PagineCivwubwe Ncatajisi Boya
A free picture book in Tonga by Basilio Gimo, David Ker
Civwubwe Ncatajisi Boya is a picture book in Tonga for ages 5–8 by Basilio Gimo, David Ker that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Tonga
- Written by
- Basilio Gimo, David Ker
- Illustrated by
- Carol Liddiment
- Translated by
- Chester Mwanza
- Reading level
- ages 5–8 · kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 2 · First sentences
- From
- Zambia
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY 3.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Civwubwe Ncatajisi Boya is a short illustrated picture book in Tonga by Basilio Gimo, David Ker, illustrated by Carol Liddiment and translated by Chester Mwanza. 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 Tonga. 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 31 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Bumwi buzuba, Sulwe wakali kweenda munsi aamulonga. Civwubwe wakaliko awalo, kayaa kweendeenda akulya twakulya bubotu bwa nyanzabili. Civwubwe taakalizyi kuti Sulwe wakali munsi-munsi, mpoona wakamulyata kumaulu. Sulwe wakatalika kubwentela Civwubwe, “Ebo Civwubwe, tobwene kuti wandilyata kumaulu?” Civwubwe wakalomba kulekelelwa kuli…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. “Civwubwe Ncatajisi Boya” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Hoekom seekoeie nie hare het nie
- Alur · The lembe muketho rau yuk wiye ope
- Ateso · Inyobo eyinakit imiriai emameete kede ka ajul?
- Bemba · Ico imfubu ishakwatila umushishi
- Jamaican Creole · Wa mek Ipo no av no ier
- Kaonde · Kyabujila Byovwe Kwikala Nabooya
- Khoekhoegowab · ǃKhaon ǀûna ūhâba tama ǃaromas
- Kimaasai · Káínyoo peê méáta olmákau ilpápít
- Kiswahili · Kwa nini Viboko Hawana Nywele
- Luganda · Lwaki Envubu tezirina bwoya
- Lugbarati (official orthography) · Ròbí yɨ mà ‘bɨ́ko yo à’dɨ e’yósɨ̀à rɨ̀
- Lukhonzo · Habwaki Eyisere siyiwite Bweya
- Lumasaaba · Lwasiina tsifubu tsitamba bubwoya
- Lunda · Mulon’gadi anzovu chiyabulilawu insuki?
- Lusoga · Lwaki Wanvubu Azira Bwoya
- Luvale · Chahonesa nguvu kupwa naungona
- Ma'di · Ra Robi olujo biako rii adu?
- Mauritian Creole · Kifer ban ipopotam pena pwal ?
- Nyanja · Ncifukwa Ciani Mvuu zilibe Tsitsi
- Oshikwanyama · Omolwashike ondjabameva ihe na olududi
- Oshindonga · Omolwashike oondjambameya dhaa na omafufu
- Otjiherero · Ongwaye ozonḓuu tji ze hi na omainya
- Rutooro · Habwaki Ensere Tizigira Bwoya?
- Sesotho · Hobaneng dikubu di se na moriri
- Somali · Waa maxay sababta aysan jeerta ulahayn timo
- Spanish · ¿Por qué los hipopótamos no tienen pelo?
- Swati · Kungani imvubu ingena tinwele
- Tswana · Goreng bokubu ba sena moriri
- Turkana · Nyonte Emakar Epir Ng’Itim
- Xhosa · Kutheni iiMvubu Zingenaboya Nje
- Zulu · Kungani umvubu engena zinwele?
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
Magozwe
Zyisani Zyakucikolo
Ino Kaaze Wangu Uli Kuli?
Khalai Ulabandika Kuzyisyango
Mbuto Nsyoonto: Kaano ka Wangari Maathai
Cizyole ca Ngede
Kulimvwa
Bbuku Lyabweende Bwaluwo
See all 40 free Tonga books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Civwubwe Ncatajisi Boya” free to read?
Yes. “Civwubwe Ncatajisi Boya” 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 “Civwubwe Ncatajisi Boya” in?
It is written in Tonga. Pagine has 40 free children’s books in Tonga.
What age is “Civwubwe Ncatajisi Boya” for?
It is best for ages 5–8 (Level 2 · First sentences). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Civwubwe Ncatajisi Boya” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in Kiswahili, Kimaasai, Turkana, Somali, Zulu, Xhosa and more.
Who wrote “Civwubwe Ncatajisi Boya”?
“Civwubwe Ncatajisi Boya” was written by Basilio Gimo, David Ker and illustrated by Carol Liddiment; the Tonga translation is by Chester Mwanza.
Log books, set goals and build a daily reading habit — free on iOS, Android and the web.
Get the free app →Credits: Civwubwe Ncatajisi Boya — Written by Basilio Gimo, David Ker; Illustrated by Carol Liddiment; Translated by Chester Mwanza. Tonga, Level 2. From Global Storybooks (storybookszambia.net), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=6160). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026