PagineMbuzi, Galu ndi Ng’ombe
A free picture book in Nyanja by Fabian Wakholi
Mbuzi, Galu ndi Ng’ombe is a picture book in Nyanja for ages 5–8 by Fabian Wakholi that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Nyanja
- Written by
- Fabian Wakholi
- Illustrated by
- Marleen Visser, Ingrid Schechter
- Translated by
- David Sani Mwanza
- 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
Mbuzi, Galu ndi Ng’ombe is a short illustrated picture book in Nyanja by Fabian Wakholi, illustrated by Marleen Visser, Ingrid Schechter and translated by David Sani Mwanza. 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 Nyanja. 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 32 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Mbuzi, Galu ndi Ng’ombe anali mabwenzi kwambili. Tsiku lina, anapita paulendo ndi galimoto. Pamene anafika pothela pa ulendo wao, mtekenya anawafunsa kuti alipile ndalama. Ng’ombe inalipila yake. Galu analipila ndalama yopitililapo chifukwa analibe ndalama yoyenela. Mtekenya anali pafupi kupatsa Galu…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. “Mbuzi, Galu ndi Ng’ombe” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Bok, Hond en Koei
- Bemba · Imbushi, Imbwa ne ŋombe
- Dhopadhola · Dyel, Gwok Kodi Dhyaŋ
- English · Goat, Dog and Cow (Colour-in)
- Jamaican Creole · Guot, Daag an Kou
- Kaonde · Mbuzhi, Kabwa ne Ñombe
- Khoekhoegowab · Piris, Arib, tsî Gomas xa
- Kikamba · Mbui, Ngiti na Ng’ombe
- Kimaasai · Enkíné, Oldía ó Enkíténg
- Kiswahili · Mbuzi, Mbwa na Ng’ombe
- Luganda · Wambuzi, Wambwa ne Wante
- Lugbarati (official orthography) · Ndrí ‘ɨ, Òcó ‘ɨ àzɨ́nɨ Tí ‘ɨ
- Lukhonzo · Embene, Embwa, n’Ende
- Lumasaaba · Imbusi, Imbwa ni Ngaafu
- Lunda · Impembi, Kawa na Ng’ombi
- Lunyole · Embusi, Embwa n’Eῃombe
- Luvale · Phembe, Kawa, na Ngombe
- Mauritian Creole · Kabri, Lisien, ek Vas
- Nigerian Pidgin · Goat, dog, and Malu
- Oshikwanyama · Shikombo, Mbwa nOngobe
- Oshindonga · Oshikombo, ombwa nongombe
- Otjiherero · Ongombo, ombwa nongombe
- Rutooro · Embuzi, Embwa, N’Ente
- Sesotho · Podi, Ntja le kgomo
- Somali · Ri, Eey iyo Sac
- South Ndebele · Imbuzi, Inja Nekomo
- Spanish · La Cabra, el Perro y la Vaca
- Tonga · Mpongo, Mubwa a ŋombe
- Tswana · Podi,Ntsa le Kgomo
- Turkana · Akine, Ing’ok Ka Aite
- Xhosa · UBhokhwe, uNja, noNkomo
- Zulu · Imbuzi, Inja Nenkomo
Reading together in Nyanja
- 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 Nyanja
Kodi ndi chiyani ichi?
Nikonda Kuwelenga
Tupi
Zomvelela
Buku ya nyengo
Ana aphula
Bambo wamutali kwambili
Nkhuku ndi Bongololo
See all 105 free Nyanja books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Mbuzi, Galu ndi Ng’ombe” free to read?
Yes. “Mbuzi, Galu ndi Ng’ombe” 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 “Mbuzi, Galu ndi Ng’ombe” in?
It is written in Nyanja. Pagine has 105 free children’s books in Nyanja.
What age is “Mbuzi, Galu ndi Ng’ombe” for?
It is best for ages 5–8 (Level 2 · First sentences). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Mbuzi, Galu ndi Ng’ombe” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Nigerian Pidgin, Kiswahili, Kikamba, Kimaasai, Turkana and more.
Who wrote “Mbuzi, Galu ndi Ng’ombe”?
“Mbuzi, Galu ndi Ng’ombe” was written by Fabian Wakholi and illustrated by Marleen Visser, Ingrid Schechter; the Nyanja translation is by David Sani Mwanza.
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Get the free app →Credits: Mbuzi, Galu ndi Ng’ombe — Written by Fabian Wakholi; Illustrated by Marleen Visser, Ingrid Schechter; Translated by David Sani Mwanza; Read by Christine Mwanza. Nyanja, Level 2. From Global Storybooks (storybookszambia.net), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=6380). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026