PagineAdhabu
A free picture book in Kiswahili by Adelheid Marie Bwire
Adhabu is a picture book in Kiswahili for ages 5–8 by Adelheid Marie Bwire that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Kiswahili
- Written by
- Adelheid Marie Bwire
- Illustrated by
- Melany Pietersen
- Translated by
- Monica Shank Lauwo, Lauwo George
- Reading level
- ages 5–8 · kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 2 · First sentences
- From
- Kenya
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY 3.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Adhabu is a short illustrated picture book in Kiswahili by Adelheid Marie Bwire, illustrated by Melany Pietersen and translated by Monica Shank Lauwo, Lauwo George. It is written for ages 5–8 (Grades 1–2) and is graded as Level 2 · First sentences, so it works as a read-aloud for little ones and as practice for children learning to read in Kiswahili. The book comes from Global Storybooks and is shared under an open CC BY 3.0 licence, which is why it is free to read. The same story is available in 22 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Siku moja, mama alileta matunda mengi. “Tutakula matunda lini?” tunauliza. “Tutakula matunda leo jioni,” mama anasema. Kaka yangu Rahim ni mlafi. Anaonja onja matunda yote. Anakula matunda mengi. “Angalia Rahim alichokifanya!” mdogo wangu analalamika kwa sauti. “Rahim ni mtundu na…Opening lines quoted from the openly licensed book (CC BY 3.0).
This story in other languages
Reading the same story in two languages helps bilingual children connect words they already know. “Adhabu” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Straf
- Bemba · Ukukandwa
- Jamaican Creole · Ponishment
- Kaonde · Kukambula
- Khoekhoegowab · ǁKharab
- Luganda · Ekibonerezo
- Lukhonzo · Ekifubiro
- Lunda · Kubabesha
- Luvale · Kuzangamisa
- Mauritian Creole · Pinision
- Nyanja · Cilango
- Oshikwanyama · Ehandukilo
- Oshindonga · Egeelo
- Otjiherero · Omberero
- Sesotho · Kotlo
- Somali · Ciqaab
- South Ndebele · Isijeziso sakaThemba
- Spanish · Castigo
- Tonga · Cisubulo
- Tswana · Katlholo
- Xhosa · Isihlwayo
- Zulu · Umhobholo
Reading together in Kiswahili
- Read it aloud first, pointing at the pictures; then let your child “read” the pictures back to you.
- Ask open questions: what happened, how did the character feel, what would you do?
- Growing up with two languages? Talk about the story in whichever language feels easiest — the understanding carries over.
More free books in Kiswahili
Moto
Mdogo wangu mvivu
Tom muuza ndizi
Anansi na hekima
Kisasi cha Kiongozi
Refu na Fupi
Fisi na Kunguru
Ndizi za Bibi
See all 100 free Kiswahili books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Adhabu” free to read?
Yes. “Adhabu” is free to read online in Pagine on any phone, tablet or computer — no payment and nothing to download. It is openly licensed (CC BY 3.0).
What language is “Adhabu” in?
It is written in Kiswahili. Pagine has 100 free children’s books in Kiswahili.
What age is “Adhabu” for?
It is best for ages 5–8 (Level 2 · First sentences). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Adhabu” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in Somali, Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Tswana, Sesotho and more.
Who wrote “Adhabu”?
“Adhabu” was written by Adelheid Marie Bwire and illustrated by Melany Pietersen; the Kiswahili translation is by Monica Shank Lauwo, Lauwo George.
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Get the free app →Credits: Adhabu — Written by Adelheid Marie Bwire; Illustrated by Melany Pietersen; Translated by Monica Shank Lauwo, Lauwo George; Read by Lauwo George. Kiswahili, Level 2. From Global Storybooks (global-asp.github.io/storybooks-kenya), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=11989). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026