Grin and Bear It

About the Book

Grin and Bear It: The Forest of Inclusion is about an adventurous young bear exploring the meaning of friendship and understanding the differences in others. He finds that although we may be very different from one another, we can embrace one another’s similarities. As Grin travels through the forest, he meets other characters with whom he shares his mother’s infinite wisdom of tolerance and acceptance.

About the Author

About the Authors Cathleen Hamill is a health educator with the Fairfield Connecticut school system. Her teaching career began 35 years ago and she is currently teaching health education at Fairfield Woods Middle School. Cathleen has initiated numerous creative health projects that encourage hands-on learning for students. She is a published author writing Contract for Healthy Life, a behavior modification program that guides students through steps for better health. Cathleen’s article: “Learning Health through Literature” was published in SHAPE magazine in 2017. “Grin and Bear It, The Forest of Inclusion” is her first children’s book. Kristofer Kelso is the Dean of Students at Fairfield Woods Middle School. His teaching career began 12 years ago in Newtown Connecticut at Newtown Middle and High School. He has taught at both the middle and high school level as well as higher education. Kristofer has a keen interest in ensuring that all students make at least one connection with an adult in their school. Kris’s philosophy is to teach and develop the whole child with positive relationships at the center of education. Relationships+Content+Rigor = Change! “Grin and Bear it, The Forest of Inclusion” is his first children’s book. Cathleen and Kris are colleagues at Fairfield Woods Middle School. They are excited to work with Fairfield student and book illustrator Layla Aziz. This is her first work as an illustrator.