PagineMbili
A free picture book in Kiswahili by Carole Bloch
Mbili is a picture book in Kiswahili for ages 2–8 by Carole Bloch that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Kiswahili
- Written by
- Carole Bloch
- Illustrated by
- Richard MacIntosh
- Translated by
- Ursula Nafula
- Reading level
- ages 2–8 · preschool, kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 1 · First words
- From
- Kenya
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY-NC 3.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Mbili is a short illustrated picture book in Kiswahili by Carole Bloch, illustrated by Richard MacIntosh and translated by Ursula Nafula. 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 Kiswahili. 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 26 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Mikono miwili midogo ya kushikia. Miguu miwili midogo ya kupigia. Macho mawili madogo ya kuonea. Masikio mawili madogo ya kusikia. Na mikono miwili ya KUKUMBATIA kwa upendo! Mbili — Written by Carole Bloch; Illustrated by Richard MacIntosh; Translated by Ursula…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. “Mbili” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Twee
- Bemba · Tubili
- Dagbani · ayi
- English · Two
- Jamaican Creole · Tuu
- Kaonde · Tubiji
- Khoekhoegowab · ǀGam
- Kigogo · Nyejete
- Kikuyu · Igĩrĩ
- Krio · Tu
- Lukhonzo · Ibiri
- Lunda · Ayedi
- Luvale · Avali
- Mauritian Creole · De
- Nyanja · Awili
- Oshikwanyama · Mbali
- Oshindonga · Mbali
- Otjiherero · Uvari
- Sepedi · Pedi
- Sesotho · Pedi
- Somali · Labo
- Spanish · Dos
- Tonga · Tobilo
- Tswana · Pedi
- Turkana · Ng’arei
- Zulu · Ezimbili
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
Tingi na ng’ombe
Zama ni mkubwa!
Wimbo wa Sakima
Tumbili Mdogo na Samaki
Jinsi Anansi alipata miguu myembamba
Kutekwa nyara!
Likizo kwa Bibi
Nelima atajirika
See all 100 free Kiswahili books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Mbili” free to read?
Yes. “Mbili” 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 “Mbili” in?
It is written in Kiswahili. Pagine has 100 free children’s books in Kiswahili.
What age is “Mbili” for?
It is best for ages 2–8 (Level 1 · First words). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Mbili” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Kikuyu, Turkana, Somali, Zulu, Afrikaans and more.
Who wrote “Mbili”?
“Mbili” was written by Carole Bloch and illustrated by Richard MacIntosh; the Kiswahili translation is by Ursula Nafula.
Log books, set goals and build a daily reading habit — free on iOS, Android and the web.
Get the free app →Credits: Mbili — Written by Carole Bloch; Illustrated by Richard MacIntosh; Translated by Ursula Nafula; Read by Lauwo George. Kiswahili, Level 1. From Global Storybooks (global-asp.github.io/storybooks-kenya), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=3072). CC BY-NC 3.0. · Page updated October 2026