Babaana be buwuula

Name: Babaana be buwuula
Availability: InStock
Author: Southern African Folktale

A free picture book in Lumasaaba by Southern African Folktale

Cover of Babaana be buwuula, a Lumasaaba picture book

Babaana be buwuula is a picture book in Lumasaaba for ages 5–8 by Southern African Folktale that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.

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Language: Lumasaaba
Written by: Southern African Folktale
Illustrated by: Wiehan de Jager
Translated by: Milton Eridad Shissa
Reading level: ages 5–8 · kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 2 · First sentences
From: Uganda
Source: Global Storybooks
Licence: CC BY 3.0
Price: Free — read online, nothing to download

About this book

Babaana be buwuula is a short illustrated picture book in Lumasaaba by Southern African Folktale, illustrated by Wiehan de Jager and translated by Milton Eridad Shissa. 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 Lumasaaba. 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 30 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).

How it begins

Aabawo khaalekho, yabawo baalebe be muungo mutweela abe babamenya nga baasangaafu. Abe sibasoolanakho ta. Baayeetatsaka naabi basaali baabwe muungo ni mu mikuunda. Ne shonyene ndi abe sibafukiilisibwakho khukhwisyeendakho aambi ni kumulilo ta. Abe bali ni khuukholatsaka kimilimo kyaabwe mu shilo…

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. “Babaana be buwuula” is also available in:

Reading together in Lumasaaba

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 Lumasaaba

See all 16 free Lumasaaba books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩‍🏫 Assign this book to a class

Frequently asked questions

Is “Babaana be buwuula” free to read?

Yes. “Babaana be buwuula” 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 “Babaana be buwuula” in?

It is written in Lumasaaba. Pagine has 16 free children’s books in Lumasaaba.

What age is “Babaana be buwuula” for?

It is best for ages 5–8 (Level 2 · First sentences). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.

Is “Babaana be buwuula” available in other languages?

Yes — the same story is in English, Kiswahili, EkeGusii, Kikamba, Kimaasai, Turkana and more.

Who wrote “Babaana be buwuula”?

“Babaana be buwuula” was written by Southern African Folktale and illustrated by Wiehan de Jager; the Lumasaaba translation is by Milton Eridad Shissa.

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Credits: Babaana be buwuula — Written by Southern African Folktale; Illustrated by Wiehan de Jager; Translated by Milton Eridad Shissa. Lumasaaba, Level 2. From Global Storybooks (global-asp.github.io/storybooks-uganda), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=2181). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026