Mir yar: Sheekadii Wangari Mathaay

A free picture book in Somali by Nicola Rijsdijk

Mir yar: Sheekadii Wangari Mathaay is a picture book in Somali for ages 5–11 by Nicola Rijsdijk that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.

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Language

Somali

Written by

Nicola Rijsdijk

Illustrated by

Maya Marshak

Translated by

Anwar Mohamed Dirie

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 4.0

Price

Free — read online, nothing to download

About this book

Mir yar: Sheekadii Wangari Mathaay is a short illustrated picture book in Somali by Nicola Rijsdijk, illustrated by Maya Marshak and translated by Anwar Mohamed Dirie. 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 Somali. The book comes from Global Storybooks and is shared under an open CC BY 4.0 licence, which is why it is free to read. The same story is available in 21 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).

How it begins

Tuulo ku taal dhinaca hooseyo buurta Kenya ee Bariga Afrika, gabar yar ayaa hooyadeed kala shaqeyn jirtay beeraha. Magaceedu waxa uu ahaa Wangari. Wangari bannaanka ayay aad u jeclaan jirtay. Baangad ayay ku qodqodday carrada beerta qoyskooda. Waxayna dhulka qandacsan…

Opening lines quoted from the openly licensed book (CC BY 4.0).

This story in other languages

Reading the same story in two languages helps bilingual children connect words they already know. “Mir yar: Sheekadii Wangari Mathaay” is also available in:

• Afrikaans · ‘n Klein saadjie: Die verhaal van Wangari Maathai
• Bemba · Ulubuto Lunoono: Ilyashi lya pali Wangari Maathai
• Hausa · Mitsitsin Iri: Labarin Wangari Maathai
• Jamaican Creole · Wahn Biini Siid: Di Stuori Bout Wangaari Matai
• Kaonde · Kalukunwa Kakacheeche; Jishimikila jakwa Wangari Maatai
• Khoekhoegowab · ǂKhari ǃKhomros: Wangari Maathais di ǂhôas
• Kiswahili · Mbegu Ndogo: Hadithi ya Wangari Maathai
• Lukhonzo · Erihera embutho: Omwatsi wa Wangari Maathai
• Lunda · Kambuntu kakanyanya: insan’gu ya Wangari Maathai.
• Luvale · Mbuto yayindende: Mujimbu wa Wangari Maathai
• Mauritian Creole · Enn tipti lagrin : Zistwar Wangari Maathai
• Nyanja · Kambewu kangóno: Nkhani ya Wangari Maathai
• Oshikwanyama · Okambuto kanininini: Ehokololo laWangari Maathai
• Oshindonga · Okambuto okashonashona: Ehokololo lyaWangari Maathai
• Otjiherero · Okandwi okaṱikona: Ehungi ra Wangari Maathai
• Sepedi · Peu Ye Nnyanennyane
• Spanish · Una pequeña semilla: la historia de Wangari Maathai
• Tonga · Mbuto Nsyoonto: Kaano ka Wangari Maathai
• Tswana · Peo E Nnye: Tlhamane ya ga Wangari Maathai
• Xhosa · A Tiny Seed: The Story of Wangari Maathai
• Zulu · Imbewu Encane

Reading together in Somali

• 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 Somali

• Waxaan jeclahay in aan aqriyo!
• Timo
• Jirkeyga
• Kalaay waxay la hadashaa dhirta
• Digaagad iyo Galayr
• Mooskii ayeeyo
• Dab
• Walal yar oo caajislow ah

See all 40 free Somali books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩‍🏫 Assign this book to a class

Frequently asked questions

Is “Mir yar: Sheekadii Wangari Mathaay” free to read?

Yes. “Mir yar: Sheekadii Wangari Mathaay” 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 4.0).

What language is “Mir yar: Sheekadii Wangari Mathaay” in?

It is written in Somali. Pagine has 40 free children’s books in Somali.

What age is “Mir yar: Sheekadii Wangari Mathaay” for?

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

Is “Mir yar: Sheekadii Wangari Mathaay” available in other languages?

Yes — the same story is in Hausa, Kiswahili, Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Sepedi and more.

Who wrote “Mir yar: Sheekadii Wangari Mathaay”?

“Mir yar: Sheekadii Wangari Mathaay” was written by Nicola Rijsdijk and illustrated by Maya Marshak; the Somali translation is by Anwar Mohamed Dirie.

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Credits: Mir yar: Sheekadii Wangari Mathaay — Written by Nicola Rijsdijk; Illustrated by Maya Marshak; Translated by Anwar Mohamed Dirie; Read by Ibrahim Ahmed. Somali, Level 3. From Global Storybooks (global-asp.github.io/storybooks-kenya), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=9809). CC BY 4.0. · Page updated October 2026