PagineKolanga Banyama
A free picture book in Tonga by Jenny Katz
Kolanga Banyama is a picture book in Tonga for ages 2–8 by Jenny Katz that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Tonga
- Written by
- Jenny Katz
- Illustrated by
- Sandy Campbell
- 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-NC 3.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Kolanga Banyama is a short illustrated picture book in Tonga by Jenny Katz, illustrated by Sandy Campbell 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-NC 3.0 licence, which is why it is free to read. The same story is available in 25 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Kolanga banyama. Iŋombe yalila kuti, “moo.” Impongo yalila kuti, “mee, mee.” Hhacci lyalila, “nee.” Ngulube yavwuluma kuti, “gulu, gulu.” Inkuku yalila kuti, “kkwiyo.” Mubwa wakuwa, “hau hau.” Mulimi waamba, “shiii!” Kolanga Banyama — Written by Jenny Katz; Illustrated by Sandy…Opening lines quoted from the openly licensed book (CC BY-NC 3.0).
This story in other languages
Reading the same story in two languages helps bilingual children connect words they already know. “Kolanga Banyama” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Kyk na die diere
- Ateso · Ongolia Ityiang Lu
- Bemba · Mona Inama
- English · Look at the animals
- Hausa · Kalli Dabbobin
- Jamaican Creole · Luk Pan Di Animal Dem
- Kaonde · Mona Banyama
- Khoekhoegowab · Kō re xamarina
- Kiswahili · Tazama wanyama
- Lukhonzo · Erithungerera ebisoro
- Lunda · Tala tunyama
- Lunyole · Bona esolo
- Luvale · Tala tunyama
- Mauritian Creole · Get bann zanimo
- Nyanja · Onani Nyama
- Oshikwanyama · Tala koinamwenyo
- Oshindonga · Tala kiinamwenyo
- Otjiherero · Tara ovipuka
- Sepedi · Diphoofolo tša ka gae
- Sesotho · Sheba diphoofolo
- Somali · Fiiri xayawaanada
- Spanish · Mira a los animales
- Tswana · Leba ditshedi
- Xhosa · Izilwanyana zasekhaya
- Zulu · Izilwane zasepulazini
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
Ino Kaaze Wangu Uli Kuli?
Cisubulo
Anansi a Busongo
Ncaakaamba Mucizyi wa Vusi
Kubala Banyama
Bbuku Lyabweende Bwaluwo
Bana Babunzuka
Mwaalumi Mulamfwu Kapati
See all 40 free Tonga books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Kolanga Banyama” free to read?
Yes. “Kolanga Banyama” 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-NC 3.0).
What language is “Kolanga Banyama” in?
It is written in Tonga. Pagine has 40 free children’s books in Tonga.
What age is “Kolanga Banyama” for?
It is best for ages 2–8 (Level 1 · First words). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Kolanga Banyama” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Hausa, Kiswahili, Somali, Zulu, Xhosa and more.
Who wrote “Kolanga Banyama”?
“Kolanga Banyama” was written by Jenny Katz and illustrated by Sandy Campbell; the Tonga translation is by Chester Mwanza.
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Get the free app →Credits: Kolanga Banyama — Written by Jenny Katz; Illustrated by Sandy Campbell; Translated by Chester Mwanza. Tonga, Level 1. From Global Storybooks (storybookszambia.net), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=1221). CC BY-NC 3.0. · Page updated October 2026