Elfie the Owl and the Mystery of the Northern Lights - A Tiny Hero’s Tale, the second book release for mother-and-son duo

In Feb. 2025, the mother and son team of Lynn M. and Bryn Sheedy Gibson released the first book in a series, How Elfie the Elf Owl Saved Christmas - A Tiny Hero’s Tale, the first of a series.

On Dec. 18, 2025, they released their second book, which envisions the tale of a tiny but mighty Elf Owl and her adventure to solve the mystery of the Northern Lights, in Elfie the Owl and the Mystery of the Northern Lights, A Tiny Hero's Tale.

The book is geared toward children ages 3-8 and published by M.L. Publishing.

The overall process of completing their second book lasted approximately eight months.

“We started in April 2025, right on the heels of the first book, How Elfie the Owl Saved Christmas, and ended in December 2025. The manuscript took about a third of that time to complete, with illustrations and marketing taking up the rest,” the Gibsons said.

The story centers around a tiny Elf Owl named Elfie as she and her best friends uncover the mystery of the dimming Northern Lights.

When the magical Northern Lights swiftly begin to dim, Elfie and her best friends set off on a new adventure to solve the mystery.

Will the Northern Lights ever light up the sky again? Full of sparkle, laughter, and northern magic, this heartwarming tale shows that friendship can brighten even the darkest sky.

Elfie learns that, despite her tiny size, as she is no bigger than a juice box, she can achieve mighty things.

To write the story, the Gibsons researched the Northern Lights. They enjoyed learning how they shine across the sky, using resources from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). “We took our research and wrote a section at the back of the book as an educational page for readers.”

The book features charming artwork, with illustrations by Catherine Worsley
We love what she does with our stories!” the Gibsons said.

Illustrator and writing team bios

Catherine Worsley lives and works among the beautiful rolling hills of Yorkshire in the United Kingdom.

There’s nothing she enjoys more than creating magical scenes and whimsical characters, hoping to bring a little joy and transport others to a happy place through her work. From a very early age, she always dreamed of becoming an artist, and she feels very lucky to be living that dream now.

Born and raised in Rockford, Illinois, Bryn Sheedy Gibson has been around children’s books his whole life.

Growing up feeling tiny (but mighty!) has led him to want to bring this powerful sentiment to other children.

He has a background in school finance and strives to help children receive a great education. He is thrilled to continue in the world of children’s book writing alongside his mother, Lynn.

He hopes that his writing can be another way to show children how to look inward to find their true and best selves.

“Together, we weave stories that not only connect generations but also ignite imaginations. Our shared passion for storytelling allows us to create worlds where every word carries the warmth of home and the spark of adventure,” Bryn said.

Lynn Sheedy Gibson has spent a lifetime surrounded by stories, reading countless children’s books to her children and grandchildren.

That love of storytelling led her to co-author her first book with Bryn, one of her six grown children, and now the adventure continues with the second book in the Elfie series.

An educator at heart, Lynn’s career has taken her from ditching kindergarten to serving as a school district superintendent at Hononegah Community High School and as a university professor.

A native of Rockford, Illinois, she finds inspiration for her writing in the outdoors and on hiking trails, where every path reminds her that life itself is an adventure worth sharing.

Lynn shares, “Our stories are built on the bond we share, each page a reflection of our love for adventure, laughter, and imagination.”

Writing together as mother and son, we hope to inspire young hearts to dream big and embrace the magic of storytelling.

Book dedication

The newest work by the Gibsons is dedicated to Lynn's Grandma, whose legacy of warmth and courage shaped Lynn's life and continues through her children and grandchildren.”

Lynn’s grandmother, Bryn’s great-grandmother, loved to read to her grandchildren during sleepovers at her house. “During those gatherings, there were always cinnamon rolls, games, and lots of laughter, “Lynn said.

Future visions

Each book in the Gibsons’ children’s series ends with a cliffhanger.

In the first book, the Northern Lights suddenly begin to dim, which becomes the mystery that Elfie and her friends must solve in the second book.

The Gibsons chose the Northern Lights for the second book because the stories are set at the North Pole, where the lights are such an iconic and magical part of the landscape.

“In fact, the first book includes many illustrations featuring the Northern Lights, so it felt natural and exciting to use them as the cliffhanger that leads into the next adventure,” the Gibsons said.

The second book has a children’s song and information about the Northern Lights.

The music for the song was composed by Chloe Gibson, and the lyrics were written by Bryn and Lynn, with Kim Suedbeck singing. It’s available to listen to on their website at tag6tales.com or by calling (815) 975-0641.

Both books are available for purchase on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

The Gibsons always want to add extra educational information and activities in each book.

In How Elfie the Owl Saved Christmas, they included a simple, delicious sugar cookie recipe and Elf Owl facts.

In Elfie the Owl and the Mystery of the Northern Lights, they added a music sheet.

At the moment, the Gibsons have a trilogy in mind.

Future projects envisioned by the Gibson's include publishing the third book in the series in 2026, a brand new children's book series, and a young adult novel series.

“We want our readers to come back to the books to learn, even when the story is finished,” the Gibsons said.

Follow the Gibsons on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to stay updated on their next chapter.