PagineMwaki
A free picture book in Kikuyu by Deborah Namugosa, Beatrice Nabune, Alison Tukei, Rose Sabano
Mwaki is a picture book in Kikuyu for ages 2–8 by Deborah Namugosa, Beatrice Nabune, Alison Tukei, Rose Sabano that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Kikuyu
- Written by
- Deborah Namugosa, Beatrice Nabune, Alison Tukei, Rose Sabano
- Illustrated by
- Rob Owen
- Translated by
- Naomi Kamau
- Reading level
- ages 2–8 · preschool, kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 1 · First words
- From
- Kenya
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY 3.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Mwaki is a short illustrated picture book in Kikuyu by Deborah Namugosa, Beatrice Nabune, Alison Tukei, Rose Sabano, illustrated by Rob Owen and translated by Naomi Kamau. 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 Kikuyu. 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
Tarora, mwaki! Mwaki nĩũcinaga Mwaki nĩũrugaga Mwaki nĩũtũheaga ũrugarĩ Mwaki nĩũtũheaga ũtheri Tarora, mwaki! Mwaki nĩ mwega Na wĩ hinya. Mwaki — Written by Deborah Namugosa, Beatrice Nabune, Alison Tukei, Rose Sabano; Illustrated by Rob Owen; Translated by Naomi Kamau.…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. “Mwaki” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Vuur
- Bemba · Umulilo
- Dagbani · Buɣim
- Dhopadhola · Mac
- English · Fire
- Jamaican Creole · Faiya
- Kaonde · Mujilo
- Khoekhoegowab · ǀAes
- Kichaga · Moro
- Kigogo · Moto
- Kisukuma · Mootó
- Kiswahili · Moto
- Krio · Faya
- Luganda · Omuliro
- Lukhonzo · Omuliro
- Lunda · Kesi
- Lunyole · Omuliro
- Luvale · Kakahya
- Mauritian Creole · Dife
- Nyanja · Moto
- Oshikwanyama · Omundilo
- Oshindonga · Omulilo
- Otjiherero · Omuriro
- Samburu · Nkima
- Sesotho · Mollo
- Somali · Dab
- Spanish · El fuego
- Tonga · Mulilo
- Tsonga · Ndzilo
- Tswana · Molelo
- Yoruba · Íná
- Zulu · Umlilo
Reading together in Kikuyu
- 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 Kikuyu
See all 5 free Kikuyu books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Mwaki” free to read?
Yes. “Mwaki” 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 “Mwaki” in?
It is written in Kikuyu. Pagine has 5 free children’s books in Kikuyu.
What age is “Mwaki” for?
It is best for ages 2–8 (Level 1 · First words). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Mwaki” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Yoruba, Kiswahili, Samburu, Somali, Zulu and more.
Who wrote “Mwaki”?
“Mwaki” was written by Deborah Namugosa, Beatrice Nabune, Alison Tukei, Rose Sabano and illustrated by Rob Owen; the Kikuyu translation is by Naomi Kamau.
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Get the free app →Credits: Mwaki — Written by Deborah Namugosa, Beatrice Nabune, Alison Tukei, Rose Sabano; Illustrated by Rob Owen; Translated by Naomi Kamau. Kikuyu, Level 1. From Global Storybooks (global-asp.github.io/storybooks-kenya), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=8565). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026