Buzuba Mbwindakaunka Kudolopo

A free picture book in Tonga by Lesley Koyi, Ursula Nafula

Buzuba Mbwindakaunka Kudolopo is a picture book in Tonga for ages 5–11 by Lesley Koyi, Ursula Nafula that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.

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Language

Tonga

Written by

Lesley Koyi, Ursula Nafula

Illustrated by

Brian Wambi

Translated by

Chester Mwanza

Reading level

ages 5–11 · kindergarten to 2nd grade, 3rd to 5th grade · Level 3 · First paragraphs

From

Zambia

Source

Global Storybooks

Licence

CC BY 4.0

Price

Free — read online, nothing to download

About this book

Buzuba Mbwindakaunka Kudolopo is a short illustrated picture book in Tonga by Lesley Koyi, Ursula Nafula, illustrated by Brian Wambi and translated by Chester Mwanza. It is written for ages 5–11 (Grades 2–3) and is graded as Level 3 · First paragraphs, so it works as a read-aloud for little ones and as practice for children learning to read in Tonga. The book comes from Global Storybooks and is shared under an open CC BY 4.0 licence, which is why it is free to read. The same story is available in 19 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).

How it begins

Citisyini cisyoonto camabbaasi cakazwide zyicitika abantu banji amabbaasi azwide bantu. Kwakali zyintu zyinji zyakeelede kukkwezekwa.Aansi aaalo akacili zyintu zinjaanji zyakeelede kukwezekwa. Bambi bantu bakali kwaamba mazyinaa masena nkwaakali kuunka mabbaasi. “Dolopo, dolopo! Baya kumbo.” Ndakamvwa muntu kaamba cakuyobeka. Njenjiyo bbaasi…

Opening lines quoted from the openly licensed book (CC BY 4.0).

This story in other languages

Reading the same story in two languages helps bilingual children connect words they already know. “Buzuba Mbwindakaunka Kudolopo” is also available in:

• Afrikaans · Die dag toe ek van my huis weggegaan het stad toe
• Bemba · Ubushiku nafumine pa ŋanda ukuya ku kalaale
• English · Day I left home for the city
• English · The day I left home for the city
• Jamaican Creole · Di Die Mi Lef Mi Yaad Fi Go Toun
• Kaonde · Juuba Jonafumine Kumuzhi Kuya Kutaunyi
• Khoekhoegowab · ǁGâusa xu ta ge kaiǃās ǁga ǃgû tsēs
• Kiswahili · Siku niliyoondoka nyumbani kuelekea mjini
• Lukhonzo · Ekiro Nalw’eka ingaghenda omw’akibugha
• Lunda · Ifuku inafumini kumukala nakuya kumbaka
• Luvale · Likumbi ngwafumine hembo nakuya kumbaka
• Mauritian Creole · Zour mo’nn kit lakaz pou lavil
• Nyanja · Tsiku lamene ndinanyamukila panyumba kuyenda kumzinda
• Oshikwanyama · Efiku nda fiya po eumbo komukunda ndi ye koshilando
• Oshindonga · Esiku nda thiga po egumbo ndi ye koshilando
• Otjiherero · Eyuva ndu mba za ponganda okuyenda kotjihuro
• Somali · Maalintii aan ka tagay guriga een magalada aaday
• Spanish · El día que dejé mi casa para irme a la ciudad
• Tswana · Letsatsi je ke duleng mo gae ka ya toropong

Reading together in Tonga

• 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 Tonga

• Kasyoonto Kangu kasankwa Katolo
• Tingi Aŋombe
• Zama Mukali!
• Nozibele a Masusu Otatwe
• Magozwe
• Zyisani Zyakucikolo
• Ino Kaaze Wangu Uli Kuli?
• Cisubulo

See all 40 free Tonga books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩‍🏫 Assign this book to a class

Frequently asked questions

Is “Buzuba Mbwindakaunka Kudolopo” free to read?

Yes. “Buzuba Mbwindakaunka Kudolopo” 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 4.0).

What language is “Buzuba Mbwindakaunka Kudolopo” in?

It is written in Tonga. Pagine has 40 free children’s books in Tonga.

What age is “Buzuba Mbwindakaunka Kudolopo” for?

It is best for ages 5–11 (Level 3 · First paragraphs). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.

Is “Buzuba Mbwindakaunka Kudolopo” available in other languages?

Yes — the same story is in English, English, Kiswahili, Somali, Afrikaans, Tswana and more.

Who wrote “Buzuba Mbwindakaunka Kudolopo”?

“Buzuba Mbwindakaunka Kudolopo” was written by Lesley Koyi, Ursula Nafula and illustrated by Brian Wambi; the Tonga translation is by Chester Mwanza.

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Credits: Buzuba Mbwindakaunka Kudolopo — Written by Lesley Koyi, Ursula Nafula; Illustrated by Brian Wambi; Translated by Chester Mwanza. Tonga, Level 3. From Global Storybooks (storybookszambia.net), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=15029). CC BY 4.0. · Page updated October 2026