PagineMbuzi, Mbwa na Ng’ombe
A free picture book in Kiswahili by Fabian Wakholi
Mbuzi, Mbwa na Ng’ombe is a picture book in Kiswahili for ages 5–8 by Fabian Wakholi that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Kiswahili
- Written by
- Fabian Wakholi
- Illustrated by
- Marleen Visser, Ingrid Schechter
- Translated by
- Brigid Simiyu
- Reading level
- ages 5–8 · kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 2 · First sentences
- From
- Kenya
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY 3.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Mbuzi, Mbwa na Ng’ombe is a short illustrated picture book in Kiswahili by Fabian Wakholi, illustrated by Marleen Visser, Ingrid Schechter and translated by Brigid Simiyu. 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 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 32 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Mbuzi, Mbwa na Ng’ombe walikuwa marafiki wa karibu sana. Siku moja walisafiri kwa teksi. Walipofika mwisho wa safari yao, dereva aliwaomba walipe nauli zao. Ng’ombe alilipa nauli yake. Mbwa alilipa zaidi kidogo kwa sababu hakuwa na pesa taslimu. Dereva alipokaribia…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, Mbwa na 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
- 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
- Nyanja · Mbuzi, Galu ndi Ng’ombe
- 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 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
Andiswa Nyota wa Mpira wa Miguu
Nozibele na nywele tatu
Siku ya Kutembelea Kiwanja cha Michezo
Nin Anataka Kuvalishwa Nguo
Sayari Jua ya Saba
Kwa nini viboko hawana manyoya
Namorutunga
Fisi mlafi
See all 100 free Kiswahili books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Mbuzi, Mbwa na Ng’ombe” free to read?
Yes. “Mbuzi, Mbwa na 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, Mbwa na Ng’ombe” in?
It is written in Kiswahili. Pagine has 100 free children’s books in Kiswahili.
What age is “Mbuzi, Mbwa na Ng’ombe” for?
It is best for ages 5–8 (Level 2 · First sentences). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Mbuzi, Mbwa na Ng’ombe” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Nigerian Pidgin, Kikamba, Kimaasai, Turkana, Somali and more.
Who wrote “Mbuzi, Mbwa na Ng’ombe”?
“Mbuzi, Mbwa na Ng’ombe” was written by Fabian Wakholi and illustrated by Marleen Visser, Ingrid Schechter; the Kiswahili translation is by Brigid Simiyu.
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Get the free app →Credits: Mbuzi, Mbwa na Ng’ombe — Written by Fabian Wakholi; Illustrated by Marleen Visser, Ingrid Schechter; Translated by Brigid Simiyu; Read by Lauwo George. Kiswahili, Level 2. From Global Storybooks (global-asp.github.io/storybooks-kenya), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=6380). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026