PagineAwili
A free picture book in Nyanja by Carole Bloch
Awili is a picture book in Nyanja for ages 2–8 by Carole Bloch that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Nyanja
- Written by
- Carole Bloch
- Illustrated by
- Richard MacIntosh
- Translated by
- David Sani Mwanza
- Reading level
- ages 2–8 · preschool, kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 1 · First words
- From
- Zambia
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY-NC 3.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Awili is a short illustrated picture book in Nyanja by Carole Bloch, illustrated by Richard MacIntosh and translated by David Sani Mwanza. It is written for ages 2–8 (Nursery–Year 1) and is graded as Level 1 · First words, so it works as a read-aloud for little ones and as practice for children learning to read in Nyanja. The book comes from Global Storybooks and is shared under an open CC BY-NC 3.0 licence, which is why it is free to read. The same story is available in 26 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Timanja tiwili togwila. Timiyendo Tiwili tochaila. Timaso tiwili toyang’anila. Timatu tiwili tomvelela. Ndi manja awili okondedwa okumbatila. Awili — Written by Carole Bloch; Illustrated by Richard MacIntosh; Translated by David Sani Mwanza; Read by Christine Mwanza. Nyanja, Level 1. From…Opening lines quoted from the openly licensed book (CC BY-NC 3.0).
This story in other languages
Reading the same story in two languages helps bilingual children connect words they already know. “Awili” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Twee
- Bemba · Tubili
- Dagbani · ayi
- English · Two
- Jamaican Creole · Tuu
- Kaonde · Tubiji
- Khoekhoegowab · ǀGam
- Kigogo · Nyejete
- Kikuyu · Igĩrĩ
- Kiswahili · Mbili
- Krio · Tu
- Lukhonzo · Ibiri
- Lunda · Ayedi
- Luvale · Avali
- Mauritian Creole · De
- Oshikwanyama · Mbali
- Oshindonga · Mbali
- Otjiherero · Uvari
- Sepedi · Pedi
- Sesotho · Pedi
- Somali · Labo
- Spanish · Dos
- Tonga · Tobilo
- Tswana · Pedi
- Turkana · Ng’arei
- Zulu · Ezimbili
Reading together in Nyanja
- 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 Nyanja
Sindine!
Onani Nyama
Cona wanga ali kuti?
Cilango
Anansi ndi Nzelu
Zomwe Mulongo wa Vusi Ananena
Cuti Kwa Ambuya
Fati ndi Njoka ya Msipu
See all 105 free Nyanja books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Awili” free to read?
Yes. “Awili” 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-NC 3.0).
What language is “Awili” in?
It is written in Nyanja. Pagine has 105 free children’s books in Nyanja.
What age is “Awili” for?
It is best for ages 2–8 (Level 1 · First words). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Awili” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Kiswahili, Kikuyu, Turkana, Somali, Zulu and more.
Who wrote “Awili”?
“Awili” was written by Carole Bloch and illustrated by Richard MacIntosh; the Nyanja translation is by David Sani Mwanza.
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Get the free app →Credits: Awili — Written by Carole Bloch; Illustrated by Richard MacIntosh; Translated by David Sani Mwanza; Read by Christine Mwanza. Nyanja, Level 1. From Global Storybooks (storybookszambia.net), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=3072). CC BY-NC 3.0. · Page updated October 2026