Local child pens book about first day of school, now available at Meijer stores

OAKLAND TOWNSHIP — At the age of 7, Nyla Johnson, of Oakland Township, wrote her first published book, proving age is just a number.

Johnson, now 10, will be a fifth grader at Hugger Elementary School this year. Her debut book, “The Nyla Chronicles: Nyla’s First Day of Kindergarten,” is now available at 256 Meijer stores across a five-state region.

“The Nyla Chronicles: Nyla’s First Day of Kindergarten” chronicles one little girl’s journey from day care to full-time school.

“Nyla attended Premier Academy, and she had attended day care, but going to school and riding the bus and all of those things were very different, of course,” said Nyla mother, Tenita Johnson.

Although Nyla wasn’t nervous making the transition to elementary school, she said she knows many kindergarteners who have the first day of school jitters.

“I wrote it because I wanted to make people feel comfortable about their first day of kindergarten,” she said. “My favorite thing about it was thinking up new ideas.”

From meeting new friends and her teacher to playground fun and reading new books, readers are able to experience Nyla’s journey into the world of kindergarten, hopefully giving soon-to-be kindergarteners an idea of what to expect on their first days.

“It’s a great book for kids who are kind of afraid to go to kindergarten, who don’t know what to expect, who don’t know how to make new friends, or what the first day of school is going to look like,” said Tenita Johnson, who is an author, speaker, book coach, and founder and CEO of So It Is Written Publishing.

Since kindergarten, Nyla has been invited to share her book at her school each year.

“Nyla has always been creative. She is the person who will write on the walls if you allow her to do so. She draws on her bunk bed. She draws in her notebook. She draws on top of her notebook, so she is always doodling, drawing, sketching or writing,” Tenita Johnson said.

When she’s not writing or reading, Nyla loves riding her hoverboard, roller skating, singing, dancing, and playing with friends outdoors.

An entrepreneur at heart, she also has her own dog-walking business, where she fulfills her passion for four-legged friends and helping others in and around the community.

Nyla is currently working on her second book project, set to be released in the fall of 2022. She shared a few tips for aspiring authors.

“Never give up. And no matter what happens or how it seems today, life does go on and it will be better tomorrow,” she said.

Readers of all ages can pick up a copy of the book in person at Meijer stores or they can order copies of the book online at www.soitiswritten.