PaginePeo E Nnye: Tlhamane ya ga Wangari Maathai
A free picture book in Tswana by Nicola Rijsdijk
Peo E Nnye: Tlhamane ya ga Wangari Maathai is a picture book in Tswana for ages 5–11 by Nicola Rijsdijk that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Tswana
- Written by
- Nicola Rijsdijk
- Illustrated by
- Maya Marshak
- Translated by
- Domitilla Naledi Madi
- Reading level
- ages 5–11 · kindergarten to 2nd grade, 3rd to 5th grade · Level 3 · First paragraphs
- From
- South Africa, Namibia
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY 4.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Peo E Nnye: Tlhamane ya ga Wangari Maathai is a short illustrated picture book in Tswana by Nicola Rijsdijk, illustrated by Maya Marshak and translated by Domitilla Naledi Madi. 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 Tswana. 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 21 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Mo motseng o o mo mokgokolosa wa Thaba ya Kenya mo Aferika Botlhaba, mosetsana yo monnye o ne a dira mo tshimong le mmagwe. Leina la gagwe e ne e le Wangari. Wangari o ne a rata go nna kwa…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. “Peo E Nnye: Tlhamane ya ga Wangari Maathai” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · ‘n Klein saadjie: Die verhaal van Wangari Maathai
- Bemba · Ulubuto Lunoono: Ilyashi lya pali Wangari Maathai
- Hausa · Mitsitsin Iri: Labarin Wangari Maathai
- Jamaican Creole · Wahn Biini Siid: Di Stuori Bout Wangaari Matai
- Kaonde · Kalukunwa Kakacheeche; Jishimikila jakwa Wangari Maatai
- Khoekhoegowab · ǂKhari ǃKhomros: Wangari Maathais di ǂhôas
- Kiswahili · Mbegu Ndogo: Hadithi ya Wangari Maathai
- Lukhonzo · Erihera embutho: Omwatsi wa Wangari Maathai
- Lunda · Kambuntu kakanyanya: insan’gu ya Wangari Maathai.
- Luvale · Mbuto yayindende: Mujimbu wa Wangari Maathai
- Mauritian Creole · Enn tipti lagrin : Zistwar Wangari Maathai
- Nyanja · Kambewu kangóno: Nkhani ya Wangari Maathai
- Oshikwanyama · Okambuto kanininini: Ehokololo laWangari Maathai
- Oshindonga · Okambuto okashonashona: Ehokololo lyaWangari Maathai
- Otjiherero · Okandwi okaṱikona: Ehungi ra Wangari Maathai
- Sepedi · Peu Ye Nnyanennyane
- Somali · Mir yar: Sheekadii Wangari Mathaay
- Spanish · Una pequeña semilla: la historia de Wangari Maathai
- Tonga · Mbuto Nsyoonto: Kaano ka Wangari Maathai
- Xhosa · A Tiny Seed: The Story of Wangari Maathai
- Zulu · Imbewu Encane
Reading together in Tswana
- 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 Tswana
Go busa mowa wa go keteka dikgakologo
Sindiwe-le-ditshikanokana
Hau-Hau!
Dikatse tsa ga Selemeng
Maikutlo
Buka ya seemo sa bosa
Tingi le dikgomo
Zama o godile.
See all 103 free Tswana books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Peo E Nnye: Tlhamane ya ga Wangari Maathai” free to read?
Yes. “Peo E Nnye: Tlhamane ya ga Wangari Maathai” 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 “Peo E Nnye: Tlhamane ya ga Wangari Maathai” in?
It is written in Tswana. Pagine has 103 free children’s books in Tswana.
What age is “Peo E Nnye: Tlhamane ya ga Wangari Maathai” for?
It is best for ages 5–11 (Level 3 · First paragraphs). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Peo E Nnye: Tlhamane ya ga Wangari Maathai” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in Hausa, Kiswahili, Somali, Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and more.
Who wrote “Peo E Nnye: Tlhamane ya ga Wangari Maathai”?
“Peo E Nnye: Tlhamane ya ga Wangari Maathai” was written by Nicola Rijsdijk and illustrated by Maya Marshak; the Tswana translation is by Domitilla Naledi Madi.
Log books, set goals and build a daily reading habit — free on iOS, Android and the web.
Get the free app →Credits: Peo E Nnye: Tlhamane ya ga Wangari Maathai — Written by Nicola Rijsdijk; Illustrated by Maya Marshak; Translated by Domitilla Naledi Madi. Tswana, Level 3. From Global Storybooks (southafricareads.org), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=9809). CC BY 4.0. · Page updated October 2026