AWARENESS TOUR: The Best Bunny: The Adventures of Lil Shen by Shenandoah Chefalo, Illustrated by Alena Tkach - REVIEW + GIVEAWAY!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers!

Today, we play host to a stop along The Children's Book Review AWARENESS TOUR starring a new Storybook that takes a hard subject to handle at any age, and gives readers a softer place to land during those hard times.  Ladies and gents, let's take a closer look at this special title making its way into the published arena...

The Best Bunny: The Adventures of Lil Shen

by

Shenandoah Chefalo

Illustrated by Alena Tkach

Ages: 4-6 | 28 Pages

9798990059412

Self-Published (2025)

About the book...

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.

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Bookshop.org

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I admit it.  I cried my heart out while reading this one...to the extent that I had to STOP reading it and take a few minutes with my pupper to find my center again before I continued.  That's the thing about grief, it hits you like a truck with no brakes whenever it darn well feels like it, and while my encounter occurred last year, it feels like only yesterday...but I digress.

Though the cover screams "enchanting tale of a girl and her bunny"...it is in fact enchanting, but not in the way it first appears.  It's not a happy story, though there is movement towards happiness throughout and by book's end.  It's not a whimsical story, though there is a talking bunny who becomes a close friend of our little leading lady.  It's not filled with rainbows and butterflies, hugs and kisses, sparkles and unicorns, though it does remind us that those things still exist and will become easier to see as time goes by.  This is a story about loss.  It deals in grief, loneliness, feeling lost, and not knowing how to get beyond the moment.  It draws you in with a cute cover, spares nothing as it renders you speechless with the topic being addressed, and handles your heart/feelings not with kid gloves, but with honesty, and tenderness, just the same.  It's magical in the fact that it makes its message clear...one day things will get better, seem brighter, and bring joy, but it's different for everyone, and feelings of all colors need to be felt...without being clinical or sounding cliche.  It's magical in the introduction of little Shen's "power", and yet makes it something that is able to be practiced by one and all.  It's magical in letting Bunny Best show her true colors, and have a voice, when the one who helped her be where she was needed was unable to any longer.

All in all, it's a tender tale that takes us from the depths of heartache into the light of another day.  It doesn't say things are fine, it says they WILL be.  Grief is a process not something that can be glossed over, and it must be felt.  Everyone is different, just as every relationship is different, so empathy is the key when trying to share the load with another.  We can never truly understand someone else's loss any more than they can ours, but that warm heart, that shoulder to cry on, that ear to listen to us is more important than you might think. A great tool for adults to assist younger ones with this shared life experience, or even for adult readers that are still trying to process things on their own.  The beautiful illustrations combined with the strong message of taking it one moment at a time create a story that won't be easily forgotten...nor should it be.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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 (releasing 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.

INSTAGRAM

LINKEDIN

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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.

The Best Bunny: Book Giveaway

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Special thanks to Bianca of The Children's Book Review for the chance to bring this title to you and for the ecopy for review! (THANKS!) This post is sponsored by Shenandoah Chefalo. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal view. For more information on this author, her other works, the illustrator, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links above. Be sure to check out the rest of the tour for more bookish fun!

TOUR SCHEDULE

Tuesday, July 22, 2025

The Children’s Book Review

Book Review of The Best Bunny: Adventures of Lil Shen and Her Inspirational Sidekick Bunny Best

Thursday, July 24, 2025

Froggy Read Teach

Book Review of The Best Bunny: Adventures of Lil Shen and Her Inspirational Sidekick Bunny Best

Friday, July 25, 2025

The Children’s Book Review

Author Interview with Shenandoah Chefalo

Monday, July 28, 2025

Crafty Moms Share

Book Review of The Best Bunny: Adventures of Lil Shen and Her Inspirational Sidekick Bunny Best

Tuesday, July 29, 2025

icefairy’s Treasure Chest

Book Review of The Best Bunny: Adventures of Lil Shen and Her Inspirational Sidekick Bunny Best

Thursday, June 31, 2025

All Done Monkey

Book Review of The Best Bunny: Adventures of Lil Shen and Her Inspirational Sidekick Bunny Best

Friday, August 1, 2025

Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

Book Review of The Best Bunny: Adventures of Lil Shen and Her Inspirational Sidekick Bunny Best

Monday, August 4, 2025

Deliciously Savvy

Guest Post about The Best Bunny: Adventures of Lil Shen and Her Inspirational Sidekick Bunny Best

Tuesday, August 5, 2025

Q&As with Deborah Kalb

Author Interview with Shenandoah Chefalo

Thursday, August 7, 2025

Lisa’s Reading

Book Review of The Best Bunny: Adventures of Lil Shen and Her Inspirational Sidekick Bunny Best

Friday, August 8, 2025

The Children’s Book Review

5 Special Books for Children About Losing a Grandparent

Monday, August 11, 2025

Country Mamas With Kids

Book Review of The Best Bunny: Adventures of Lil Shen and Her Inspirational Sidekick Bunny Best

Tuesday, August 12, 2025

@avainbookland

Instagram Post about The Best Bunny: Adventures of Lil Shen and Her Inspirational Sidekick Bunny Best

Thursday, August 14, 2025

The Starlit Path

Book Review of The Best Bunny: Adventures of Lil Shen and Her Inspirational Sidekick Bunny Best

Friday, August 15, 2025

@bored_military_wife

Instagram Post about The Best Bunny: Adventures of Lil Shen and Her Inspirational Sidekick Bunny Best

Monday, August 18, 2025

One More Exclamation

Book Review of The Best Bunny: Adventures of Lil Shen and Her Inspirational Sidekick Bunny Best

Tuesday, August 19, 2025

@nissa_the.bookworm

Book Review of The Best Bunny: Adventures of Lil Shen and Her Inspirational Sidekick Bunny Best

Thursday, August 21, 2025

Confessions of a Book Addict

Book Spotlight on The Best Bunny: Adventures of Lil Shen and Her Inspirational Sidekick Bunny Best

Friday, August 22, 2025

Me Two Books

Author Interview with Shenandoah Chefalo

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

RRR presents... THE BEAUTY OF BROKEN THINGS By Victoria Connelly - REVIEW!

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're joining Rachel's Random Resources for a stop along their current tour featuring another work from author Victoria Connelly.  You may remember that we featured her Book Lovers series a few weeks back, and though a new to me author at the time, I fell in love with her writing.  So, when this opportunity came round, I was more than happy to throw my name in for a chance to participate because I was quite honestly anticipating another fabulous read.  Did I get what I was hoping for?  Let's see, shall we?  Ready, set, let's read all about today's title in the spotlight and ebook of choice...

The Beauty of Broken Things

by

Victoria Connelly

About the book...

United by tragedy, can two broken souls make each other whole?

 After the tragic loss of his wife, Helen, Luke Hansard is desperate to keep her memory alive. In an effort to stay close to her, he reaches out to an online friend Helen often mentioned: a reclusive photographer with a curious interest in beautiful but broken objects. But first he must find her—and she doesn’t want to be found.

Orla Kendrick lives alone in the ruins of a remote Suffolk castle, hiding from the haunting past that has left her physically and emotionally scarred. In her fortress, she can keep a safe distance from prying eyes, surrounded by her broken treasures and insulated from the world outside.

When Luke tracks Orla down, he is determined to help her in the way Helen wanted to: by encouraging her out of her isolation and back into the world. But Orla has never seen her refuge as a prison and, when painful secrets and dangerous threats begin to resurface, Luke’s good deed is turned on its head.

As they work through their grief for Helen in very different ways, will these two broken souls be able to heal?

AMAZON

US   |  UK   |  AUS

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Okay, so I started and stopped, typed and backspaced so many times when I started writing this review, I honestly wasn't sure what I was going to be left with.  I couldn't seem to (and still can't to some degree) quite express the level of beauty that is captured within this work.  It truly takes us through the landscape of the heart with all its pitfalls, and passions, letting us be guided by the characters themselves as they attempt to find a level of balance in their lives once again. 

My heart broke for Helen, Luke, and Orla, equally in turn.  The first for the lack of life she'd have, the second for the heartbreak he experienced along with the what ifs, and the third for her tenuous connection to life that was lost, but also the horrors she still needed to face in her own life.  There was so much hurt, so much pain, so much brokenness that one didn't quite know where to look to find some semblance of joy, some light of hope in these very dark times.  They say that people come into our lives at exactly the moment they were meant to...no sooner, no later.  Well a definite case can be made for that here because for as much sadness as there was to go around, these two broken souls were able to pull each other through to the other side of their great losses, and while they both still have a ways to go, steps forward are still a win toward discovering happiness once again.

So take a chance on this beautiful novel full of broken "things"...and I think you'll discover just how truly human those experiences that made the cracks, and created the chips, really are.

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About the author...



Victoria Connelly is the bestselling author of The Rose Girls and The Book Lovers series.

With over one million sales, her books have been translated into a dozen languages. The first, Flights of Angels, was made into a film in Germany. Victoria flew to Berlin to see it being made and even played a cameo role in it.

A Weekend with Mr Darcy, the first in her popular Austen Addicts series about fans of Jane Austen has sold over 100,000 copies. She is also the author of several romantic comedies including The Runaway Actress which was nominated for the Romantic Novelists' Association's Best Romantic Comedy of the Year.

Victoria was brought up in Norfolk, England before moving to Yorkshire where she got married in a medieval castle. After 11 years in London, she moved to rural Suffolk where she lives in a Georgian cottage with her artist husband, a Springer spaniel and her ex-battery hens.


She's written about her experience of country life in three volumes of autobiography: Escape to Mulberry Cottage, A Year at Mulberry Cottage and Summer at Mulberry Cottage.



SITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK




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Special thanks to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for the chance to bring this tour to you. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, this promotion, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now, so click on over to your favorite online retailer to snag your copy today and be sure to check out the rest of the tour for more bookish fun!

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!
 

Walk a mile.... IN YOUR SHOES by Donna Gephart!

HI there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're joining Random House Children's Books for a stop along their current tour featuring a  Middle Grade Fiction title that's set to release later this month.  It's from an author you may have read before, though she was new to me, but whether or not familiar, it matters not, for the story is one that scores a perfect 300!  (That's a perfect score in bowling...did you know?)  So, if you're ready, don your best pair of bowling shoes and join me on lane 48 as we say hello to today's book of choice...

In Your Shoes

by

Donna Gephart

9781524713737

Delacorte Press

About the book...

Miles is an anxious boy who loves his family’s bowling center even if though he could be killed by a bolt of lightning or a wild animal that escaped from the Philadelphia Zoo on the way there. 

Amy is the new girl at school who wishes she didn’t have to live above her uncle’s funeral home and tries to write her way to her own happily-ever-after. 

Then Miles and Amy meet in the most unexpected way . . . and that’s when it all begins. . . .

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This is one book that scores a perfect game!

Miles is an adorkable young man, perhaps a bit neurotic as he obsesses over everything that could possibly go wrong, but his penchant for spouting interesting facts and a good bowling hustle definitely add to his charm.  The fact that he's inadvertently adopted wearing bowling shoes outside the alley as his "thing", just makes him that much more endearing.  Of course, that's hard to see at first glance to those outside his circle, especially if you're name is Amy, and you happen to be on your way to school when a wayward shoe is headed your way.  Yes, I said shoe, but that's just the meet-cute (of sorts), and the beginning of an awkward, but beautiful friendship...that just might turn into something more....

I really loved all the characters herein, but especially Miles and Amy.  Miles for all the reasons listed above, as well as the fact that he tries SO HARD to do, or say the right thing.  Grant it, the right thing isn't always that easy to do, and it leads him into some heartache filled situations, but he's stronger for it in the end.  Amy, on the other hand, was a trooper.  She was dealing with her own terrible loss, as well as a physical impairment she didn't wish to draw attention to, all while trying to settle in to a new hometown. The things she's challenged with, she handles with the grace of a professional dancer, and a heart of gold that shines so brightly, it's blinding.  Personally, I think THAT'S why those girls were so dismissive in the lunchroom...Amy was simply so bright and they didn't wear shades. 

In the end, it's a story about friendship and family, love and loss, inner strength and forgiveness.  It reminds us to accept others for WHO they are not what they have or happen to look like.  It shares that life does go on, pain ends, and hope springs eternal, if only we're willing to reach for it...and it never hurts to have the helping hands of our friends.   I loved how the author turned everything full circle by book's end (especially Miles GRAND idea..and the whole Cinderella sitch!) and made the "Best Stories Ever Bowled" board complete once again.  A definite must read for Children's Fiction fans of all ages.

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About the author...

Donna Gephart (Photo by Rhea Lewis)

Donna Gephart’s award-winning novels are packed with humor and heart. They include Death by Toilet Paper; Olivia Bean, Trivia Queen; How to Survive Middle School; and As if Being 12-3/4 Isn’t Bad Enough, My Mother Is Running for President! Donna is a popular speaker at schools, conferences, and book festivals. For reading guides, resources, writing tips, and more, visit donnagephart.com. Follow Donna on Facebook and Twitter.

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Special thanks to Amanda at Random House Children's Books for the ARC for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title is set to release October 09, 2018 via Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, so mark your calendar or pre order your copy today!

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

PRE-PUB PARTY: Corners by Corrina Austin

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're jumping ahead to a MUST READ Middle Grade Fiction release coming March 2018!  That's right....March, next year.  Hey, it IS already October as it is, and the new year will be upon us before you know it, so if I've READ ALL ABOUT IT already, I think it's high time to share the excitement.  Agreed?  Great!  So, let's get to it.  Today's book of choice is ready to brighten up the corners of your life with a tale straight from the heart.  Ladies and gents, Middle Grade readers of various ages, make way for the featured title...

Corners

by

Corrina Austin

9781939844408

Dancing Lemur Press LLC

About the book...

Everyone needs their own special corner...

It’s 1969 and ten-year-old Davy is in a predicament. With two weeks remaining of the summer holidays, he’s expelled from the public pool for sneaking into the deep end and almost drowning. How will he break the news to his hard-working single mother? She’s at the diner all day, Davy has no friends, and he’s too young to stay by himself.

The answer lies in his rescuer, mysterious thirteen-year-old Ellis Wynn. Visiting her Grammy for the summer, Ellis offers to babysit Davy. She teaches him about “corners”–forgotten or neglected areas fixed up special. Together, the kids tackle several “corners” and Davy learns what it means to bring joy to others.

Davy begins to wonder, though. Why does Ellis want to be his friend? Why doesn’t she ever smile? And is Davy just one of Ellis’ “corners?”

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This is a story about love and loss, wrapped in a blanket of friendship, and delivered under the guise of just being another tale of a summer gone by.  Trust me, it's not.

Young Davy doesn't start his summer hoping to be booted from the public pool, but that is where he finds himself after his almost-near-death-experience.  Why almost?  Well, there happened to be a young girl with a quick eye, and even surer strokes that whisked him from his almost-watery-non-grave (presumably a lifeguard would have noticed in time)...and that would be Ellis.  We quickly learn that nothing really gets passed her and I mean that in the best way possible.  She strives to bring sunlight to everyone's day but not in the overbearing-smile-or-I'll-never-leave-your-side sorta way.  Oh no.  She's much more subtle, with much more lasting effects, and simply just...MUCH MORE.  She's a sweetheart that has her own bumps and bruises, yet despite her own worries, pushes herself to help others.  It's her way of dealing and while not the most direct, one certainly can't say it isn't healthy.  The friendship that he and she build is heart warming...as are the strength found in that bond oh so many years later.

In the end, I was as charmed by Ellis' magical corners as I was by the memories shared.  The writing style reminds me of the storytelling method used in The Princess Bride, though this is far more reality based.  While Davy and Ellis are the main characters once upon a time, Davy is also the narrator in the here-and-now recollecting that special summer to his young son...complete with the request to leave out the yucky parts.  *smirk*  The things they accomplished both for themselves and for others will bring a smile to your face.  The miscommunications and misunderstandings will bring a wee bit of frustration but also laughter, as the truth is finally understood.  It may even inspire the next generation to start a corner mission of their own...after all, who couldn't use a place to go to truly be themselves.  Recommended for Middle Grade readers, from kiddos to adults.

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About the author...

Corrina Austin is a retired elementary school teacher, living in beautiful South-Western Ontario, Canada. She has Bachelor’s degrees in both English and Education. Corrina has published several short stories and essays and was twice the recipient of grants for a novel in progress from the Ontario Arts Council. “Corners” was inspired by her experiences as a child growing up in the 1960’s and contains many artifacts from her memories of those times. While honing her craft as a writer, Corrina strives to infuse the ordinary with beauty, whimsy, and connection.

SITE  |  TWITTER  |  FACEBOOK

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Special thanks to the team at Dancing Lemur Press LLC for the ARC for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title is set to release MARCH 2018 (as of this post), so mark your calendar or pre-order your copy today!

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!