Inkéra é emánóó
A free picture book in Kimaasai by Southern African Folktale

Inkéra é emánóó is a picture book in Kimaasai for ages 5–8 by Southern African Folktale that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Kimaasai
- Written by
- Southern African Folktale
- Illustrated by
- Wiehan de Jager
- Translated by
- Leonard Kotikash
- Reading level
- ages 5–8 · kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 2 · First sentences
- From
- Kenya, Tanzania
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY 3.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Inkéra é emánóó is a short illustrated picture book in Kimaasai by Southern African Folktale, illustrated by Wiehan de Jager and translated by Leonard Kotikash. 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 Kimaasai. 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 30 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Nétií apá, nétií olmaréí óbo óbokito te enchípai. Óre inkérâ néméára áíkata. Néret intóiwúó enyê. Néjokí intóiwúó énye peê ményíkáki aké enkímá. Náa kewarié éás esíaai enyê. Amû te emanoó eitobirúno nínche. Néng’uar enkáyíóní peê élô aíj enkolóng. Néponári eng’uarratá.…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. “Inkéra é emánóó” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Kinders van was
- Bemba · Abaana bepula
- EkeGusii · Abanaba’mana
- English · Children of wax
- Jamaican Creole · Pikni dem we mek outa waks
- Kaonde · Baana Babupula
- Khoekhoegowab · ǂNuruǁnui ǀgôan xa
- Kikamba · Syana sya Mũvũa
- Kiswahili · Watoto wa nta
- Luganda · Abaana abaava mu nvumbo
- Lugbarati (official orthography) · Anzɨ Òdirì rʉ́ dɨ̀yɨ
- Lukhonzo · Abana b’enimba
- Lumasaaba · Babaana be buwuula
- Lunda · Anyana andunda
- Lunyole · Abaana bomu bulimbo
- Luvale · Vana vandunda
- Mauritian Creole · Zanfan Lasir
- Nyanja · Ana aphula
- Oshikwanyama · Ounona vedi
- Oshindonga · Uunona wezi
- Otjiherero · Ovanatje vonḓura
- Sepedi · Bana ba kerese
- Sesotho · Bana ba kerese
- Somali · Carruur xabkeed
- Spanish · Niños de cera
- Tonga · Bana Babunzuka
- Tswana · Bana ba kerese
- Turkana · Ng’Ide a Ng’Amonok
- Xhosa · Abantwana bekhandlela
- Zulu · Abantwana abenziwe ngamakhandlela
Reading together in Kimaasai
- 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 Kimaasai
Aníng
Anansi ó Eng’énó
Olotí aláshe túrúáí
Inkiláni e sukúul
Nozibele ó ilpápít okúni
Káínyoo peê méáta olmákau ilpápít
Ilpápít
Ilmaisurîn le kokoô
See all 11 free Kimaasai books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Inkéra é emánóó” free to read?
Yes. “Inkéra é emánóó” 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 “Inkéra é emánóó” in?
It is written in Kimaasai. Pagine has 11 free children’s books in Kimaasai.
What age is “Inkéra é emánóó” for?
It is best for ages 5–8 (Level 2 · First sentences). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Inkéra é emánóó” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Kiswahili, EkeGusii, Kikamba, Turkana, Somali and more.
Who wrote “Inkéra é emánóó”?
“Inkéra é emánóó” was written by Southern African Folktale and illustrated by Wiehan de Jager; the Kimaasai translation is by Leonard Kotikash.
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Get the free app →Credits: Inkéra é emánóó — Written by Southern African Folktale; Illustrated by Wiehan de Jager; Translated by Leonard Kotikash. Kimaasai, Level 2. From Global Storybooks (global-asp.github.io/storybooks-kenya), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=2181). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026