The Best Bunny
by Shenandoah Chefalo
August 12-15
Picture Book
A heartwarming children’s book about grief, healing, and the power of imagination, written by an award-winning author and former foster youth.
When Lil Shen loses her beloved grandmother, her world turns quiet and gray until a small, wrapped gift and a stuffed bunny named Bunny Best bring comfort, courage, and hope back into her life.
The Best Bunny is a beautifully illustrated picture book for children aged 4–8 that gently explores big emotions, such as sadness, loss, and loneliness. With tender storytelling and a relatable character, this story provides young readers with a powerful message: it’s okay not to be okay, and doing your best is more than enough.
Written by Shenandoah Chefalo, trauma-informed care expert and author of the award-winning memoir Garbage Bag Suitcase, this book draws from her personal experiences growing up in the foster care system. Shenandoah’s work is rooted in healing, empathy, and systemic change, and her unique perspective brings emotional depth and authenticity to every page.
This book is especially impactful for children who have experienced:
The death of a loved one or grandparent
Separation due to foster care, adoption, or family disruption
Trauma, grief, or significant life changes
Perfect for:
Parents, teachers, and school counselors
Therapists, social workers, and trauma-informed professionals
Foster and adoptive families
Grief support groups and children’s mental health programs
Whether used at bedtime, in classrooms, or during counseling sessions, The Best Bunny Interior is a gentle tool to help children find hope, connection, and healing—no matter what they’re going through.
About the author
Shenandoah Chefalo is a sought-after speaker, award-winning author, and expert trauma-informed specialist with over 20 years of leadership consulting experience. As the Founder and Lead Strategist of Chefalo Consulting, she provides trauma-informed professional development programs and leads multi-year systems change projects across various sectors, including health care, human services, education, and nonprofits.
Her lived experience in the foster care system, detailed in her acclaimed 2016 memoir Garbage Bag Suitcase, grants her a unique perspective on trauma-informed change. This memoir not only chronicles her challenging youth but also explores her healing journey and advocates for grassroots solutions to the United States’ broken foster care system.
Building on her commitment to healing and empowerment, Shenandoah is set to release her debut children’s book, The Best Bunny: Adventures of Lil Shen and Her Inspirational Sidekick Bunny Best, on July 22, 2025. This heartwarming tale draws from her own experiences, aiming to inspire resilience and hope in young readers.
In addition to her writing, Shenandoah is a graduate of Michigan State University with a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies in Social Science. She holds a Core Essentials Certificate from Coach U and a DEI in the Workplace Certificate from the University of South Florida. She is also a Certified Law of Attraction Advanced Practitioner and a member of the National Speakers Association. Beyond her professional endeavors, she volunteers with several organizations locally, nationally, and internationally.
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