Nozibele no mushishi utatu

Name: Nozibele no mushishi utatu
Availability: InStock
Author: Tessa Welch

A free picture book in Bemba by Tessa Welch

Cover of Nozibele no mushishi utatu, a Bemba picture book

Nozibele no mushishi utatu is a picture book in Bemba for ages 5–11 by Tessa Welch that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.

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Language: Bemba
Written by: Tessa Welch
Illustrated by: Wiehan de Jager
Translated by: Sandra Mulesu
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 no mushishi utatu is a short illustrated picture book in Bemba by Tessa Welch, illustrated by Wiehan de Jager and translated by Sandra Mulesu. 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 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 31 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).

How it begins

Kale saana, abakashana batatu baile mu kuteeba inkuni. Ubo bushiku kwalikabile saana, efyo baile ku mumana mu koowa. Baaleyangala, baleesabaula ameenshi no koowa. Basuka bamona ukuti bwaila. Baendeshe ukubwelela ku mushi. Cilya bapalamina ku mushi, Nozibele aikete mu mukoshi. Asanga…

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 no mushishi utatu” 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 “Nozibele no mushishi utatu” free to read?

Yes. “Nozibele no mushishi utatu” 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 no mushishi utatu” in?

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

What age is “Nozibele no mushishi utatu” for?

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

Is “Nozibele no mushishi utatu” available in other languages?

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

Who wrote “Nozibele no mushishi utatu”?

“Nozibele no mushishi utatu” was written by Tessa Welch and illustrated by Wiehan de Jager; the Bemba translation is by Sandra Mulesu.

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Credits: Nozibele no mushishi utatu — Written by Tessa Welch; Illustrated by Wiehan de Jager; Translated by Sandra Mulesu. Bemba, 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