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The Adventures of Bunny and Fawn by Michael Lingo (Book Review)

An oddball pair of animals, a bunny and a fawn, love each other like sisters. In the forest that is their home, they play and laugh and learn together all day long. At night, they sleep cuddled together inside a big log. But when a sudden storm sweeps their home away, and they become separated in the melee, they have to fight hard to find each other again. Bunny is despondent at the loss of their home, but Fawn reminds her that as long as they’re together, they are home. The bonds of friendship, chosen family, and sisterhood are both tested and proven in this adorable picture book.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery.  I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

As the story begins, we meet two sweet forest animals, who we learn live together in a log. Fawn, the deer, and Bunny met as babies and have remained together ever since. They are more than best friends; they are sisters by choice. Fawn and Bunny’s temperaments are vastly different, but their differences complement one another nicely and come into play as the story progresses. Fawn, the protective sister, always watches for Bunny’s safety. When Bunny finds herself stuck, Fawn is nearby to give her sister some helpful advice: take a deep breath and stay calm. When Bunny gets too close to a coiled-up snake, Bunny recalls and enacts Fawn’s sage advice from the pond incident and avoids getting bitten by the sun-bathing snake! Thank goodness! 

As the sky darkens and a storm brews, Bunny and Fawn choose to take shelter. Wise choice! They have ridden out other storms in this very log, but this one appeared to be worse than all of the past. Globally, natural disasters are happening more frequently. More tornadoes and floods are ravaging the states this storm season. Fawn and Bunny faced what many children and their families face every year. Often several times a year! The poor animals had to make a hard decision while the thunderstorm was still barreling down on them: leave the only home they’ve ever known and seek studier shelter or stay in harm’s way. They said goodbye to their broken home. 

Every storm season, the news covers all the homes severely damaged or lost to natural disasters. Families of all sizes must start anew, and even animals must find new homes. Fawn and Bunny had the misfortune to lose the only home they’ve ever known, but worse than that, they lost each other for a time in the storm, too. Thankfully, the two siblings safely found their way back to each other. Unharmed, too!

The Adventures of Bunny and Fawn is a relatable, lovely story that shows that “home” is any place where the ones you love are. I loved the message that families come in all shapes and sizes. It’s true that family members can be biologically related, adopted, or fostered, or you can recognize someone you are very close to as your sister, brother, uncle, and so forth. 

Bunny and Fawn were fortunate to find a new home quickly; however, that is only sometimes the case for people in the real world. If your community has been affected by storms, fires, floods, etc., encourage your family to give back to their neighbors, near and far. Also, if your family doesn’t have a disaster plan, now is the time to make one. I would encourage discussing what to do if your family gets separated during a storm or dangerous event.

My recommended reading age is 2-8-year-olds.  

 

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1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
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Meet the Author

Having pursued an education in Architecture, and a career in construction-related fields, Mike is not your typical children’s book author. The concept for this book began as a joke, but transformed into an exciting journey. He’s excited to continue writing in the future.

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Bob Tales, Land of the Woody Warbles by Susan Sullivan (Book Review)

When a sad and hungry kitty is rescued from a garbaggy place by a loving family, only to lose them again, he sets out to find them. On his journey, he encounters many strange and wonderful creatures including a slithery snake, a frisky frog, a friendly fish, a laughable lemur, a marvelous mantis, a testy turtle, a babbling bee, a wee worm, and a wise old owl. Along the way, he learns that he is a bit different than most cats and the other creatures aren’t so nice about his unique qualities.

While struggling with his identity, and weakened from his journey, the cat becomes more and more lost. He faces perilous danger and nearly gives up all hope. But after digging deep to find trust, and a little help and teamwork from his new friends, he finds more than he was hoping for.

In this beautifully illustrated tale of a cat without a tail, our hero learns how to believe in himself, overcome his fears, and feel comfortable in his own fur – with lots of adventures along the way. An inspiring story of courage, teamwork, and the long journey home.

Author Website
Reedsy Author Link
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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery.  I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

The World Animal Foundation claims that, shockingly, there are 60-80 million unowned or feral cats in the U.S. Susan Sullivan focuses on one homeless kitty in Bob Tales, Land of the Woody Warbles. Before the black kitty met his owners, he lived on the streets. He feasted on rotten garbage, causing his coat to smell no better than the food he consumed. He was bullied, beaten, and understandably sad. All that changed the day the gentle man with shaggy hair scooped him up and promised to help him. The friendly human gave the lonesome, dirty, hungry cat a name (Bob). He made sure Bob was given medical care, a bath, a warm bed, and plenty of healthy food. Bob loved his new family, a blended home of cats and dogs. He felt safe. He felt loved. He felt like he belonged. 

Bob understood that sometimes his owners would leave for the day, but he also understood they eventually returned. However, one day, they didn’t, and Bob was consumed with worry. As pet owners, we see the joy in our furry friends when we return home. Kisses. Head butts. They show love in their own way. Bob loved his humans and was willing to brave the harsh outside world again for them. 

In every chapter, Bob meets new faces. He met some friendly animals and some rude animals. Art imitates life in this instance. No matter the reader’s age, you will encounter people who will lift you up and those who enjoy tearing you down. It’s important to remember the wise words of Oakley, the owl: “What others think doesn’t matter half as much as what you think.”

Bob did not have a tail, and many animals remarked about it, causing him to be ashamed of who he was and what he looked like. Bob didn’t know life with a tail, but these wild animals made him feel terrible about it. We see this type of behavior in humans. We focus on someone’s outward appearance and should be judging someone by their actions. Bob was a sweet, smart cat who loved his family with all his heart. He braved the turbulent waters, faced his fears, and never gave up looking for his “lost” humans. 

In the end, Bob was reunited with his family, and what a story he had to share with his furry brothers and sisters. He swam. He flew. He had an adventure that would widen any furry friend’s eyes with shock and disbelief. 

Bob Tales, Land of the Woody Warbles thirteen chapters are full of action, adventure, love, and gorgeous illustrations of animals and insects (artist: Lauren Reeves). I recommend sharing it with your child six years and older. Make it a part of your bedtime routine. 

Remember: adopt, don’t shop!

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score:  

Author Website
Reedsy Author Link
Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

Susan Sullivan worked in Nuclear Medicine before teaching high school biology and anatomy for ten years. Bob, Susan’s tailless rescue cat, had wanderlust and his true adventures became the source of great stories. Susan enjoys being in nature and among animals, particularly when she is beekeeping.

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A Curse of Mayhem: Alyssa McCarthy’s Magical Missions Book 2 by Sunayna Prasad (Book Review)

A CURSE OF MAYHEM by Sunayna Prasad

Middle-Grade Fiction (Ages 8-12),  173 pages


History, like magic, has a habit of repeating itself.


It’s been six months since thirteen-year-old Alyssa McCarthy left magic behind for good. Or so she thought…

Then the enchanted objects that protected her disappear. Now a skeleton named Errol has cursed her with magical powers that keep getting her in trouble. Suddenly strange things are happening with disastrous effects, and if Alyssa can’t remove the magic, she will lose everything she holds dear. In order to get rid of her unwanted wizardry, Alyssa will have to boost her bravery and confidence and determine who Errol really is. But every time Alyssa uses an enchantment, Errol is one step closer to getting his flesh back and becoming alive, and he will do anything to achieve his goals…even if it means destroying Alyssa’s happiness.

Originally published in 2016 as “Wizardry Goes Wild” and “The Unruly Curse” in 2019, “A Curse of Mayhem” is book two in the exciting and suspenseful “Magical Missions” series.

 
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I received a complimentary copy of this book from 
iRead Book Tours.
I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
 

Since my (pre-teen) daughter gave me such valuable feedback regarding The Frights of Fiji, I enlisted her again in the review for A Curse of Mayhem (Alyssa McCarthy’s Magical Missions, Book 2). 

 

Cover:  She thought the winged person was creepy and didn’t understand who it was supposed to be since she didn’t recall a flying kid in the story. The birdman didn’t bother her; in fact, she thought he looked comical. 

Plot:  We both agreed there were plot holes again. We didn’t understand how Alex, the godfather, forgot about magic and Alyssa’s kidnapping. 
We weren’t sure how mortals could be so confused magic exists when there is a magical zoo in Nebraska. 


Characters:  
She liked the winged unicorn-zebra, and so did I.  

 

Extras:  We both agreed the community service hours for students are a good idea. It teaches young people to take care of our world, and it’s important to take care of your community/people. However, realistically, I don’t think many schools will make it a requirement for school. Maybe for a class, though. 

While there were some hits and misses in this story, it was more enjoyable than The Frights of Fiji. It did represent how I believe a person would react to unwanted powers and the lack of control over them. 

On a final note: My daughter said the ending was “Ahhh, so sweet.”  She’s right; it was adorable. 

 
Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤1/2
 
BUY THE BOOK:
Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble ~ Kobo
Add to Goodreads
 
 
 
 
Meet the Author:
Author Sunayna Prasad
 
Sunayna Prasad enjoys writing fantasy books for children, as well as cooking, creating artwork, watching online videos, and blogging. She has also written The Frights of Fiji, and A Curse of Mayhem. She constantly in creating and brainstorming new ideas.
 
Connect with the Author:   website ~ twitter goodreads
 
 

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