PagineCiwena Wanzala
A free picture book in Tonga by Christian G
Ciwena Wanzala is a picture book in Tonga for ages 2–8 by Christian G that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Tonga
- Written by
- Christian G
- Illustrated by
- Wiehan de Jager
- Translated by
- Chester Mwanza
- Reading level
- ages 2–8 · preschool, kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 1 · First words
- From
- Zambia
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY 3.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Ciwena Wanzala is a short illustrated picture book in Tonga by Christian G, illustrated by Wiehan de Jager and translated by Chester 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 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 26 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Kaindi kwakali ciwena wakamvwide nzala kapati. Wakayandaula cakulya cakubendelela mukawiiwi. Mpoona … Po!!! Ciwena wajata. Kuzwa waawo taakamvwa nzala alimwi. Naakamana wakakkomana. Kusikila akamvwe nzala alimwi. Ciwena Wanzala — Written by Christian G.; Illustrated by Wiehan de Jager; Translated by…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. “Ciwena Wanzala” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Die honger krokodil
- Bemba · Iŋwena iyansala
- Dagbani · Kum Ni Mali Nyɛbiga So
- English · The hungry crocodile
- Irish · An cogall ocrach
- Jamaican Creole · Di Onggri Krokodail
- Kaonde · Kiwele Waumvwine Nzala
- Khoekhoegowab · ǃÂsa ǁnâseb xa
- Kiswahili · Mamba mwenye njaa
- Luganda · Ggonya omuyala.
- Lukhonzo · Engonya y’amakwa Enzalha
- Lunda · In’gandu wanzala
- Luvale · Ngandu Wazala
- Mauritian Creole · Enn krokodil afame
- Nyanja · Ng’wena yanjala
- Oshikwanyama · Ongadu ya fya ondjla
- Oshindonga · Ongandu ya sa ondjala
- Otjiherero · Ongandu yondjara
- Sepedi · Kwena ya go swarwa ke tlala
- Sesotho · Kwena e lapileng
- Somali · Yaxaaskii baahnaa
- Spanish · El cocodrilo hambriento
- Tswana · Kwena e e ne e tshwerwe ke tlala
- Turkana · Akinyang Na Anyamit Akoro
- Xhosa · Ingwenya elambileyo
- Zulu · Ingwenya elambile
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
Nkuku a Joongolo
Simbegwire
Zyisani Zyakucikolo
Ino Kaaze Wangu Uli Kuli?
Cisubulo
Anansi a Busongo
Ncaakaamba Mucizyi wa Vusi
Kubala Banyama
See all 40 free Tonga books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Ciwena Wanzala” free to read?
Yes. “Ciwena Wanzala” 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 “Ciwena Wanzala” in?
It is written in Tonga. Pagine has 40 free children’s books in Tonga.
What age is “Ciwena Wanzala” for?
It is best for ages 2–8 (Level 1 · First words). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Ciwena Wanzala” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Kiswahili, Turkana, Somali, Zulu, Xhosa and more.
Who wrote “Ciwena Wanzala”?
“Ciwena Wanzala” was written by Christian G and illustrated by Wiehan de Jager; the Tonga translation is by Chester Mwanza.
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Get the free app →Credits: Ciwena Wanzala — Written by Christian G.; Illustrated by Wiehan de Jager; Translated by Chester Mwanza. Tonga, Level 1. From Global Storybooks (storybookszambia.net), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=7043). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026