a lion's head and wings as dark as night."

On the other hand, ten-year-old Pete loved Elliot from the Get-go, and it wasn't long until they were singing, "Now we're together, and life is perfect. Don't ever disappear. I love you too."

And is there anyone who doesn't remember Peter Yarrow's famous song "Puff the Magic Dragon?" Like Elliot, Puff lived by the sea and became best friends with a boy--little Jackie Paper.

The song was a favorite of the fans at Peter, Paul, and Mary concerts, and its message sparked something special in student activists who wanted to make the world a better place.

Today more than ever, we need dragons who inspire and encourage us. Superheroes like Elliot and Puff who helped two young boys feel loved and overcome the challenging situations in their lives. Superheroes who can teach young children social skills, self-control, and manners in a non-threatening imaginative way—like the dragons in my new picture book, Smile and Say Hi.

It's a quirky story that helps young children learn a fundamental social skill in a fun, exciting way and teaches them how to conquer their fear and reach out.

Mike, the main character, is a great kid, but his shyness prevents him from making friends. When his parents encourage him to smile and say hi, he races out of the room, jumps in bed, and covers his head. One night a group of fire-breathing dragons, led by the Dragon King, march into Mike's bedroom and encourage him to let go of his fears and join them on a wild flying adventure. Mike goes and has the time of his life. The next day when he sees a new girl on the playground, he's prepared--he smiles and says hi.

Like the Eastern dragons, the ones in Smile and Say Hi are friendly and helpful. They're bold, benevolent, full of self-confidence, and strong—perfect agents of change. The illustrator of the book, Srimalie Bassani, said, "The tale reminded me of when I was a child, afraid of everything. I started to think about Mike, and I made his room a fortress with puppets and things that he likes and comfort him, and I thought the Dragon King should have reddish scales, symbols of courage and passion, nothing evil."

If you're a dragon fan, please join me at the Peninsula Friends of the Library's Literary Weekend, where I'll be reading and discussing Smile and Say Hi. This event occurs on March 19th, 20th, and 21st and replaces the Friends annual gala. Tickets include six virtual author talks, one book of your choice, a Saturday evening dinner for two from Truxton's or Misto's, and, of course, wine.

To order tickets: Palos Verdes Library District (pvld.org)

Bio:

Mary Jo Hazard, M.A., M.F.T., is a retired psychotherapist, the author of three children's books, The Peacocks of Palos Verdes, P is For Palos Verdes, and Palo's World, and a coming-of-age novel, STILLWATER. Hazard writes a bi-weekly column, PV Neighbors, for the Peninsula News. She loves living on the Palos Verdes Peninsula and spending time with her husband and family. Her mission is to help remove the stigma of mental illness and help others live their lives to the fullest.

Amazon author link:

https://www.amazon.com/Mary-Jo-Hazard/e/B004285HS6%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share