Engonya y’amakwa Enzalha
A free picture book in Lukhonzo by Christian G

Engonya y’amakwa Enzalha is a picture book in Lukhonzo for ages 2–8 by Christian G that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Lukhonzo
- Written by
- Christian G
- Illustrated by
- Wiehan de Jager
- Translated by
- Amos Mubunga Kambere
- Reading level
- ages 2–8 · preschool, kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 1 · First words
- From
- Uganda
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY 3.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Engonya y’amakwa Enzalha is a short illustrated picture book in Lukhonzo by Christian G, illustrated by Wiehan de Jager and translated by Amos Mubunga Kambere. 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 Lukhonzo. 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
Kera kera habya e’Gonya eyikwire enzalha, Mwayarondya ebyalya lyolholyolho kandi omwabukuthu. Neryo… Mpwaaa!!! Egonya yawirira! Yabere yabiriwirira, muyamera, neryo yamiwutha. Neryo enzalha yamabalha neryo yamayanza. Kuhika ahayakwira enzalha, kandi. Engonya y’amakwa Enzalha — Written by Christian G.; Illustrated by Wiehan…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. “Engonya y’amakwa Enzalha” 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.
- 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
- Tonga · Ciwena Wanzala
- Tswana · Kwena e e ne e tshwerwe ke tlala
- Turkana · Akinyang Na Anyamit Akoro
- Xhosa · Ingwenya elambileyo
- Zulu · Ingwenya elambile
Reading together in Lukhonzo
- 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 Lukhonzo
Akana K’epunda
Olwimbo lwa Sakima
Nyanzire erisoma
Ibiri
Habwaki Eyisere siyiwite Bweya
Andiswa omusathi owomupira
wa’Ngoko oko na W’Isamba
Ameeru A’mukaka
See all 40 free Lukhonzo books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Engonya y’amakwa Enzalha” free to read?
Yes. “Engonya y’amakwa Enzalha” 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 “Engonya y’amakwa Enzalha” in?
It is written in Lukhonzo. Pagine has 40 free children’s books in Lukhonzo.
What age is “Engonya y’amakwa Enzalha” for?
It is best for ages 2–8 (Level 1 · First words). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Engonya y’amakwa Enzalha” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Kiswahili, Turkana, Somali, Zulu, Xhosa and more.
Who wrote “Engonya y’amakwa Enzalha”?
“Engonya y’amakwa Enzalha” was written by Christian G and illustrated by Wiehan de Jager; the Lukhonzo translation is by Amos Mubunga Kambere.
Log books, set goals and build a daily reading habit — free on iOS, Android and the web.
Get the free app →Credits: Engonya y’amakwa Enzalha — Written by Christian G.; Illustrated by Wiehan de Jager; Translated by Amos Mubunga Kambere. Lukhonzo, Level 1. From Global Storybooks (global-asp.github.io/storybooks-uganda), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=7043). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026