Like many folks, I've had my share of frightening dreams. As a kid, these nightmares seemed real and were particularly scary. Some of these were so vivid that I couldn't make it through the night and I required something to calm me down. On multiple occasions my parents would make up a simpler version of this story. They didn't use any of the "fancy" words you'll find in this book and it was missing the medieval Viking plot. Still, by the time the story was over, I was able to fend off the concocted beasts for the rest of the night. One night, after our first son pleaded for a story before going to bed, I remembered the huge bear from my childhood. Over the years, our kid's request for bedtime clemency became known as "The big bear story". Now, after telling this story a few times to our four kids, I've come to the realization that all fear isn't created equal. Kids have a hard time determining how to react to irrational fears, fleeting emotions and legitimate threats. The world needs people to apply their vibrant imaginations, to assess their safety from aggressors and the ability to know the difference. My hope is that we can promote more princes and princesses that have all of these skills. I hope you enjoy the story.