Meet Mastewal Abera, a children’s book author, librarian, and educator at ICS Addis who is passionate about her work. Come on Adey, her second published title, takes the reader on a journey through Addis Ababa in search of the adey the main character has promised to bring to her grandmother for New Year’s celebrations. Will the adey bloom in time? The little girl’s anticipation is experienced by the reader who is left wondering what will happen next and if patience will be rewarded.
Mastewal doesn’t remember a time when she didn’t plan to become a writer. She has fond childhood memories of rushing to her father’s office (which was next to her school) after school. There she would lose herself in the pages of the few children’s books available in the library and enjoy reading children’s corner from the renowned newspaper Addis Zemen .
Over time, Mastewal began to understand that few children in Ethiopia have access to children’s books. Knowledge of this deficiency and her experience as an educator led her to focus on writing books to increase literacy and accessibility. Research shows that if exposed to quality reading materials, children are more apt to thrive academically in all subject areas. Mastewal fully believes in the importance of children reading for pleasure in addition to their studies.
Her stories are intended to draw children in. Readers easily make connections to entertaining content while gaining knowledge and strengthening skills in English and Amharic. Through the pages of her books, students use written language and beautifully detailed illustrations to learn more about their culture and the world around them. Mastewal’s first published work is titled Kirmtu and is an example of these foundational beliefs. It is currently sold out, but accessible at the national archives and library in Addis Ababa.
For sale @ Entoto Beth Artisan, Bora Mall Fidel Tiru, Enitewawek Cafe and Hawassa Meti Souvenir
at Haile Resort
Contact: mastubook@gmail.com
