On February 28, 2026, Akitabu publisher bring together the local literary community gathered to celebrate the launch of a new children’s book titled “A Boy Who Painted the Moon.” Written by Rwandan author Rosine Uwamahoro, the book aims to inspire children to believe in their wildest dreams and to encourage parents to bring back the culture of reading at home.
Dreaming Big with “Kwezi”
The story follows a young boy named Kwezi who lives in the “Land of a Thousand Hills” a beautiful nod to Rwanda. Kwezi has a dream that many think is impossible: he wants to paint on the moon. Despite other children telling him it cannot be done, Kwezi persists and eventually achieves his goal, becoming a symbol of hope for his peers.
Rosine Uwamahoro, who is already a published author of the self-help book Build Yourself Up, explained that her transition to children’s literature was inspired by her journey as a mother.
“I wanted to teach children that no dream is too big, whether a child wants to be a pilot, a famous athlete, or an actor, they should know it is possible. I also wanted to show parents how important it is to support those dreams. reading increases love between the child and the person reading to them. If it’s a parent, that love grows. If it’s a teacher, the child learns to love school. It builds the confidence to say, ‘If this was possible in the story, I can do it too ” Uwamahoro said during the interview.
The Battle Against Screens
A major theme of the launch was the “reading culture” in Rwanda. Both the author and the event organizers noted that many parents today find it easier to give a child a smartphone or a tablet to keep them busy. However, they warned that this often comes at the cost of a child’s imagination and bonding time with their family.
Ernestine Mukamuhire, the representative of Akitabu, explained that reading is the foundation of a child’s success. By reading books, children learn new words, gain confidence, and develop curiosity about the world around them.
“We want to encourage Rwandan parents to train their children to love reading while they are still young, in this age of technology, we are losing the value of books, but books hold the wisdom of the past and the ideas of the future. ” Mukamuhire said
“We want to encourage Rwandans and parents to train children in the culture of reading while they are still young. When you read to children, it makes them open-minded. They learn new vocabulary, they become curious, and they get the confidence to speak. A child who grows up reading books feels that they won’t miss out on certain things in life.” She added
A Call to Action for Parents
The message to parents was: you don’t need hours of free time to make a difference. Even 30 minutes of reading a story to a child before bed can strengthen the bond between parent and child and improve the child’s mental growth.
The event concluded with a reminder that a child’s education starts at home, not at school. By providing children with books like “A Boy Who Painted the Moon,” parents are giving them the tools to think beyond what they see and reach for the stars.
“A tree is straightened while it is still young. The things children hold onto are the things we give them. If you don’t give them books, they won’t know they exist.” Rosine Uwamahoro, Author said
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