A Magical Literary Journey with Author Bernard K. Mensah at MGIS 📚✨

Millennium Global International School recently had the wonderful privilege of welcoming internationally celebrated Ghanaian children’s author Bernard K. Mensah for an inspiring series of storytelling sessions and workshops with our learners. Known for crafting vibrant stories that celebrate African childhood, culture, family life, and courage, Bernard’s books have travelled across continents and into classrooms around the world. With works published by global publishing houses such as Scholastic, Penguin Random House, and Chronicle Books, his storytelling continues to inspire a new generation of readers and writers. 🌍📖

We were also deeply honoured that MGIS became the first school in East Africa to host Bernard for a reading and interactive storytelling session thus making this visit a truly special milestone for both our learners and the author himself.

Inspiring Our Youngest Learners: KG1, KG2 and Year 1 🍚🦸🏾‍♀️

The day began with our youngest learners stepping into a magical world of stories. Bernard captivated the children with lively readings from two of his beloved books, Jollof Day and Esi the Brave.

In Jollof Day, students were transported into a joyful story rooted in African family traditions. The book celebrates the warmth of community, the beauty of culture, and the small everyday moments that make childhood special. It reminded our learners that food, family, culture, and storytelling are powerful ways to connect with who we are.

In Esi the Brave, students met a fearless young girl who believes she can face anything. Through Esi’s adventures, learners discovered an empowering message: true bravery begins with confidence, curiosity, and believing in yourself, even when things seem a little scary.

To bring the stories to life, the children excitedly coloured characters from the books, transforming simple pages into vibrant expressions of their imagination. Watching their creativity unfold as they brought Esi and the joyful world of Jollof Day to life was truly magical. 🎨

Through laughter, storytelling, and creativity, Bernard encouraged our little learners to see themselves reflected in the stories they read and to celebrate the beauty of their heritage.

Becoming Story Creators: Years 4, 5 and 6 ✍🏽

Our Year 4, 5, and 6 learners then embarked on an exciting journey into the art of storytelling and character creation.

The classroom quickly transformed into a world of ideas as students explored what makes a story unforgettable. From powerful plots to relatable characters, they discovered that every great book begins with a meaningful idea and a character worth rooting for.

Using an engaging Hero Character Creation Worksheet, learners designed their own heroes: imagining personalities, strengths, weaknesses, and the qualities that make characters memorable. But every hero needs a challenge! Students also mapped out their hero’s quest, identifying the obstacles their character would face and the one thing they could not easily obtain, learning that struggle and growth are what make stories powerful.

A highlight of the session was exploring Kwame’s Magic Quest, a captivating story that dares to imagine what African magic could look like if African stories shaped the fantasy world. Through an engaging listening session, learners stepped into Kwame’s magical adventure, one deeply rooted in culture, imagination, and African storytelling traditions.

Inspired by the story, students then began crafting their own original narratives, putting their ideas, characters, and quests onto paper. They also explored the essential building blocks of storytelling, including characters, setting, conflict, and resolution, gaining deeper insight into how the books they love are created.

Moments like these remind us that when children read deeply, imagine boldly, and write freely, they begin to see themselves not only as readers, but as future authors.

Understanding the Writer’s Journey: Years 7, 8 and 9 📚

Our older learners participated in a powerful Author Talk that explored the often unseen world behind storytelling and publishing.

Students discovered the true journey of a story, from a rough first draft to the many stages of editing, refining, and rewriting that transform simple ideas into powerful narratives. They learned that the first draft is only the beginning, and that great writing grows through patience, persistence, and improvement.

One of the most valuable lessons was about resilience in writing. Learners discovered that even successful authors experience rejection, but persistence, courage, and belief in one’s voice are what ultimately turn writers into published storytellers.

Through thoughtful discussion and engaging question-and-answer sessions, our students asked insightful questions and gained a deeper appreciation for the discipline, determination, and creativity behind great writing.

A Truly Special Visit

Reflecting on the experience, Bernard shared how impressed he was by the enthusiasm and curiosity of our students:

“The students were incredibly enthusiastic and inquisitive across all the sessions… It was clear to us why Millennium Global has achieved so much. We could see the quality of the learning environment through the students’ questions, confidence and curiosity, as well as the warmth of the teachers and staff.”

Nurturing Future Storytellers 🌍📖

Experiences like these nurture a strong reading culture, spark curiosity, and ignite a lifelong love for books. More importantly, they remind our learners that every great book once began as a simple idea on a blank page.

And who knows? Among the young readers and writers who participated in these sessions today may be the next great storyteller whose voice travels across the world.

At MGIS, this inspiring literary journey is only just getting started. ✨📚