Resilience and Emotional Literacy in the Early Years

Learn how to foster wellbeing and strong resilience from a young age through storytelling, children's picture books and more.

Hosted by author and Story Box Library’s Content Developer Melissa Keil, watch our online event with author Zanni Louise and clinical psychologist Dr Ameika Johnson, creators of the I Feel The World and Human-Kind series, plus Emma Peters, Early Years Partnership Manager at The Resilience Project.

This event is suitable for early years childhood educators, parents, carers and anyone else interested in this topic.

Click here to watch the event recording.

Subscribers can find the event via our Resources page here.

Download presentation slides here, including useful resources and links.

Explore titles on mental health and wellbeing on Story Box Library here.

Get a 15% discount on picture books about resilience, from our schools sales partner Lamont Books.


Meet the panel

Zanni Louise, author of The Human Kind series

Based in regional NSW, Zanni Louise has written over 35 internationally published books for kids, from picture books through to novels. Her picture book series, Human-Kind, helps kids and their families talk about important values like persistence, kindness and resilience. Her bestselling book, I Feel The World, co-authored with Dr Ameika Johnson, helps kids build emotional resilience. Find out more at www.zannilouise.com.

Dr Ameika Johnson, clinical psychologist

Dr Ameika Johnson is a clinical psychologist with a special interest in children’s emotional health. She loves finding creative ways to engage children in conversations about their emotional wellbeing, and currently develops resilience resources for in-school theatre company Brainstorm Productions. Ameika has contributed to the popular Human-Kind series and is co-author of the best-selling picture book I Feel The World, which encourages children to explore their feelings with curiosity and acceptance.

Emma Peters, Early Years Partnership Manager, The Resilience Project

Emma is the Early Years Partnership Manager for The Resilience Project (TRP). Her role includes supporting around 300 early years services each year to deliver TRP's Early Years Wellbeing Program to teach positive mental health strategies to prevent mental ill-health and build young people’s capacity to deal with adversity. She has 12 years experience working in the early childhood sector including, 10 years as a Kindergarten Teacher and Co-Director of an ELC in West Gippsland Victoria.

Melissa Keil, author and Content Developer, Story Box Library

Melissa Keil is a writer and children’s book editor, who has worked in the Australian publishing industry for over 15 years. She is the author of three YA novels and the Barkly Mansion junior fiction series. Melissa’s books have been shortlisted for the Prime Minister’s Literary Award and the CBCA Book of the Year award, and have been translated into many languages around the world.