Bunny and Fawn:
The Midnight Creature Mystery
Launching December 1, 2025
Book Information
Summary
After moving to a new home in the forest, Bunny and Fawn quickly settle into a peaceful life with their new friend, Bear. Their days are filled with fun and adventure—until one night, Bunny hears something strange lurking in the dark. Determined to uncover the truth, Bunny leads Fawn and Bear on a thrilling quest to find out what’s prowling outside their home. But when they finally come face-to-face with the mysterious creature, they are more surprised than they ever imagined.
ISBN
Paperback: 979-8-9903489-2-9
Digital: 979-8-9903489-3-6
LCCN
2025945391
Details
- Page Count: 36
- Age: 3-8
- Style: Children's Fiction / Picture Book
- Word Count: ~1100
- Publisher: Michael S. Lingo Books
- Author: Michael S. Lingo
- Illustrator: Damien Hall
Book Review
Maverick Independent Book Reviews
Bunny and Fawn: The Midnight Creature Mystery by Michael S. Lingo is an endearing and heartfelt sequel to Michael S. Lingo’s first children’s book, The Adventures of Bunny and Fawn. In Bunny and Fawn: The Midnight Creature Mystery, readers follow a cast of colorful and diverse furry friends as they investigate a mysterious creature making noises in the night. Through warm, inviting illustrations and playful dialogue, the story emphasizes the importance of patience, keeping an open mind, and giving second chances.
The book opens with a brief recap of Bunny and Fawn’s origin story, providing new readers with a clear introduction to the main characters. Bunny and Fawn are two friends-turned-family who once shared a cozy hollow log, but after being forced to relocate, they found a new home–and a new friend in Bear. The three pals enjoy swimming and exploring the forest. During their time together, they share encouraging language that promotes patience and positivity in young readers. After a fun-filled day, the animals return to their homes to rest. Bunny and Fawn are awoken in the night by a strange sound, following it only to discover a creature lurking in the shadows. Bunny expresses her fears, and Fawn reassures her, subtly teaching readers that it’s healthy to express emotions.
The friends recruit Bear, and the three embark on an investigation of the scary creature. They work together to come up with different strategies and plans, and throughout their journey, they kindly reassure each other with affirmations and patience. Eventually, they find the creature, who turns out to be not so scary at all, as he’s just a friendly pig, Truffles. The critters discuss among themselves the mistake they made in assuming that Truffles was something frightening, and offer apologies to the pig. Truffles shrugs it off as an honest mistake. Bunny, Fawn, and Bear invite Truffles to swim with them, where they all enjoy each other's company and newfound friendship.
Bunny and Fawn: The Midnight Creature Mystery gently explores the value of communication through characters who model honesty, patience, and love in their friendships. The story culminates in an unexpected bond between a diverse group of animals who, despite their differences and initial assumptions, discover that they have more in common than they thought. It conveys the message that making mistakes is okay–and that through open communication, we can form friendships we never anticipated and build families we didn’t know we needed. This heartwarming tale is a valuable resource for young readers learning to express their emotions, and a helpful tool for parents and teachers aiming to foster empathy, patience, and inclusion in the hearts of children.
Book Review
Kid's Picture Book Review
Bunny and Fawn: The Midnight Creature Mystery is a heartwarming woodland adventure about curiosity, bravery, and new friendships. Bunny and Fawn are inseparable sisters who love exploring the forest with their neighbor, Bear. But one night, their fun is interrupted by a strange creature lurking in the dark. Determined to solve the mystery, the trio set out to investigate, following clues and facing their fears. What begins as a frightening encounter turns into an unexpected friendship when the “creature” reveals himself to be Truffles, a gentle pig with a big heart. Together, Bunny, Fawn, Bear, and their new friend discover the joy of trust, acceptance, and the fun of sharing adventures — even swimming for the very first time! This delightful tale combines gentle suspense, relatable emotions, and cheerful illustrations that will keep young readers turning the pages until the happy ending.
Bunny and Fawn: The Midnight Creature Mystery is a sweet and engaging story that kids will love. Michael Lingo does a wonderful job weaving together themes of courage, sisterly love, and friendship in a way that’s both exciting and comforting for young readers. The nighttime mystery adds just the right amount of suspense, while the resolution — meeting the lovable pig, Truffles — delivers a warm message about not judging others too quickly. Damien Hall’s illustrations bring the forest and its characters to life with charm and personality, making the story even more inviting. Parents and teachers will appreciate the book’s positive messages about teamwork, facing fears, and welcoming new friends. Children will enjoy the playful dialogue, light humor, and fun moments like Bear tossing Bunny into the pond or Truffles discovering the joy of swimming.
Overall, this is a delightful read-aloud that encourages kindness, empathy, and bravery. It’s a perfect addition to any child’s bookshelf.
Book Review
Reader's Favorite
Bunny and Fawn: The Midnight Creature Mystery is a children's adventure by Michael Lingo. This picture book follows Bunny and Fawn, two sisters who have been together for a very long time. After a devastating storm, Bunny and Fawn are forced to live near the home of their new friend, Bear. However, one night, Bunny is awakened by a strange sound. She tells Fawn about it. Soon, the sisters see a mysterious creature in the woods, and it has them scared out of their wits. They talk to Bear, and the three friends set out to find the clues that would lead them to discover what the creature actually is. Even though Bunny is still scared, the three friends embark on their quest, and the results leave them pleasantly surprised.
Full of mystery, adventure, and intrigue, Bunny and Fawn: The Midnight Creature Mystery is a captivating picture book that will have young readers on the edge of their seats. Author Michael Lingo masterfully infuses suspense and tension into an absorbing narrative that is ultimately about friendship and found family. The characters are simply adorable. Bunny and Fawn, of course, take the limelight, but I also enjoyed the scenes where Bear features and plays a prominent role in the adventures alongside the sisters. The mysterious creature is another heartwarming addition to the story. Damien Hall has done a fantastic job with the artwork. The illustrations are eye-catching and complement Michael Lingo's storytelling wonderfully. If you're looking for an engrossing mystery-adventure book for children with captivating illustrations, you won't go wrong with this one!"
Book Review
Reedsy
Lingo’s writing is fast-paced, engaging, and appropriate for young readers. It’s simple, inviting, and easy to understand, making it a good choice for those following along or those learning to read. The words used are serene, delicate, and soothing, evoking feelings of peace, comfort, and, at times, even bravery. Children will be able to relate to the animals in it because of the calm and empathetic tone that’s used. The illustrations by Damian Hall are whimsical and use the colors of the woods in an expressive yet detailed manner, bringing the woodland setting and its forest characters to life. Each scene is warm and adds to the sense of wonder and charm on each page. By the story’s end, kids will be able to appreciate friendship on a whole new level.
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Bunny and Fawn by Michael S. Lingo, with artwork by Damian Hall, is a tranquil, beautifully illustrated picture book that’s perfect for little ones and families who appreciate tales of companionship and discovery. I also think it would make a great addition to early childhood and early elementary classrooms to discuss what being a good friend entails.
Book Review
Lit Pick
I thought this was a great nature story for readers of all ages to enjoy. The first thing I feel children will enjoy about this story was that it shows how Fawn, Bunny, and Bear became so close, and it didn’t matter that they were different animal species. Children will learn that having friends who are different than you is a wonderful thing and makes you a well-rounded individual. They will want to be more like Fawn, Bunny, and Bear seeing how well they all got along with one another.
Another thing I loved about this story was that it was all nature-themed. This teaches children that they should respect the environment and animals around them because nature has a place in this evolving world as well as humans do. I feel once they see how Fawn, Bunny, and Bear lived in their forest environment and depended on it for food, shelter, and protection from other creatures, children will grow to have a respect for the nature they see every day.
The illustrations provided by Damien Hall can be found full-paged on every page of this entertaining children’s picture book. The colors are muted and give a warm inviting feeling that pulls the reader deeper into the story with the turn of every page. The illustrations perfectly tell the author’s story in picture format. Damien Hall also illustrated the first book in this delightful children’s series. Michael Lingo pursued his education in architecture and a career in construction-related fields, but in his heart, he wanted to write children’s picture books. This is the second book in the Bunny and Fawn series.
Overall, Bunny and Fawn: The Midnight Creature Mystery is a story that will delight readers young and old. The storyline is entertaining, teaching readers about the nature that surrounds them, while also providing eye-catching illustrations that complement the written word. Readers will easily fall in love with Fawn, Bunny, and Bear and want to become friends with them as well. It comes highly recommended!
Book Review
The Bookish
Michael S. Lingo’s Bunny and Fawn: The Midnight Creature Mystery feels like a campfire story softened for little ears. It opens with two sisters rebuilding life after a storm, then pivots into a tale about hearing strange noises at night—a scenario that instantly taps into something universal. Who hasn’t lain awake, wondering what rustled in the dark? Children especially know that sensation, and the story leans into it without ever letting fear win.
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What stands out here is how the book treats community as the antidote to uncertainty. Bunny’s nervousness is not dismissed; instead, Fawn and Bear join her in watching, listening, and wondering. They don’t solve the mystery alone or by bravado—they solve it together, pooling courage and care. It’s a subtle lesson about collective problem-solving that’s as applicable on a playground as it is in a forest clearing.
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The eventual reveal—that the “creature” is Truffles the pig—is handled not as a punchline but as a natural step in shifting perception. What once seemed frightening turns out to be someone new. Developmental psychologists often point out that children learn empathy by re-evaluating first impressions, and this book makes that process visible. The characters acknowledge their mistake, apologize, and then invite Truffles into their circle. It’s a narrative built on the radical idea that misunderstandings can end not in division but in friendship.
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The language is simple, repetitive in the best way, like a lullaby. Dialogue carries the story, which makes it ideal for reading aloud. Each page turn offers reassurance: danger is questioned, named, then dissolved. And the illustrations reinforce this rhythm, shifting from shadow to brightness, suspense to play.
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This isn’t a story for readers looking for twists or high drama. It’s for children learning what to do when they feel afraid, for parents seeking to show that fear doesn’t need to be hidden, and for anyone who values stories that highlight kindness over conflict. The book whispers an old truth in a new form: that sometimes the scariest things are only strangers waiting to become friends.