Kuku na Tai

A free picture book in Kiswahili by Ann Nduku

Kuku na Tai is a picture book in Kiswahili for ages 5–11 by Ann Nduku that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.

📖 Read it free →

Language

Kiswahili

Written by

Ann Nduku

Illustrated by

Wiehan de Jager

Translated by

Matteo E

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 3.0

Price

Free — read online, nothing to download

About this book

Kuku na Tai is a short illustrated picture book in Kiswahili by Ann Nduku, illustrated by Wiehan de Jager and translated by Matteo E. 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 Kiswahili. 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 27 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).

How it begins

Hapo zamani za kale, Kuku na Tai walikuwa marafiki. Waliishi kwa amani na ndege wengine. Hakuna kati yao aliyeweza kupaa. Kuna siku njaa ilitokea. Ikamlazimu Tai kutembea umbali mrefu kutafuta chakula. Alirudi akiwa amechoka sana. “Lazima kuwe na njia rahisi…

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. “Kuku na Tai” is also available in:

• Afrikaans · Hen en Arend
• Aringati · Áũ kí Yúkú be
• Bemba · Inkoko na Pungwa
• EkeGusii · Engoko Ne’Kebaki
• English · Hen and Eagle
• Jamaican Creole · En an Iigl
• Kakwa · Sukuri seku Yugu
• Kaonde · Kyaje ne Mpungu
• Khoekhoegowab · Anis tsî ǃAriǃkhās hâra xa
• Luganda · Wankoko ne Wakamunye
• Lugbarati (official orthography) · A’ú pi yúkú be
• Lukhonzo · wa’Ngoko oko na W’Isamba
• Lumasaaba · Ingokho ni Ikhosi
• Lunda · Kasumbi na Kambembi
• Lunyole · Engoho ni Haŋungu
• Luvale · Kasumbi na Chiselele
• Mauritian Creole · Poul ek Leg
• Nyanja · Nkhuku ndi Nkhwazi
• Oshikwanyama · Oxuxwa nonhwa
• Oshindonga · Ondjuhwa nOntsa
• Otjiherero · Ohunguriva norukoze
• Rutooro · Enkoko N’Ekihungu
• Somali · Digaagad iyo Galayr
• Spanish · La Gallina y el Águila
• Tonga · Nkuku a Musyika
• Tswana · Koko le Matsianye
• Xhosa · USikhukhukazi noKhozi

Reading together in Kiswahili

• 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 Kiswahili

• Mtoto Punda
• Mtoto wa Tembo Mdadisi
• Siafu amwokoa Njiwa
• Barua kwa Mama
• Ninapenda Kusoma
• Wangari Maathai
• Mamba mwenye njaa
• Kupika

See all 100 free Kiswahili books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩‍🏫 Assign this book to a class

Frequently asked questions

Is “Kuku na Tai” free to read?

Yes. “Kuku na Tai” 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 “Kuku na Tai” in?

It is written in Kiswahili. Pagine has 100 free children’s books in Kiswahili.

What age is “Kuku na Tai” for?

It is best for ages 5–11 (Level 3 · First paragraphs). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.

Is “Kuku na Tai” available in other languages?

Yes — the same story is in English, EkeGusii, Somali, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Tswana and more.

Who wrote “Kuku na Tai”?

“Kuku na Tai” was written by Ann Nduku and illustrated by Wiehan de Jager; the Kiswahili translation is by Matteo E.

Track reading with the free Pagine app

Log books, set goals and build a daily reading habit — free on iOS, Android and the web.

Get the free app →

Credits: Kuku na Tai — Written by Ann Nduku; Illustrated by Wiehan de Jager; Translated by Matteo E. Mwita; Read by Lauwo George. Kiswahili, Level 3. From Global Storybooks (global-asp.github.io/storybooks-kenya), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=2084). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026