Miami Lakes K-8 teacher Suzanne Choopani introduced the self-published book Little Snowy written by her niece, Behnaz Barazesh, to her classroom and like wildfire, the students and teachers alike were won over by Snowy and his adventures.
Barazesh, a Ph.D. student who studies the early detection of cancer, sent Choopani a rough draft of the story along with her watercolor illustrations. Little Snowy tells the uplifting story of a snowman who celebrates life though he knows he will soon melt away. The book is embedded with lessons on the water cycle, but more importantly, it is a positive book about enjoying life for those children who endure cancer.
Choopani helped edit and distribute the book to other classrooms where enough demand was made to produce them for sale at the school’s “Back to School Night” scheduled for May 25 in addition to the sales made at the Zumbathon at Shula’s Athletic Club that were donated to the March of Dimes foundation. The book is also available through Amazon.
“I am so grateful to our principal Mr. Salcedo and the PTSA for making the sale of the book a reality,” said Choopani.
Choopani is currently trying to have a portion of book sales go to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
“The ultimate goal of this community service project is to help children and their families affected by cancer and other illnesses and to donate to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Additionally, we hope that by exposing the children to this school-wide activity, MLK-8 students will participate in future community service projects,” said Choopani.