Books
by Sharon Frances
When fourteen-year-old Phoenix learns of her parent, Eagle’s cancer diagnosis, her shoulder blades start to itch. It’s the end of summer vacation, eighth grade starts next week, and Phoenix’s world collapses. Every hall she runs down, every room she hides in, Phoenix feels herself changing, growing wings while Eagle may be dying. She builds a new nest from the comfort of grandparent Duck, counselor Hen, and sweetheart Ing. But cancer is like a coyote howling in the hills waiting for Phoenix to land so it can destroy everything. If she is to rise from the ashes of this uncertain world– one of surgery and medicine, classes and teachers–Phoenix must learn to feel everything, and become the bird she always imagined.
Ash and Feather is an illustrated novel in verse for upper middle-grade and early young adult readers. PRE-ORDER TODAY
by Sharon Chappell
What happens when someone you love is diagnosed with cancer? How can you talk to and support that person? What can you expect while the loved one goes through treatment? While science does its work, what can love and everyday magic do to help? In this inspiring story written by a breast cancer survivor, The Little Green Monster helps Marie and her family survive and thrive through her mother's cancer treatment. With love and imagination, this sweet monster provides companionship during a difficult time. The book also includes vocabulary about cancer and feelings, as well as family cancer resources and activities.
Gender Diversity and LGBTQ Inclusion in K-12 Schools: A Guide to Supporting Students, Changing Lives
This exploration of effective practices to support lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) and gender-diverse students in elementary, middle, and high school contexts focuses on curriculum, pedagogy, and school environment. Narratives and artwork from the field are framed by sociocultural and critical theory as well as research-based elaboration on the issues discussed. Applications of antidiscrimination law and policy, as well as learning skills like creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking help teachers tackle some of the most significant educational challenges of our time. The stories of real-world practices offer encouragement for building inclusive environments and enhancing social-emotional relationships among youth, families, and schools. Gender Diversity and LGBTQ Inclusion in K-12 Schools provides a helpful roadmap for educators hoping to create safe and empowering spaces for LGBTQ and gender-diverse students and families.
by Sharon Frances
Wet Wings: Poetry through Breast Cancer explores the complexity of living with a life-threatening disease. Themes include: body image, parenting, nature, emotions, and the politics of being a "survivor." Written and illustrated by Well Beings Studio director, Sharon Frances, Wet Wings is the first of three volumes.
by Sharon Chappell
¿Qué pasa cuando alguien a quien amas se le diagnostica Cáncer? ¿Cómo puedes apoyar y hablar con esa persona? ¿Que puedes esperar mientras tu ser amado pasa por el tratamiento? Mientras que la ciencia ayuda a tu ser amado, ¿qué pueden hacer la magia y el amor para ayudar? Una historia escrita por una sobreviviente de Cáncer de seno cuenta como el pequeño monstruo verde ayuda a Marie y su familia sobrevivir y triunfar durante el tratamiento de cáncer de su Madre. Con amor e imaginación este dulce monstruo dará su compañía en esos momentos difíciles. El libro incluye vocabulario sobre Cáncer y sentimientos, también incluye recursos familiares y actividades.
by Matthew Rodriguez and Sharon Frances
Whimsical illustrations and character relationships comprise this inspiring family story about healing through giving. Tamal, a boy with cancer, asks his friends for advice when his bird is sick. Along the way, he learns that he doesn't have to wait to feel well in order to find and bring joy to others. Tamal has leukemia and receives regular treatment in the hospital. When his bird falls ill, Tamal learns it helps to talk with his friends about his feelings. It also helped him to crochet to thank the friends who helped him. There are many children who have cancer and, like Tamal, have full lives, good friends and are not defined by their cancer.
by Sharon Frances
Shifting with the Tides: Yoga Poems for All Ages is written for families with children, exploring how movement feels in our bodies and how nature enhances our well-being. Move through the yoga poses with your full sensory capacities. Enjoy the soothing watercolor illustrations that accompany the poems. For those with life-threatening illnesses like cancer, practicing yoga, mindful breathing and art-making can enhance your mood and support the immune system. Add this poetry book to your family's wellness practice and enjoy shifting with the tides together.
The Arts and Emergent Bilingual Youth offers a critical sociopolitical perspective on working with emerging bilingual youth at the intersection of the arts and language learning. Utilizing research from both arts and language education to explore the ways they work in tandem to contribute to emergent bilingual students’ language and academic development, the book analyzes model arts projects to raise questions about “best practices” for and with marginalized bilingual young people, in terms of relevance to their languages, cultures, and communities as they envision better worlds. A central assumption is that the arts can be especially valuable for contributing to English learning by enabling learners to experience ideas, patterns, and relationship (form) in ways that lead to new knowledge (content). Each chapter features vignettes showcasing current projects with ELL populations both in and out of school and visual art pieces and poems, to prompt reflection on key issues and relevant concepts and theories in the arts and language learning. Taking a stance about language and culture in English learners’ lives, this book shows the intimate connections among art, narrative, and resistance for addressing topics of social injustice.