There are many different types of loss, and each one tends to hurt. However, the death of a loved one especially a caregiver can be extremely tough. Today we are sharing a beautiful picture book about a young girl dealing with the death of her grandmother. It is a wonderful resource for any child going through the death of a loved one. Last week I also shared a middle grade novel about dealing with loss as well for older kids. Today's review also includes a giveaway at the end of the post and is part of The Children's Book Review Virtual Book Tour.
About the Book:
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.
Shenandoah Chefalo is a sought-after speaker, award-winning author, and expert trauma-informed specialist with more than 20 years of leadership consulting experience. As the Founder and Lead Strategist of Chefalo Consulting, she helps governmental, public, and private organizations integrate trauma-informed practices to create more effective and equitable systems.
Plagued and embarrassed by her name and shaped by a nomadic childhood filled with instability and loss, Shenandoah developed a tough skin early on. Her lived experiences—including foster care, poverty, and homelessness—taught her to navigate adversity, build resilience, and understand people deeply. These qualities later fueled her passion to transform broken systems.
After nearly two decades as a Law Office Administrator, Shenandoah became disturbed by the revolving door of people entering the criminal justice system. She pursued certification through Coach U and became a life coach—an experience that gave her new insight into her own trauma and the systemic failures she had endured.
Research into the U.S. foster care system revealed staggering statistics: over 400,000 children in care daily, 61% aging out without housing, 50% incarcerated within two years, and 80% of death row inmates having spent time in care. These revelations compelled her to share her story publicly and advocate for reform.
Her memoir, Garbage Bag Suitcase, confronts the hard truths of foster care while charting a personal journey of healing. Shenandoah is also the author of several best-selling e-books, including Setting Your Vision and Defining Your Goals, which help trauma-informed leaders implement change, build mental wellness, and strengthen communities.
Her newest book, The Best Bunny: Adventures of Lil Shen and Her Inspirational Sidekick Bunny Best (released July 22, 2025), marks her debut in children’s literature. Inspired by her own childhood, the story models emotional resilience, compassion, and hope for young readers navigating their own challenges.
Shenandoah holds a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies in Social Science from Michigan State University. She is a Core Essentials Graduate of Coach U, a Certified Law of Attraction Advanced Practitioner, a member of the National Speakers Association, and an active volunteer both nationally and internationally. She is also known for her expertise in social media marketing and is currently working on her next book, Hiking for Stillness.
For more information, visit:
- chefaloconsulting.com/books
- https://www.instagram.com/shenandoahchefalo/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/shenandoahchefalo/
From Me:
I think stuffed bunnies all have some magic. Think about it. There is The Velveteen Rabbit and now there is Bunny Best. When Hazel was young, she had to get a crown on one of her teeth. She was so scared. She had never even had a filling at this point. She was four I believe. I remember she wore her Sleeping Beauty gown that I had made her. (She wore it for Halloween when she was three and for her fourth birthday party.) Somewhere I have a picture of her in it and scrubbing the toilet because she helped me the day of her dentist appointment clean the bathrooms. Anyway, she chose to bring a stuffed bunny with her to the appointment. I was surprised when she wanted her Edie Bunny and not Ducky at the appointment although I'm sure Ducky was probably with us. Edie Bunny is a supersoft Jellycat stuffed bunny that the assistant manager, Edie, of Paper Source back when I worked there bought for her. During her appointment she held that bunny and stroked her ears throughout the entire procedure. It definitely helped calm her. I used this story when someone was looking for a gift for a child and didn't know what to get. I sold several bunnies while I was there. Even without being magical like Bunny Best, stuffed bunnies are special.
In this beautiful book, Lil Shen has just lost her grandmother. She is heartbroken. A caregiver named Muriel is taking her to the funeral. Lil Shen does not know what to expect and really doesn't want to go. When they return home, Muriel gives Lil Shen a gift from her grandmother. When Lil Shen opens the box, Bunny Best says hello an introduces themself. Lil Shen questions the fact that Bunny Best can talk but assumes it is her imagination or her imagina-Shen as her grandmother called it. Bunny Best tells Lil Shen it is ok to cry as long as she needs to and then tells her all she has to do is try her best. With Bunny Best's help Lil Shen begins to feel better more and more.
It is hard to lose someone you are close to. It is even harder for a young child to lose their special person. This book shares that feeling of confusion, hurt and numbness. It then gives Lil Shen and the reader some great advice. Cry as much as you need. Feel what you need to feel and then try your best each day. With the emotional release and then the encouragement to try her best each day Lil Shen began to feel better. It took weeks but those small steps became bigger steps. This book gives young children steps to help grieve. It shows them they are not alone, and it is ok to feel lost and scared. It also shows how memories can be good and help as well. This book is perfect for a child who lost someone close to him or her. It also is good for the child who is about to lose someone close. If someone is on hospice, perhaps reading this story and getting them their own stuffed animal will help them get through it all a bit better. It will help to show them what to expect. It is well written and shares just the right amount for the 4 to 6 age range. It gives them something to think about and lets them know they are not alone in their feelings. It is also a great reminder for the adults to remember that the children will be grieving the loss as well and will need support through it all.
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. Good luck!
