Mupumuno kuli Baneene

Name: Mupumuno kuli Baneene
Availability: InStock
Author: Violet Otieno

A free picture book in Tonga by Violet Otieno

Cover of Mupumuno kuli Baneene, a Tonga picture book

Mupumuno kuli Baneene is a picture book in Tonga for ages 8–11 by Violet Otieno that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.

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Language: Tonga
Written by: Violet Otieno
Illustrated by: Catherine Groenewald
Translated by: Vision Milimo
Reading level: ages 8–11 · 3rd to 5th grade · Level 4 · Longer paragraphs
From: Zambia
Source: Global Storybooks
Licence: CC BY 4.0
Price: Free — read online, nothing to download

About this book

Mupumuno kuli Baneene is a short illustrated picture book in Tonga by Violet Otieno, illustrated by Catherine Groenewald and translated by Vision Milimo. It is written for ages 8–11 (Grades 3–4) and is graded as Level 4 · Longer paragraphs, 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 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

Odongo alimwi a Apiyo bakali kukkala mudolopo antoomwe abausyi. Mbokuli kuti bakalizyi kuti bakeelede kuunka kuli baneenenyina ciindi camupumuno, bakakkala kabalangila mupumuno kuti usike. Bakaapanyina bakali kukkala mumunzi waba sikuzela nswi munsi munsi akawiya. Odongo alimwi aa Apiyo bakalikkomene nkaambo…

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. “Mupumuno kuli Baneene” is also available in:

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

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

Frequently asked questions

Is “Mupumuno kuli Baneene” free to read?

Yes. “Mupumuno kuli Baneene” 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 “Mupumuno kuli Baneene” in?

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

What age is “Mupumuno kuli Baneene” for?

It is best for ages 8–11 (Level 4 · Longer paragraphs). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.

Is “Mupumuno kuli Baneene” available in other languages?

Yes — the same story is in Turkana, Somali, Zulu, Xhosa, Sepedi, Tswana and more.

Who wrote “Mupumuno kuli Baneene”?

“Mupumuno kuli Baneene” was written by Violet Otieno and illustrated by Catherine Groenewald; the Tonga translation is by Vision Milimo.

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Credits: Mupumuno kuli Baneene — Written by Violet Otieno; Illustrated by Catherine Groenewald; Translated by Vision Milimo. Tonga, Level 4. From Global Storybooks (storybookszambia.net), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=12084). CC BY 4.0. · Page updated October 2026