PagineNcifukwa Ciani Mvuu zilibe Tsitsi
A free picture book in Nyanja by Basirio Gimo, David Ker
Ncifukwa Ciani Mvuu zilibe Tsitsi is a picture book in Nyanja for ages 5–8 by Basirio Gimo, David Ker that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Nyanja
- Written by
- Basirio Gimo, David Ker
- Illustrated by
- Carol Liddiment
- Translated by
- Sitwe Benson Mkandawire
- 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
Ncifukwa Ciani Mvuu zilibe Tsitsi is a short illustrated picture book in Nyanja by Basirio Gimo, David Ker, illustrated by Carol Liddiment and translated by Sitwe Benson Mkandawire. 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 Nyanja. 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 31 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Tsiku limodzi, Kalulu analikuyenda mumbali mwamtsinje. Mvuu naye anali komwekonso, kuyenda-yenda ndi kudya udzu wabwino. Mvuu sanaone kuti kalulu naye alipo ndipo mosadziwa, anaponda pamwendo wa kalulu. Kalulu anayamba kufuula ndikukalipila Mvuu, “Iwe Mvuu! Suona kuti wandiponda pamwendo?” Mvuu anapepesa…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. “Ncifukwa Ciani Mvuu zilibe Tsitsi” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Hoekom seekoeie nie hare het nie
- Alur · The lembe muketho rau yuk wiye ope
- Ateso · Inyobo eyinakit imiriai emameete kede ka ajul?
- Bemba · Ico imfubu ishakwatila umushishi
- Jamaican Creole · Wa mek Ipo no av no ier
- Kaonde · Kyabujila Byovwe Kwikala Nabooya
- Khoekhoegowab · ǃKhaon ǀûna ūhâba tama ǃaromas
- Kimaasai · Káínyoo peê méáta olmákau ilpápít
- Kiswahili · Kwa nini Viboko Hawana Nywele
- Luganda · Lwaki Envubu tezirina bwoya
- Lugbarati (official orthography) · Ròbí yɨ mà ‘bɨ́ko yo à’dɨ e’yósɨ̀à rɨ̀
- Lukhonzo · Habwaki Eyisere siyiwite Bweya
- Lumasaaba · Lwasiina tsifubu tsitamba bubwoya
- Lunda · Mulon’gadi anzovu chiyabulilawu insuki?
- Lusoga · Lwaki Wanvubu Azira Bwoya
- Luvale · Chahonesa nguvu kupwa naungona
- Ma'di · Ra Robi olujo biako rii adu?
- Mauritian Creole · Kifer ban ipopotam pena pwal ?
- Oshikwanyama · Omolwashike ondjabameva ihe na olududi
- Oshindonga · Omolwashike oondjambameya dhaa na omafufu
- Otjiherero · Ongwaye ozonḓuu tji ze hi na omainya
- Rutooro · Habwaki Ensere Tizigira Bwoya?
- Sesotho · Hobaneng dikubu di se na moriri
- Somali · Waa maxay sababta aysan jeerta ulahayn timo
- Spanish · ¿Por qué los hipopótamos no tienen pelo?
- Swati · Kungani imvubu ingena tinwele
- Tonga · Civwubwe Ncatajisi Boya
- Tswana · Goreng bokubu ba sena moriri
- Turkana · Nyonte Emakar Epir Ng’Itim
- Xhosa · Kutheni iiMvubu Zingenaboya Nje
- Zulu · Kungani umvubu engena zinwele?
Reading together in Nyanja
- 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 Nyanja
Zomvelela
Buku ya nyengo
Tingi ndi ng’ombe
Zama ndi wamkulu
Nkhuku ndi Bongololo
Magozwe
Basi Ikulu Yobilibila
Chimfine
See all 105 free Nyanja books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Ncifukwa Ciani Mvuu zilibe Tsitsi” free to read?
Yes. “Ncifukwa Ciani Mvuu zilibe Tsitsi” 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 “Ncifukwa Ciani Mvuu zilibe Tsitsi” in?
It is written in Nyanja. Pagine has 105 free children’s books in Nyanja.
What age is “Ncifukwa Ciani Mvuu zilibe Tsitsi” for?
It is best for ages 5–8 (Level 2 · First sentences). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Ncifukwa Ciani Mvuu zilibe Tsitsi” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in Kiswahili, Kimaasai, Turkana, Somali, Zulu, Xhosa and more.
Who wrote “Ncifukwa Ciani Mvuu zilibe Tsitsi”?
“Ncifukwa Ciani Mvuu zilibe Tsitsi” was written by Basirio Gimo, David Ker and illustrated by Carol Liddiment; the Nyanja translation is by Sitwe Benson Mkandawire.
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Get the free app →Credits: Ncifukwa Ciani Mvuu zilibe Tsitsi — Written by Basirio Gimo, David Ker; Illustrated by Carol Liddiment; Translated by Sitwe Benson Mkandawire; Read by Christine Mwanza. Nyanja, Level 2. From Global Storybooks (storybookszambia.net), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=6160). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026