PagineMona Inama
A free picture book in Bemba by Jenny Katz
Mona Inama is a picture book in Bemba for ages 2–8 by Jenny Katz that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Bemba
- Written by
- Jenny Katz
- Illustrated by
- Sandy Campbell
- Translated by
- Joseph Mwansa
- Reading level
- ages 2–8 · preschool, kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 1 · First words
- From
- Zambia
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY-NC 3.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Mona Inama is a short illustrated picture book in Bemba by Jenny Katz, illustrated by Sandy Campbell and translated by Joseph Mwansa. 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 Bemba. 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 25 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Mona inama. Iŋombe aiti, “Moo.” Imbushi aiti, “Meh, meh.” Kabalwe ati, “Neei.” Inkumba aiti, “Gru, gru.” Inkoko aiti, “Ko, ko, ko.” Imbwa aiti, “Boo, boo.” Umulimi ati, “Shii!” Mona Inama — Written by Jenny Katz; Illustrated by Sandy Campbell; Translated…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. “Mona Inama” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Kyk na die diere
- Ateso · Ongolia Ityiang Lu
- English · Look at the animals
- Hausa · Kalli Dabbobin
- Jamaican Creole · Luk Pan Di Animal Dem
- Kaonde · Mona Banyama
- Khoekhoegowab · Kō re xamarina
- Kiswahili · Tazama wanyama
- Lukhonzo · Erithungerera ebisoro
- Lunda · Tala tunyama
- Lunyole · Bona esolo
- Luvale · Tala tunyama
- Mauritian Creole · Get bann zanimo
- Nyanja · Onani Nyama
- Oshikwanyama · Tala koinamwenyo
- Oshindonga · Tala kiinamwenyo
- Otjiherero · Tara ovipuka
- Sepedi · Diphoofolo tša ka gae
- Sesotho · Sheba diphoofolo
- Somali · Fiiri xayawaanada
- Spanish · Mira a los animales
- Tonga · Kolanga Banyama
- Tswana · Leba ditshedi
- Xhosa · Izilwanyana zasekhaya
- Zulu · Izilwane zasepulazini
Reading together in Bemba
- 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 Bemba
Umwana Punda
Ulwimbo lwakwa Sakima
Nalitemwa ukubelenga!
Tubili
Ico imfubu ishakwatila umushishi
Andiswa kateya wa mupila waku makasa
Inkoko na Pungwa
Inkonde shaba maama
See all 40 free Bemba books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Mona Inama” free to read?
Yes. “Mona Inama” 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 “Mona Inama” in?
It is written in Bemba. Pagine has 40 free children’s books in Bemba.
What age is “Mona Inama” for?
It is best for ages 2–8 (Level 1 · First words). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Mona Inama” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Hausa, Kiswahili, Somali, Zulu, Xhosa and more.
Who wrote “Mona Inama”?
“Mona Inama” was written by Jenny Katz and illustrated by Sandy Campbell; the Bemba translation is by Joseph Mwansa.
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Get the free app →Credits: Mona Inama — Written by Jenny Katz; Illustrated by Sandy Campbell; Translated by Joseph Mwansa. Bemba, Level 1. From Global Storybooks (storybookszambia.net), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=1221). CC BY-NC 3.0. · Page updated October 2026