PagineMpongo, Mubwa a ŋombe
A free picture book in Tonga by Fabian Wakholi
Mpongo, Mubwa a ŋombe is a picture book in Tonga for ages 5–8 by Fabian Wakholi that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Tonga
- Written by
- Fabian Wakholi
- Illustrated by
- Marleen Visser, Ingrid Schechter
- Translated by
- Chester 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
Mpongo, Mubwa a ŋombe is a short illustrated picture book in Tonga by Fabian Wakholi, illustrated by Marleen Visser, Ingrid Schechter and translated by Chester 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 Tonga. 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
Mpongo, mubwa a ŋombe bakali kumvwana kapati. Bumwi buzuba bakabweza lweendo mumoota. Nibakasika nkubakali kuya, namutekenya waka baambila kuti ba bbadele mali. Ŋombe yaka bbadela. Mubwa waka bbadela mali aayindilila. Namutekenya wakali kuyanda kuti ajosye mali aakaindilila kumubwa mpoona mpongo…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. “Mpongo, Mubwa a ŋombe” 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
- 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
- Tswana · Podi,Ntsa le Kgomo
- Turkana · Akine, Ing’ok Ka Aite
- Xhosa · UBhokhwe, uNja, noNkomo
- Zulu · Imbuzi, Inja Nenkomo
Reading together in Tonga
- 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 Tonga
Khalai Ulabandika Kuzyisyango
Nkuku a Musyika
Mabbanana Aabaneene
Mulilo
Kasyoonto Kangu kasankwa Katolo
Tingi Aŋombe
Zama Mukali!
Nozibele a Masusu Otatwe
See all 40 free Tonga books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Mpongo, Mubwa a ŋombe” free to read?
Yes. “Mpongo, Mubwa a ŋombe” 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 “Mpongo, Mubwa a ŋombe” in?
It is written in Tonga. Pagine has 40 free children’s books in Tonga.
What age is “Mpongo, Mubwa a ŋombe” for?
It is best for ages 5–8 (Level 2 · First sentences). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Mpongo, Mubwa a ŋombe” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Nigerian Pidgin, Kiswahili, Kikamba, Kimaasai, Turkana and more.
Who wrote “Mpongo, Mubwa a ŋombe”?
“Mpongo, Mubwa a ŋombe” was written by Fabian Wakholi and illustrated by Marleen Visser, Ingrid Schechter; the Tonga translation is by Chester Mwanza.
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Get the free app →Credits: Mpongo, Mubwa a ŋombe — Written by Fabian Wakholi; Illustrated by Marleen Visser, Ingrid Schechter; Translated by Chester Mwanza. Tonga, 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