My First Day
By Phùng Nguyên Quang and Huỳnh Kim Liên
The Story
A young Vietnamese boy sets out alone in a small wooden boat through the rainy Mekong Delta, facing towering waves and eerie forests to reach a destination familiar to children everywhere: school.
Why It's Special
For the child who treats the walk to school like an expedition, this turns that same nervous, brave feeling into a river journey worth cheering for.
- Big idea: Courage isn't the absence of fear — it's paddling forward anyway, one stroke at a time.
- Vibes: atmospheric, hushed, and quietly triumphant, with a rain-soaked, dreamlike beauty
Perfect For Kids Who
- are working on managing first-day nerves
- respond well to quiet, atmospheric storytelling
- enjoy journeys and adventures by water
- like to talk about feeling scared and brave at the same time
Ask Your Little Reader
- Story & problem-solving: What did An have with him to help him on his journey?
- Feelings & empathy: How do you think An felt when he saw the giant waves and dark forest?
- Real-life connection: Can you remember a time you felt nervous on your way somewhere new, like your first day of school?
- Imagination: If you were paddling An's boat, what would you look at along the way?
- Courage: An kept paddling even though he was scared — what helped him feel less alone?
