PagineCiqaab
A free picture book in Somali by Adelheid Marie Bwire
Ciqaab is a picture book in Somali for ages 5–8 by Adelheid Marie Bwire that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Somali
- Written by
- Adelheid Marie Bwire
- Illustrated by
- Melany Pietersen
- Translated by
- Abdi Muse
- 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
Ciqaab is a short illustrated picture book in Somali by Adelheid Marie Bwire, illustrated by Melany Pietersen and translated by Abdi Muse. 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 Somali. 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
Maalin maalmaha ka mid ah, hooyo waxay heshay miro badan. “Goormaa wax miro ah heleynaa?” ayaan weydiinay. “Waxaan miraha cuni doonaa caawa,” ayay tiri hooyo. Walaalkay Rahim waa mid dhuuni ah. Waxa uu dhadhamiyaa midhaha oo dhan. In badan 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. “Ciqaab” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Straf
- Bemba · Ukukandwa
- Jamaican Creole · Ponishment
- Kaonde · Kukambula
- Khoekhoegowab · ǁKharab
- Kiswahili · Adhabu
- Luganda · Ekibonerezo
- Lukhonzo · Ekifubiro
- Lunda · Kubabesha
- Luvale · Kuzangamisa
- Mauritian Creole · Pinision
- Nyanja · Cilango
- Oshikwanyama · Ehandukilo
- Oshindonga · Egeelo
- Otjiherero · Omberero
- Sesotho · Kotlo
- South Ndebele · Isijeziso sakaThemba
- Spanish · Castigo
- Tonga · Cisubulo
- Tswana · Katlholo
- Xhosa · Isihlwayo
- Zulu · Umhobholo
Reading together in Somali
- 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 Somali
Buugi cimilida
Carruur xabkeed
Zama waa mid aad u wanaagsan!
Digaag iyo hangaraarac
Simbegwire
Fiiri xayawaanada
Maxaad samaynaysaa?
Go’aan
See all 40 free Somali books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Ciqaab” free to read?
Yes. “Ciqaab” 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 “Ciqaab” in?
It is written in Somali. Pagine has 40 free children’s books in Somali.
What age is “Ciqaab” for?
It is best for ages 5–8 (Level 2 · First sentences). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Ciqaab” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in Kiswahili, Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Tswana, Sesotho and more.
Who wrote “Ciqaab”?
“Ciqaab” was written by Adelheid Marie Bwire and illustrated by Melany Pietersen; the Somali translation is by Abdi Muse.
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Get the free app →Credits: Ciqaab — Written by Adelheid Marie Bwire; Illustrated by Melany Pietersen; Translated by Abdi Muse; Read by Ibrahim Ahmed. Somali, 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