PagineIŋwena iyansala
A free picture book in Bemba by Christian G
Iŋwena iyansala is a picture book in Bemba for ages 2–8 by Christian G that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Bemba
- Written by
- Christian G
- Illustrated by
- Wiehan de Jager
- Translated by
- Nkumbu Sichone
- 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
Iŋwena iyansala is a short illustrated picture book in Bemba by Christian G, illustrated by Wiehan de Jager and translated by Nkumbu Sichone. 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 Bemba. 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
Kwaliko Iŋwena iyali ne nsala saana. Yaaleefwaya ifyakulya mumutalalila ukwabula ukupanga icongo. Elyo nomba… Wiyu!!! Iŋwena yaikata icakulya! Panuma yakulya, Iŋwena yaikuta kabili yasansamuka. Mpaka yaumfwa insala na kabili. Iŋwena iyansala — Written by Christian G.; Illustrated by Wiehan de…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. “Iŋwena iyansala” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Die honger krokodil
- 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
- 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 Bemba
- 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 Bemba
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Umwana Punda
Ulwimbo lwakwa Sakima
Nalitemwa ukubelenga!
Tubili
Ico imfubu ishakwatila umushishi
Andiswa kateya wa mupila waku makasa
Inkoko na Pungwa
See all 40 free Bemba books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Iŋwena iyansala” free to read?
Yes. “Iŋwena iyansala” 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 “Iŋwena iyansala” in?
It is written in Bemba. Pagine has 40 free children’s books in Bemba.
What age is “Iŋwena iyansala” for?
It is best for ages 2–8 (Level 1 · First words). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Iŋwena iyansala” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Kiswahili, Turkana, Somali, Zulu, Xhosa and more.
Who wrote “Iŋwena iyansala”?
“Iŋwena iyansala” was written by Christian G and illustrated by Wiehan de Jager; the Bemba translation is by Nkumbu Sichone.
Log books, set goals and build a daily reading habit — free on iOS, Android and the web.
Get the free app →Credits: Iŋwena iyansala — Written by Christian G.; Illustrated by Wiehan de Jager; Translated by Nkumbu Sichone. Bemba, 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