A Little Violin, a Big Heart: Annika Arikoishe's Amaya's Happy Violin

Some debut authors take years to find their voice, but Annika Arikoishe found hers in Grade 3.

At eight years old, Annika has published her charming debut Amaya's Happy Violin, a warm and gently instructive children's story that proves wisdom has no minimum age.

In Amaya's Happy Violin, Amaya is handed a miraculous violin, and what begins as a gift becomes a vessel for spreading happiness, as each adventure in this book carries a lesson.

The book cover sets the tone as Amaya, in her red-and-white striped top and sunny yellow pinafore, plays with a quiet smile against a bright pink backdrop of rainbows, hearts and musical notes.

Lessons Worth Sharing
The book's themes are what elevate it beyond a pleasant read:

• Kindness always, because we never know what the next person is going through.
• Faith, in the reminder that God can use anyone as His vessel, in many different ways.
• Gratitude for every season of life.
• Family matters, and families come in different setups.
• Bullying is wrong.

These are conversations many parents want to start at home, and Annika gives them a gentle, child-friendly doorway.

A bonus poem at the back leaves readers with a line that captures the spirit of the whole book: "Musical notes speak of peace and love."

The author of the book, Annika Arikoishe is an avid reader, a school Prefect, and a 2026 Spelling Bee representative for her school.

She also comes from a literary family: her mother is award-winning author Audrey Chirenje, and her sister works in the media space.

Annika’s publication of Amaya's Happy Violin is an inspiration to other young people since seeing a peer holding a published book makes authorship feel possible.

Amaya's Happy Violin is ideal for children in the early primary years as it can be read-aloud during bedtime sessions. It is also a valuable collection for classroom libraries, Sunday schools and gift shops.