Sophie Learns to Be Brave

“A meditation on being safe and free, wrapped into a story about wishing well for others. In these times we could not ask for a greater gift for ourselves and our children than encouragement.”—Spirituality & Practice

“With its positive and underlying message friendship, loss and bravery, Sophie Learns to Be Brave is a fun, thoughtful, thoroughly ‘kid friendly’, and unreservedly recommended addition to family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library picture book collections.”—Midwest Book Review

“Wonderful book! I enjoyed the simple yet practical messages for children. Sophie learned about positive self-talk, and letting things come (and go). Really beautiful story and messaging. Highly recommend.”—Maureen Healy, author of The Happiness Workbook for Kids

Roshi Joan Halifax, Ph.D.

Roshi Joan Halifax is a Buddhist teacher, Zen priest, anthropologist, and a pioneer in the field of end-of-life care. She is the Founder, Abbot, and Head Teacher of Upaya Institute and Zen Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She holds a Ph.D. in medical anthropology and has lectured globally on death and dying at academic institutions and medical centers. Her past appointments include a National Science Foundation Fellowship in Visual Anthropology, an Honorary Research Fellow in Medical Ethnobotany at Harvard University, and a Distinguished Visiting Scholar at the Library of Congress.

From 1972-1975, she collaborated with psychiatrist Stanislav Grof at the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, working with dying cancer patients. She has continued to support dying individuals and their families, educating healthcare professionals and family caregivers on the psycho-social, ethical, and spiritual dimensions of end-of-life care. She directs the Project on Being with Dying and founded the Upaya Prison Project, which offers meditation programs for incarcerated individuals. She also established the Nomads Clinic in Nepal.

Roshi Halifax studied for a decade with Zen Teacher Seung Sahn and taught within the Kwan Um Zen School. She received the Lamp Transmission from Thich Nhat Hanh and Inka from Roshi Bernie Glassman. As a Founding Teacher of the Zen Peacemaker Order and founder of the Prajna Mountain Buddhist Order, her work and practice over four decades have centered on engaged Buddhism.

Her books include:

• The Human Encounter with Death (with Stanislav Grof)
• The Fruitful Darkness, A Journey Through Buddhist Practice
• Simplicity in the Complex: A Buddhist Life in America
• Being with Dying: Cultivating Compassion and Wisdom in the Presence of Death
• Standing at the Edge: Finding Freedom Where Fear and Courage Meet (forthcoming)

Kiersten Eagan

Kiersten Eagan is a children’s illustrator and visual development artist with a passion for storytelling. She draws inspiration from various sources, including nature, reading, history, adventures, and travel, and specializes in gouache, pencils, and digital art. A graduate of the Academy of Art in San Francisco, Kiersten works in animation, contributing her design talents to television and film projects such as My Little Pony, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, and The Addams Family.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.