Ninapenda kusoma!

Name: Ninapenda kusoma!
Availability: InStock
Author: Letta Machoga

A free picture book in Kiswahili by Letta Machoga

Cover of Ninapenda kusoma!, a Kiswahili picture book

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

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Language: Kiswahili
Written by: Letta Machoga
Illustrated by: Wiehan de Jager
Translated by: Monica Shank Lauwo, Lauwo George
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

Ninapenda kusoma! is a short illustrated picture book in Kiswahili by Letta Machoga, illustrated by Wiehan de Jager and translated by Monica Shank Lauwo, Lauwo George. 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 Kiswahili. 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

Ninapenda kusoma. Nimsomee nani? Mdogo wangu amelala. Nimsomee nani? Mama na bibi wana kazi. Nimsomee nani? Baba na babu wana kazi. Nimsomee nani? Nijisomee mwenyewe! Ninapenda kusoma! — Written by Letta Machoga; Illustrated by Wiehan de Jager; Translated by Monica…

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. “Ninapenda kusoma!” is also available in:

Reading together in Kiswahili

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 Kiswahili

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

Frequently asked questions

Is “Ninapenda kusoma!” free to read?

Yes. “Ninapenda kusoma!” 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 “Ninapenda kusoma!” in?

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

What age is “Ninapenda kusoma!” for?

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

Is “Ninapenda kusoma!” available in other languages?

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

Who wrote “Ninapenda kusoma!”?

“Ninapenda kusoma!” was written by Letta Machoga and illustrated by Wiehan de Jager; the Kiswahili translation is by Monica Shank Lauwo, Lauwo George.

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Credits: Ninapenda kusoma! — Written by Letta Machoga; Illustrated by Wiehan de Jager; Translated by Monica Shank Lauwo, Lauwo George; Read by Lauwo George. Kiswahili, Level 1. From Global Storybooks (global-asp.github.io/storybooks-uganda), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=10547). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026