PagineKungani imvubu ingena tinwele
A free picture book in Swati by Basilio Gimo, David Ker
Kungani imvubu ingena tinwele is a picture book in Swati for ages 5–8 by Basilio Gimo, David Ker that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Swati
- Written by
- Basilio Gimo, David Ker
- Illustrated by
- Carol Liddiment
- Translated by
- Trust magagula, Mighty mhlanga
- Reading level
- ages 5–8 · kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 2 · First sentences
- From
- South Africa
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY 3.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Kungani imvubu ingena tinwele is a short illustrated picture book in Swati by Basilio Gimo, David Ker, illustrated by Carol Liddiment and translated by Trust magagula, Mighty mhlanga. 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 Swati. 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 31 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Ngalelinye lilanga Logwaja beka hamba ngale eceleni kwemfula. Nemvubu beyikhona nayo, beyitihambela nje itiyalukela, idlana netjani lobuluhlata lobumnandzi. Imvubu ayizange ibone kwekutsi logwaja ukhona naye,ngeliphutsa imvubu yanyatsela linyawo lalogwaja. Logwaja wamemeta watsi, “Wena Mvubu! Awuboni kwekutsi uyangenyatsela?” Yaticolisela iMvubu. ”Ngiyacolisa…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. “Kungani imvubu ingena tinwele” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Hoekom seekoeie nie hare het nie
- Alur · The lembe muketho rau yuk wiye ope
- Ateso · Inyobo eyinakit imiriai emameete kede ka ajul?
- Bemba · Ico imfubu ishakwatila umushishi
- Jamaican Creole · Wa mek Ipo no av no ier
- Kaonde · Kyabujila Byovwe Kwikala Nabooya
- Khoekhoegowab · ǃKhaon ǀûna ūhâba tama ǃaromas
- Kimaasai · Káínyoo peê méáta olmákau ilpápít
- Kiswahili · Kwa nini Viboko Hawana Nywele
- Luganda · Lwaki Envubu tezirina bwoya
- Lugbarati (official orthography) · Ròbí yɨ mà ‘bɨ́ko yo à’dɨ e’yósɨ̀à rɨ̀
- Lukhonzo · Habwaki Eyisere siyiwite Bweya
- Lumasaaba · Lwasiina tsifubu tsitamba bubwoya
- Lunda · Mulon’gadi anzovu chiyabulilawu insuki?
- Lusoga · Lwaki Wanvubu Azira Bwoya
- Luvale · Chahonesa nguvu kupwa naungona
- Ma'di · Ra Robi olujo biako rii adu?
- Mauritian Creole · Kifer ban ipopotam pena pwal ?
- Nyanja · Ncifukwa Ciani Mvuu zilibe Tsitsi
- Oshikwanyama · Omolwashike ondjabameva ihe na olududi
- Oshindonga · Omolwashike oondjambameya dhaa na omafufu
- Otjiherero · Ongwaye ozonḓuu tji ze hi na omainya
- Rutooro · Habwaki Ensere Tizigira Bwoya?
- Sesotho · Hobaneng dikubu di se na moriri
- Somali · Waa maxay sababta aysan jeerta ulahayn timo
- Spanish · ¿Por qué los hipopótamos no tienen pelo?
- Tonga · Civwubwe Ncatajisi Boya
- Tswana · Goreng bokubu ba sena moriri
- Turkana · Nyonte Emakar Epir Ng’Itim
- Xhosa · Kutheni iiMvubu Zingenaboya Nje
- Zulu · Kungani umvubu engena zinwele?
Reading together in Swati
- 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 Swati
Ibhasi lenkhulu leluhlata sasibhakabhaka
Sikhukhukati ukhohlisa Lukhoti
Pendo yinkhomo yakitsi
Fifi naTeddy
Ntjikita Mantjikita
Licandza
Intfo Lenhle Kakhulu
Kuhlabela Liciniso: Indzaba yaMiriam Makeba
See all 68 free Swati books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Kungani imvubu ingena tinwele” free to read?
Yes. “Kungani imvubu ingena tinwele” 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 “Kungani imvubu ingena tinwele” in?
It is written in Swati. Pagine has 68 free children’s books in Swati.
What age is “Kungani imvubu ingena tinwele” for?
It is best for ages 5–8 (Level 2 · First sentences). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Kungani imvubu ingena tinwele” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in Kiswahili, Kimaasai, Turkana, Somali, Zulu, Xhosa and more.
Who wrote “Kungani imvubu ingena tinwele”?
“Kungani imvubu ingena tinwele” was written by Basilio Gimo, David Ker and illustrated by Carol Liddiment; the Swati translation is by Trust magagula, Mighty mhlanga.
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Get the free app →Credits: Kungani imvubu ingena tinwele — Written by Basilio Gimo, David Ker; Illustrated by Carol Liddiment; Translated by Trust magagula, Mighty mhlanga. Swati, Level 2. From Global Storybooks (southafricareads.org), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=6160). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026