Nozibele ndi Tsitsi itatu

A free picture book in Nyanja by Tessa Welch

Nozibele ndi Tsitsi itatu is a picture book in Nyanja for ages 5–11 by Tessa Welch that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.

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Language

Nyanja

Written by

Tessa Welch

Illustrated by

Wiehan de Jager

Translated by

Sitwe Benson Mkandawire

Reading level

ages 5–11 · kindergarten to 2nd grade, 3rd to 5th grade · Level 3 · First paragraphs

From

Zambia

Source

Global Storybooks

Licence

CC BY 3.0

Price

Free — read online, nothing to download

About this book

Nozibele ndi Tsitsi itatu is a short illustrated picture book in Nyanja by Tessa Welch, illustrated by Wiehan de Jager and translated by Sitwe Benson Mkandawire. It is written for ages 5–11 (Grades 2–3) and is graded as Level 3 · First paragraphs, 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

Kalekale, atsikana atatu anayenda kukatenga nkhuni. Tsikuli linali lakupya ndipo iwo anaganiza kuti akasambile kumtsinje. Anasowela ndikuthilana madzi ndi kusambila m’madzi. Mwadzidzi, anaona kuti nthawi yatha. Anathamangila kumudzi. Pamene anali pafupi ndi kunyumba, Nozibele anaika dzanja lake pakhosi. Anaiwala ndendele…

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. “Nozibele ndi Tsitsi itatu” is also available in:

• Afrikaans · Nozibele en die drie hare
• Aringati · Ãlíríkí ꞌi ã zíla drĩꞌ̣ bị́ na kî
• Bemba · Nozibele no mushishi utatu
• EkeGusii · Nozibele N’echitukia Isato
• English · Nozibele and the three hairs
• Jamaican Creole · Nuozibele an di chrii schraan a ier
• Kaonde · Nozibele ne Nsuki Isatu
• Khoekhoegowab · Nozibeles tsî ǃnona ǀûgu xa
• Kikamba · Nonzimbele na Nzwĩĩ Itatũ
• Kimaasai · Nozibele ó ilpápít okúni
• Kiswahili · Nozibele na nywele tatu
• Luganda · Nakku n’enviiri essatu
• Lugbarati (official orthography) · Candiru pi dri’biifi na ‘diyi be
• Lukhonzo · Nozibele haima Nesya Nzwiri Isathu
• Lumasaaba · Namutosi ni butsuune butaru
• Lunda · Nozibele na nansuki zhisatu
• Lunyole · Nanjoosi n’efiiri edatu
• Luvale · Nozibele najize jikhambu jitatu
• Mauritian Creole · Nozibele ek bann trwa seve
• Nigerian Pidgin · Nozibele an three hairs
• Oshikwanyama · Nozibele neendali nhatu deexwiki
• Oshindonga · Nozibele noondali ndatu dhomafufu
• Otjiherero · Nozibele nozondjise ndatu
• Sepedi · Nozibele le Meriri e Meraro
• Sesotho · Nozibele le meriri e meraro
• Somali · Nozibele iyo saddexdii timo
• Spanish · Nozibele y sus tres cabellos
• Tonga · Nozibele a Masusu Otatwe
• Tswana · Nozibele le Meriri e Meraro
• Xhosa · Unozibele Namanwele Amathathu
• Zulu · uNozibele kanye nezinwele ezintathu

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

• Tingi ndi ng’ombe
• Zama ndi wamkulu
• Nkhuku ndi Bongololo
• Kulimba Mutima Kwa Nangila
• Fati ndi m'phika wa msunzi
• Dotolo wa Thonje
• Kudabwa Kwa Mwana Wa Njobvu
• Masamu kuchionetsero

See all 105 free Nyanja books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩‍🏫 Assign this book to a class

Frequently asked questions

Is “Nozibele ndi Tsitsi itatu” free to read?

Yes. “Nozibele ndi Tsitsi itatu” 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 “Nozibele ndi Tsitsi itatu” in?

It is written in Nyanja. Pagine has 105 free children’s books in Nyanja.

What age is “Nozibele ndi Tsitsi itatu” for?

It is best for ages 5–11 (Level 3 · First paragraphs). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.

Is “Nozibele ndi Tsitsi itatu” available in other languages?

Yes — the same story is in English, Nigerian Pidgin, Kiswahili, EkeGusii, Kikamba, Kimaasai and more.

Who wrote “Nozibele ndi Tsitsi itatu”?

“Nozibele ndi Tsitsi itatu” was written by Tessa Welch and illustrated by Wiehan de Jager; the Nyanja translation is by Sitwe Benson Mkandawire.

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Credits: Nozibele ndi Tsitsi itatu — Written by Tessa Welch; Illustrated by Wiehan de Jager; Translated by Sitwe Benson Mkandawire; Read by Christine Mwanza. Nyanja, Level 3. From Global Storybooks (storybookszambia.net), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=1880). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026