PagineIlmo dameer ah
A free picture book in Somali by Lindiwe Matshikiza
Ilmo dameer ah is a picture book in Somali for ages 5–11 by Lindiwe Matshikiza that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Somali
- Written by
- Lindiwe Matshikiza
- Illustrated by
- Meghan Judge
- Translated by
- Anwar Mohamed Dirie
- Reading level
- ages 5–11 · kindergarten to 2nd grade, 3rd to 5th grade · Level 3 · First paragraphs
- From
- Kenya
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY 4.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Ilmo dameer ah is a short illustrated picture book in Somali by Lindiwe Matshikiza, illustrated by Meghan Judge and translated by Anwar Mohamed Dirie. It is written for ages 5–11 (Grades 2–3) and is graded as Level 3 · First paragraphs, 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 4.0 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
Gabar yar ayaa aragtay muuqaal aan la garaneyn oo masaafo ka muuqdo. Markii uu muuqaalki soo dhowaaday, waxa ay aragtay in ay tahay haweeney xaamilo culus ah. Xishood laakiin geesi nimo, gabadhii waxa ay ku sii dhowaatay haweeneydii. “Waa in…Opening lines quoted from the openly licensed book (CC BY 4.0).
This story in other languages
Reading the same story in two languages helps bilingual children connect words they already know. “Ilmo dameer ah” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Donkie-kind
- Bemba · Umwana Punda
- Dhopadhola · Nyathi Ma Nyakare
- English · Donkey child
- Jamaican Creole · Dangki Pikni
- Kaonde · Mbongolo Mwana
- Khoekhoegowab · Donki ǀgôab xa
- Kiswahili · Mtoto Punda
- Lukhonzo · Akana K’epunda
- Lunda · Mwana wa Donki
- Luvale · Mwana Chimbulu
- Mauritian Creole · Zanfan-Bourik
- Nyanja · Mwana wa Bulu
- Oshikwanyama · Okaana okandongwina
- Oshindonga · Okanona okandôongi
- Otjiherero · Okasinona
- Spanish · El Niño Burro
- Tonga · Kana Kambongolo
- Tswana · Ngwana wa setshwano sa tonki
- Turkana · Ikoku sikiria
- Xhosa · Umbhongolo, Usana Olusisimanga
- Zulu · Umntwana ongajwayelekile
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
Yaxaaskii baahnaa
Karin
Tom muus iibiyaha
Ri, Eey iyo Sac
Heestii Sakima
Waxaan jeclahay in aan aqriyo!
Timo
Jirkeyga
See all 40 free Somali books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Ilmo dameer ah” free to read?
Yes. “Ilmo dameer ah” 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 4.0).
What language is “Ilmo dameer ah” in?
It is written in Somali. Pagine has 40 free children’s books in Somali.
What age is “Ilmo dameer ah” for?
It is best for ages 5–11 (Level 3 · First paragraphs). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Ilmo dameer ah” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Turkana, Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Tswana and more.
Who wrote “Ilmo dameer ah”?
“Ilmo dameer ah” was written by Lindiwe Matshikiza and illustrated by Meghan Judge; the Somali translation is by Anwar Mohamed Dirie.
Log books, set goals and build a daily reading habit — free on iOS, Android and the web.
Get the free app →Credits: Ilmo dameer ah — Written by Lindiwe Matshikiza; Illustrated by Meghan Judge; Translated by Anwar Mohamed Dirie; Read by Ibrahim Ahmed. Somali, Level 3. From Global Storybooks (global-asp.github.io/storybooks-kenya), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=15028). CC BY 4.0. · Page updated October 2026