PagineNyimbo ya Sakima
A free picture book in Tonga by Ursula Nafula
Nyimbo ya Sakima is a picture book in Tonga for ages 5–11 by Ursula Nafula that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Tonga
- Written by
- Ursula Nafula
- Illustrated by
- Peris Wachuka
- Translated by
- Tapiwa k
- 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 4.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Nyimbo ya Sakima is a short illustrated picture book in Tonga by Ursula Nafula, illustrated by Peris Wachuka and translated by Tapiwa k. 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 Tonga. The book comes from Global Storybooks and is shared under an open CC BY 4.0 licence, which is why it is free to read. The same story is available in 19 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Sakima wakali kukkala abazyali bakwe amucizhyi wakwe wakalaa myaka yone. Bakali kukkala mucibaka camuvwubi. Ŋanda yabo yabwizu yakali kumamanino aamulongo wazyisamu. Naakali amyaka yotatwe, Sakima wakaciswa akuleka kubona. Sakima wakali musankwa wakajisi cipego. Sakima wakali kucita zyintu zyinji, balo beenzyinyina…Opening lines quoted from the openly licensed book (CC BY 4.0).
This story in other languages
Reading the same story in two languages helps bilingual children connect words they already know. “Nyimbo ya Sakima” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Sakima se lied
- Bemba · Ulwimbo lwakwa Sakima
- English · Sakima's song
- Jamaican Creole · Sakiima Sang
- Kaonde · Lwimbo wakwa Sakima
- Khoekhoegowab · Sakimab di ams
- Kiswahili · Wimbo wa Sakima
- Lukhonzo · Olwimbo lwa Sakima
- Lunda · Mwasu wa Sakima
- Luvale · Mwaso wa Sakima
- Mauritian Creole · Sakima so sante
- Nyanja · Nyimbo ya Sakima
- Oshikwanyama · Eimbilo laSakima
- Oshindonga · Ondjimbo yaSakima
- Otjiherero · Eimburiro ra Sakima
- Somali · Heestii Sakima
- Spanish · La canción de Sakima
- Tswana · Pina ya ga Sakima
- Xhosa · Iculo lika Sakima
Reading together in Tonga
- 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 Tonga
Mubili Wangu
Khalai Ulabandika Kuzyisyango
Mbuto Nsyoonto: Kaano ka Wangari Maathai
Mabbanana Aabaneene
Mulilo
Kasyoonto Kangu kasankwa Katolo
Tingi Aŋombe
Zama Mukali!
See all 40 free Tonga books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Nyimbo ya Sakima” free to read?
Yes. “Nyimbo ya Sakima” 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 4.0).
What language is “Nyimbo ya Sakima” in?
It is written in Tonga. Pagine has 40 free children’s books in Tonga.
What age is “Nyimbo ya Sakima” for?
It is best for ages 5–11 (Level 3 · First paragraphs). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Nyimbo ya Sakima” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Kiswahili, Somali, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Tswana and more.
Who wrote “Nyimbo ya Sakima”?
“Nyimbo ya Sakima” was written by Ursula Nafula and illustrated by Peris Wachuka; the Tonga translation is by Tapiwa k.
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Get the free app →Credits: Nyimbo ya Sakima — Written by Ursula Nafula; Illustrated by Peris Wachuka; Translated by Tapiwa k. Sibanda. Tonga, Level 3. From Global Storybooks (storybookszambia.net), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=13244). CC BY 4.0. · Page updated October 2026