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This post is in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and Shenandoah Chefalo. All opinions are my own.
Book Information
The Best Bunny: The Adventures of Lil Shen
Written by Shenandoah Chefalo Illustrated by Alena Tkach Ages: 4-6 | 28 Pages Publisher: Self-Published (2025) | ISBN: 979-8990059412 Publisher’s Book Summary: When Lil Shen loses her beloved grandmother, her world suddenly feels unfamiliar, quiet, and full of sadness. On a day filled with gray skies and heavy hearts, she receives a mysterious gift—an ordinary-looking stuffed bunny with extraordinary comfort to offer. Bunny Best, a soft companion stitched with love, becomes her guide through grief, helping Lil Shen remember, imagine, and feel all the feelings she thought she had to hide. Tenderly told and beautifully illustrated, The Best Bunny is a story of loss, resilience, and healing. Through imagination and the memory of love, Lil Shen discovers that she doesn’t have to be “okay” to move forward. She has to do her best. Inspired by author Shenandoah Chefalo’s lived experience in the foster care system and her work in trauma-informed care, this heartfelt picture book is an essential resource for families, educators, and professionals helping children navigate grief, big emotions, and life’s most complex changes. Author Interview with Shenandoah Chefalo
Where did you get the inspiration for The Best Bunny?
The inspiration came from two places: my childhood and the children and adults I’ve met through my work as a trauma-informed consultant. Growing up in the foster care system, I often felt invisible, especially in my grief. I didn’t have the words for what I was feeling, but I did have a stuffed animal that helped me feel less alone. That memory stuck with me. Over time, I realized that emotional comfort doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes, it’s as simple as a soft toy that listens without judgment. The Best Bunny is a love letter to that kind of quiet, steady support. What was your writing process like for this book? This book was emotionally layered to write. It’s short and gentle on the surface, but every line came from a deep place. I wanted every word to feel like a soft landing. I often imagined a child sitting in a therapist’s office or on a classroom rug, hearing the story aloud and thinking, “That’s me.” As a child, I spent a lot of time in public libraries, and while stories allowed me to escape what was happening in my real life, I often struggled to see myself in the stories themselves. I also worked closely with the illustrator to make sure Bunny Best felt real, not just visually, but emotionally. For me, the process was less about plot and more about creating a feeling—a sense of safety on the page. What is your favorite part about writing books for kids? Children are honest readers. They don’t pretend to like something just to be polite. When a story connects, they light up—or they go quiet in that deep, thoughtful way that tells you it mattered. Writing for kids also allows me to create the kind of stories I wish I’d had growing up. At the heart of it all is a simple goal to help children feel seen, understood, and less alone in their experiences. There’s something incredibly healing about offering today’s children the tools and tenderness we didn’t always receive ourselves. What are you working on now? I’m currently working on the next book in the Best Bunny series, where Lil moves to a new school while still carrying her grief, as she struggles to fit in, manage her sadness, and discover what it means to be seen in a brand-new place. It explores how kids navigate big feelings in environments that expect them to be “okay” again. I’m also developing classroom guides and printable activities to make the book more interactive for therapists, counselors, and educators. Beyond that, I continue to lead trauma-informed systems change work through Chefalo Consulting while also writing my next adult book, Hiking for Stillness—because healing isn’t just personal, it’s also collective. What is your favorite book? That’s a tricky question! But one book I return to often is The Velveteen Rabbit. It speaks so beautifully to the way love and loss shape us, and how emotional truth matters more than perfection. It reminds me that being “real” often comes from being seen—and that’s precisely what I try to give kids through The Best Bunny. Giveaway
Enter for the chance to win one of ten hardcover copies of The Best Bunny: Adventures of Lil Shen and Her Inspirational Sidekick Bunny Best. And for one extra-lucky grand prize winner, there’s a signed copy of the book, a snuggly Bunny Best plush, and an Amazon Gift Card.
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