Nalitemwa ukubelenga!

Name: Nalitemwa ukubelenga!
Availability: InStock
Author: Letta Machoga

A free picture book in Bemba by Letta Machoga

Cover of Nalitemwa ukubelenga!, a Bemba picture book

Nalitemwa ukubelenga! is a picture book in Bemba for ages 2–8 by Letta Machoga that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.

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Language: Bemba
Written by: Letta Machoga
Illustrated by: Wiehan de Jager
Translated by: Agnes Chileshe Chibamba, Margaret Nambao
Reading level: ages 2–8 · preschool, kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 1 · First words
From: Zambia
Source: Global Storybooks
Licence: CC BY 3.0
Price: Free — read online, nothing to download

About this book

Nalitemwa ukubelenga! is a short illustrated picture book in Bemba by Letta Machoga, illustrated by Wiehan de Jager and translated by Agnes Chileshe Chibamba, Margaret Nambao. 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 3.0 licence, which is why it is free to read. The same story is available in 35 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).

How it begins

Nalitemwa ukubelenga. Naani nalaabelengela? Nkashi yandi naalaala. Naani nalaabelengela? Bamaayo na bamaama bali ne ncito. Naani naalaabelengela? Bataata na bashikulu bali ne ncito. Naani nalaabelengela? Kuti naibelengela nemwine! Nalitemwa ukubelenga! — Written by Letta Machoga; Illustrated by Wiehan de Jager;…

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. “Nalitemwa ukubelenga!” is also available in:

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

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

Frequently asked questions

Is “Nalitemwa ukubelenga!” free to read?

Yes. “Nalitemwa ukubelenga!” 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 “Nalitemwa ukubelenga!” in?

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

What age is “Nalitemwa ukubelenga!” for?

It is best for ages 2–8 (Level 1 · First words). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.

Is “Nalitemwa ukubelenga!” available in other languages?

Yes — the same story is in Hausa, Somali, Zulu, Xhosa, Tswana, Tsonga and more.

Who wrote “Nalitemwa ukubelenga!”?

“Nalitemwa ukubelenga!” was written by Letta Machoga and illustrated by Wiehan de Jager; the Bemba translation is by Agnes Chileshe Chibamba, Margaret Nambao.

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Credits: Nalitemwa ukubelenga! — Written by Letta Machoga; Illustrated by Wiehan de Jager; Translated by Agnes Chileshe Chibamba, Margaret Nambao. Bemba, Level 1. From Global Storybooks (storybookszambia.net), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=10547). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026