We would like to start with a very warm welcome to everyone at the Expat Nest community from Kelly Bader, Rebecca Bower and Steve Ayling; all debut authors and all currently working at The International School of Basel (ISB). We’d also like to say a huge thank you to Vivian Chiona and her team for the opportunity to share our work and resources with you, as you potentially embark on new adventures with your family, all over the globe.

Dr Rebecca Bower and Steve Ayling have published an article entitled ‘Supporting Stayers To Thrive: Invest in Your Nest’ through TIE (The International Educator) and have presented internationally on a Whole School Transition Plan Matrix at the International School Counsellor Association  (ISCA) Conference in Bangkok, Thailand 2023.

We are delighted to share our exciting publication news with you as we have been working away on a couple of children’s books and are hopeful they can be a great resource for you and your family on your transition journeys, whenever they may be and wherever they may take you.

Our two story and activity books, The RAFT That Soared and Bobo’s Big Move are two very different stories, but are both based on the same goal and vision: to support students and families who are on the move. Inspired by the work of Ruth Van Reken and David Pollock in their ground-breaking work Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds, we take their well-known RAFT model for successful transition (Reconciliation, Affirmation, Farewell, & Think Destination) and transform this into what we hope are relatable stories and associated activity books. 

At ISB, for example, we now provide these to all leavers as soon as we know that they are moving on, with the hope that this helps them prepare for their move and supports a smooth and successful transition. There are a growing number of schools around the world too who are starting to use our resources in a similar way. 

The books can of course be used individually both at home and school, or within a scaffolded group context, across Junior and Middle School divisions.  is targeted at a lower primary/elementary audience (Early Childhood to Grades 3/4), whereas The RAFT That Soared would be better suited to upper primary/elementary and lower-middle-school students (Grades 3-Grades 6/7).

For further information specifically about The Raft That Soared, there is a vimeo link here to Rebecca and Steve’s presentation at the World Education Summit (if you’d like to hear from the authors directly and see some snapshots from the book itself).

Both books are now both available for purchase on Amazon and other book sites such as Barnes & Noble. The RAFT That Soared is also available directly from Summertime Publishing, with an option to create a branded insert into the front of the book, and a 25% discount for bulk purchasing (over 50 books) – which, of course, can be shipped globally to anywhere of your choosing. Please contact jack@summertimepublishing.com directly if this bulk order option interests you or your school/company in any way.

We really appreciate the opportunity to spread the word about these resources with the wider expat community and hope that they are useful and comforting to you as you navigate the sometimes choppy waters of change.

We can all be reached directly regarding the world of transitions and would love to hear any feedback about the resources we have shared.

Take good care out there, 

Kelly Bader, Dr Rebecca Bower and Steve Ayling