Ponishment

A free picture book in Jamaican Creole by Adelheid Marie Bwire

Ponishment is a picture book in Jamaican Creole for ages 5–8 by Adelheid Marie Bwire that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.

📖 Read it free →

Language

Jamaican Creole

Written by

Adelheid Marie Bwire

Illustrated by

Melany Pietersen

Translated by

Georgette McGlashen

Reading level

ages 5–8 · kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 2 · First sentences

From

Jamaica

Source

Global Storybooks

Licence

CC BY 3.0

Price

Free — read online, nothing to download

About this book

Ponishment is a short illustrated picture book in Jamaican Creole by Adelheid Marie Bwire, illustrated by Melany Pietersen and translated by Georgette McGlashen. 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 Jamaican Creole. 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 22 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).

How it begins

Wan die mama get a uol iip a fruut. “Wen wi kyan get som fruut?” we aks ar se. “Wi a go iit di fruut tunait,” mama se. Mi breda Rayiim krievn. Im tek piis a aal a di fruut…

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. “Ponishment” is also available in:

• Afrikaans · Straf
• Bemba · Ukukandwa
• Kaonde · Kukambula
• Khoekhoegowab · ǁKharab
• Kiswahili · Adhabu
• Luganda · Ekibonerezo
• Lukhonzo · Ekifubiro
• Lunda · Kubabesha
• Luvale · Kuzangamisa
• Mauritian Creole · Pinision
• Nyanja · Cilango
• Oshikwanyama · Ehandukilo
• Oshindonga · Egeelo
• Otjiherero · Omberero
• Sesotho · Kotlo
• Somali · Ciqaab
• South Ndebele · Isijeziso sakaThemba
• Spanish · Castigo
• Tonga · Cisubulo
• Tswana · Katlholo
• Xhosa · Isihlwayo
• Zulu · Umhobholo

Reading together in Jamaican Creole

• 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 Jamaican Creole

• Skuul kluoz
• We mi kyat de?
• Kalaahi
• Wahn Biini Siid: Di Stuori Bout Wangaari Matai
• Di Onigaid Rivenj
• Fiilinz
• Weda buk
• Pikni dem we mek outa waks

See all 40 free Jamaican Creole books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩‍🏫 Assign this book to a class

Frequently asked questions

Is “Ponishment” free to read?

Yes. “Ponishment” 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 “Ponishment” in?

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

What age is “Ponishment” for?

It is best for ages 5–8 (Level 2 · First sentences). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.

Is “Ponishment” available in other languages?

Yes — the same story is in Kiswahili, Somali, Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Tswana and more.

Who wrote “Ponishment”?

“Ponishment” was written by Adelheid Marie Bwire and illustrated by Melany Pietersen; the Jamaican Creole translation is by Georgette McGlashen.

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Credits: Ponishment — Written by Adelheid Marie Bwire; Illustrated by Melany Pietersen; Translated by Georgette McGlashen. Jamaican Creole, Level 2. From Global Storybooks (global-asp.github.io/storybooks-jamaica), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=11989). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026