Journey to Resilience: Kaya’s First Day of School © 2021 by Guanglun Michael Mu and Guy Lobwein
ISBN: 978-1-925553-39-0
Citation:
Mu, G. M., & Lobwein, G. (2021). Journey to Resilience: Kaya’s First Day of School. Queensland University of Technology and Research & Resources for Resilience. https://doi.org/10.5204/book.eprints.213522

The story is based on the research ‘Resilience, Culture, and Class: A Sociological Study of Australian Students’. The research is funded by the Australian Research Council (DE180100107) and supported by Queensland University of Technology.

Journey to Resilience: Kaya’s First School Day © 2021 by Guanglun Michael Mu and Guy Lobwein is licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International. This license requires that reusers give credit to the creator. It allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form and for noncommercial purposes only. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Kaya’s first day of school
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Hard copies of the picture book are now available in two local libraries in Adelaide, Australia:

Readers' Endorsements

From lovely kids

“The book is very interesting to read and I can easily understand what it says. I think my friends will like it too. The book teaches us how to become resilient. I learned to keep trying and never give up.”
Doudou
8 years old, Australia
“A good story to teach year 1-3 about being nice and not being afraid to ask for help.”
Ben
12 years old, New Zealand
“The book has good message. It’s very detailed. The drawing is very nice, very ok.”
Jane
10 years old, Australia
“I think Kaya is very resilient as she always remembers what her grandpa had said when she was in Australia and puts them to use but sometimes she gets a little too emotional, like when she ran away. She is brave and daring, but is also a bit ‘excited’ when she sees something that needs help and is a quick-acting person. Altogether, Kaya is a complicated but well-meaning person who is a well drawn and described character.”
Mingze
9 years old, China
“The story’s pretty well suited for children aged 8-9, as it is quite easy to understand the main idea of familiarising yourself with a new environment by staying “resilient”. The repetition of “resilience” also enforces the main idea. Nice use of colours, and the story conveys sociological data well with the story board.”
Ran
15 years old, New Zealand

From lovely parents

“We are a transnational family. Our child travelled with us and experienced, just like Kaya, the many challenges every time he started a new school in a new country. I would have enjoyed reading this book with my son as we moved from one place to another. However, the problem solving and resilience building strategies communicated through this book make it very useful for parents to read and discuss with their children, whatever their situation.”
Ivan
Parent, Canada
“The graphic design of the picture book is presented in a way children these days would really like. The theme is educative and meaningful, and the story is absorbing. I’d welcome this book as an additional resource when confronting the questions of my children who are just beginning to encounter issues of transition and adaptation.”
Joyce
Parent, Australia
“We are a transnational family. Our child travelled with us and experienced, just like Kaya, the many challenges every time he started a new school in a new country. I would have enjoyed reading this book with my son as we moved from one place to another. However, the problem solving and resilience building strategies communicated through this book make it very useful for parents to read and discuss with their children, whatever their situation.”
Ivan
Parent, Canada
"My 6 year old granddaughter (Gr 1) enjoyed your book. She chose it from a pile of story books. She really liked the pictures."
Carmel
Grandparent, Australia

From lovely educators

“I have experience of teaching children for 22 years. Originally in England, and later expatriate students in 2 other countries. Kaya’s First Day at School is produced in a colourful cartoon style which is eye catching and easy to read. Kaya, the main character, has to deal with some difficult situations and show resilience in overcoming them on her first day at her new school in a new country. Her decision making in the story creates many opportunities for parents and teachers to explore with their children/students what they would have done in the same or similar situation.”
Marion
Teacher, England

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