PaginePhembe, Kawa, na Ngombe
A free picture book in Luvale by Fabian Wakholi
Phembe, Kawa, na Ngombe is a picture book in Luvale for ages 5–8 by Fabian Wakholi that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Luvale
- Written by
- Fabian Wakholi
- Illustrated by
- Marleen Visser, Ingrid Schechter
- Translated by
- Masho Kaloza
- Reading level
- ages 5–8 · kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 2 · First sentences
- From
- Zambia
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY 3.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Phembe, Kawa, na Ngombe is a short illustrated picture book in Luvale by Fabian Wakholi, illustrated by Marleen Visser, Ingrid Schechter and translated by Masho Kaloza. It is written for ages 5–8 (Grades 1–2) and is graded as Level 2 · First sentences, so it works as a read-aloud for little ones and as practice for children learning to read in Luvale. 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 32 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Phembe, Kawa, na Ngombe vapwile masepa vavanene. Likumbi limwe vatambukile ungeji minyau. Omu vahetele akuze vapwile nakuya, nyamutekenya avalwezele kufweta. Ngombe afwetele chazano chenyi. Kawa afwetele mbongo jakuzomboka museteko, mwomwo kapwile najimbongo jakwesekesako. Nyamutekenya asakile kumuhilwishila chenji shimbu Phembe achinyine…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. “Phembe, Kawa, na Ngombe” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Bok, Hond en Koei
- Bemba · Imbushi, Imbwa ne ŋombe
- Dhopadhola · Dyel, Gwok Kodi Dhyaŋ
- English · Goat, Dog and Cow (Colour-in)
- Jamaican Creole · Guot, Daag an Kou
- Kaonde · Mbuzhi, Kabwa ne Ñombe
- Khoekhoegowab · Piris, Arib, tsî Gomas xa
- Kikamba · Mbui, Ngiti na Ng’ombe
- Kimaasai · Enkíné, Oldía ó Enkíténg
- Kiswahili · Mbuzi, Mbwa na Ng’ombe
- Luganda · Wambuzi, Wambwa ne Wante
- Lugbarati (official orthography) · Ndrí ‘ɨ, Òcó ‘ɨ àzɨ́nɨ Tí ‘ɨ
- Lukhonzo · Embene, Embwa, n’Ende
- Lumasaaba · Imbusi, Imbwa ni Ngaafu
- Lunda · Impembi, Kawa na Ng’ombi
- Lunyole · Embusi, Embwa n’Eῃombe
- Mauritian Creole · Kabri, Lisien, ek Vas
- Nigerian Pidgin · Goat, dog, and Malu
- Nyanja · Mbuzi, Galu ndi Ng’ombe
- Oshikwanyama · Shikombo, Mbwa nOngobe
- Oshindonga · Oshikombo, ombwa nongombe
- Otjiherero · Ongombo, ombwa nongombe
- Rutooro · Embuzi, Embwa, N’Ente
- Sesotho · Podi, Ntja le kgomo
- Somali · Ri, Eey iyo Sac
- South Ndebele · Imbuzi, Inja Nekomo
- Spanish · La Cabra, el Perro y la Vaca
- Tonga · Mpongo, Mubwa a ŋombe
- Tswana · Podi,Ntsa le Kgomo
- Turkana · Akine, Ing’ok Ka Aite
- Xhosa · UBhokhwe, uNja, noNkomo
- Zulu · Imbuzi, Inja Nenkomo
Reading together in Luvale
- 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 Luvale
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Mwaso wa Sakima
Ngwazanga kutanga!
Jikhambu
Mujimba wami
Khalai eji kuhanjika navimbuto
Kasumbi na Chiselele
Makonde akhaka
See all 40 free Luvale books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Phembe, Kawa, na Ngombe” free to read?
Yes. “Phembe, Kawa, na Ngombe” 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 “Phembe, Kawa, na Ngombe” in?
It is written in Luvale. Pagine has 40 free children’s books in Luvale.
What age is “Phembe, Kawa, na Ngombe” for?
It is best for ages 5–8 (Level 2 · First sentences). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Phembe, Kawa, na Ngombe” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Nigerian Pidgin, Kiswahili, Kikamba, Kimaasai, Turkana and more.
Who wrote “Phembe, Kawa, na Ngombe”?
“Phembe, Kawa, na Ngombe” was written by Fabian Wakholi and illustrated by Marleen Visser, Ingrid Schechter; the Luvale translation is by Masho Kaloza.
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Get the free app →Credits: Phembe, Kawa, na Ngombe — Written by Fabian Wakholi; Illustrated by Marleen Visser, Ingrid Schechter; Translated by Masho Kaloza. Luvale, Level 2. From Global Storybooks (storybookszambia.net), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=6380). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026