Friendship & Faith for Children of All Ages
Benny Brook is more than a storybook—it’s a journey into the ancient oak forest where the animals talk, help one another, and gently teach life lessons. Each tale weaves in paraphrased Bible verses and ends with a fun glossary that helps children learn new words while exploring the real animals in the stories. There’s also an NIV glossary of the paraphrased Scriptures.
Written especially for ages 8–12, the stories of Benny Brook speak to readers of all ages. Whether it’s Shell-Bee the patient turtle, Hoot the wise owl, every page is filled with adventure, kindness, and the quiet reminder of God’s love.
If you’re looking for a book that blends faith, friendship, and fun forest adventures, you’ll find it in Tales of Benny Brook. Available now on Amazon!
Here are some excerpts from my book:
“Shell-Bee the turtle tilted his head thoughtfully. ‘Maybe the frogs are singing so loudly because they have something to be happy about,’ he said. ‘They lost their home, but now they’ve found another.’ Hoot the owl nodded slowly, his golden eyes wise and kind. The forest seemed to grow a little warmer as Benny Brook carried their songs downstream.”
“The twin ducklings paddled faster, chasing a trail of ripples across the new lake. They hadn’t noticed how far they’d gone until the cattails behind them disappeared from view. The forest was quiet—too quiet. For the first time, they realized they couldn’t hear their family’s voices.”
“As the sun dipped low, painting the oak leaves gold, the animals gathered by the brook. They had faced storms, losses, and fears—but here, together, they found strength. And just as the brook carried the water faithfully through the forest, God’s love carried them, too.”
About the Author of Tales of Benny Brook: Darna Lynn Michie
Darna is the author and creator of Benny Brook and Friends, a heartwarming series of woodland bedtime stories inspired by the natural beauty of her family’s forest home. When Darna and her family moved to a peaceful wooded property, a gentle little brook wound its way through the trees, surrounded by wildflowers, birdsong, and the quiet rhythms of nature. It was during those early years of motherhood that she began creating bedtime stories for her children—stories filled with curious animals, friendship, courage, and kindness.
A lifelong lover of animals, bugs, and the elements of the earth—wind and rain, sunshine and snowfall—Darna found endless inspiration in the world outside her window. The Tales of Benny Brook reflect her deep connection to nature and her belief that even the smallest creatures can teach us something about life, love, and community.
Now a grandmother, Darna has returned to these stories with a renewed desire to share them with children everywhere. Each story in the series is written to be a beautiful read-aloud experience, perfect for quiet evenings and bedtime routines. Every tale concludes with a gentle, poetic lullaby. A feel-good verse meant to soothe and settle young hearts as they drift off to sleep.
Sadly, the real Benny Brook has changed over the years. Logging and other human impacts have reduced the once-flowing stream to a faint trickle in early spring. The wildflowers that once lined its banks have nearly vanished. But through her stories, Darna hopes to preserve the memory of what once was and inspire a new generation to care for the natural world with tenderness and respect.
With Benny Brook and Friends, she invites readers to slow down, listen to the whisper of the wind in the trees, and rediscover the quiet beauty woven into the world around us.
“For over forty years, I have called the forest my home. Living among the trees and wildlife has given me a front-row seat to the beauty—and the challenges—of nature. I’ve watched animals make their homes, face hardships, and find surprising ways to work together. Out of these experiences grew Tales of Benny Brook—a series of children’s stories inspired by the real creatures that share our world.”
Shell-Bee, the patient turtle, and Hoot, the wise owl, talk about the coming winter as Benny Brook nears its icy rest.
Tales of Benny Brook 