PagineKukambula
A free picture book in Kaonde by Adelheid Marie Bwire
Kukambula is a picture book in Kaonde for ages 5–8 by Adelheid Marie Bwire that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Kaonde
- Written by
- Adelheid Marie Bwire
- Illustrated by
- Melany Pietersen
- Translated by
- Ruth Kapamba, Mwitila Ntabo
- Reading level
- ages 5–8 · kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 2 · First sentences
- From
- Zambia
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY 3.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Kukambula is a short illustrated picture book in Kaonde by Adelheid Marie Bwire, illustrated by Melany Pietersen and translated by Ruth Kapamba, Mwitila Ntabo. 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 Kaonde. 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 22 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Juuba jimo, ba maama basendele bipangwa byavula. “Kimyeka kyotwakonsha kujapo bipangwa?” Twaipwizhe. “Tusakuja bipangwa bufuku,” ba maama bakumbwile. Nkasami Rahim uji na lwiso. Ujapo pa bipangwa byonse. Kabiji uja byavula. “Talai pabyaubile Rahim!” Nkasami wamulume wabijikile “Rahim wazhikwa kabiji witemwa,”…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. “Kukambula” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Straf
- Bemba · Ukukandwa
- Jamaican Creole · Ponishment
- Khoekhoegowab · ǁKharab
- Kiswahili · Adhabu
- Luganda · Ekibonerezo
- Lukhonzo · Ekifubiro
- Lunda · Kubabesha
- Luvale · Kuzangamisa
- Mauritian Creole · Pinision
- Nyanja · Cilango
- Oshikwanyama · Ehandukilo
- Oshindonga · Egeelo
- Otjiherero · Omberero
- Sesotho · Kotlo
- Somali · Ciqaab
- South Ndebele · Isijeziso sakaThemba
- Spanish · Castigo
- Tonga · Cisubulo
- Tswana · Katlholo
- Xhosa · Isihlwayo
- Zulu · Umhobholo
Reading together in Kaonde
- 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 Kaonde
Byoñumvwa
Buuku Wankilo
Baana Babupula
Zama Wakosa
Nzolo ne Munyongolo
Simbegwire
Mona Banyama
Ubena Kuuba ka?
See all 40 free Kaonde books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Kukambula” free to read?
Yes. “Kukambula” 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 “Kukambula” in?
It is written in Kaonde. Pagine has 40 free children’s books in Kaonde.
What age is “Kukambula” for?
It is best for ages 5–8 (Level 2 · First sentences). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Kukambula” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in Kiswahili, Somali, Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Tswana and more.
Who wrote “Kukambula”?
“Kukambula” was written by Adelheid Marie Bwire and illustrated by Melany Pietersen; the Kaonde translation is by Ruth Kapamba, Mwitila Ntabo.
Log books, set goals and build a daily reading habit — free on iOS, Android and the web.
Get the free app →Credits: Kukambula — Written by Adelheid Marie Bwire; Illustrated by Melany Pietersen; Translated by Ruth Kapamba, Mwitila Ntabo. Kaonde, Level 2. From Global Storybooks (storybookszambia.net), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=11989). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026