Simbegwire

A free picture book in Kiswahili by Rukia Nantale

Simbegwire is a picture book in Kiswahili for ages 8–11 by Rukia Nantale that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.

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Language

Kiswahili

Written by

Rukia Nantale

Illustrated by

Benjamin Mitchley

Translated by

Matteo E

Reading level

ages 8–11 · 3rd to 5th grade · Level 5 · Read aloud / independent

From

Kenya

Source

Global Storybooks

Licence

CC BY 3.0

Price

Free — read online, nothing to download

About this book

Simbegwire is a short illustrated picture book in Kiswahili by Rukia Nantale, illustrated by Benjamin Mitchley and translated by Matteo E. It is written for ages 8–11 (Grades 4–5) and is graded as Level 5 · Read aloud / independent, so it works as a read-aloud for little ones and as practice for children learning to read in Kiswahili. 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 15 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).

How it begins

Simbegwire alihuzunika mama yake alipofariki. Baba yake alijitahidi kumtunza mwanaye. Taratibu wakaanza kuwa wenye furaha tena, bila ya Mama Simbegwire. Kila asubuhi walikaa na kupanga mipango ya siku inayofuata. Kila jioni waliandaa chakula cha jioni pamoja. Baada ya kuosha vyombo,…

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. “Simbegwire” is also available in:

• Afrikaans · Simbegwire
• Bemba · Simbegwire
• English · Simbegwire
• Jamaican Creole · Simbegwiere
• Kaonde · Simbegwire
• Lukhonzo · Simbegwire
• Lunda · Simbegwire
• Lunyole · Sibahwana
• Luvale · Simbegwire
• Mauritian Creole · Simbegwire
• Nyanja · Simbegwire
• Somali · Simbegwire
• Spanish · Simbegwire
• Tonga · Simbegwire
• Tswana · Simbegwire

Reading together in Kiswahili

• 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 Kiswahili

• Putu na Gutu
• Rangi
• Msichana aliyenuka
• Kiundu mlafi
• Mtoto wa miujiza
• Basi kubwa la bluu
• Vayu, Upepo
• Kwa nini Yayeri ni mashuhuri?

See all 100 free Kiswahili books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩‍🏫 Assign this book to a class

Frequently asked questions

Is “Simbegwire” free to read?

Yes. “Simbegwire” 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 “Simbegwire” in?

It is written in Kiswahili. Pagine has 100 free children’s books in Kiswahili.

What age is “Simbegwire” for?

It is best for ages 8–11 (Level 5 · Read aloud / independent). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.

Is “Simbegwire” available in other languages?

Yes — the same story is in English, Somali, Afrikaans, Tswana, Lukhonzo, Lunyole and more.

Who wrote “Simbegwire”?

“Simbegwire” was written by Rukia Nantale and illustrated by Benjamin Mitchley; the Kiswahili translation is by Matteo E.

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Credits: Simbegwire — Written by Rukia Nantale; Illustrated by Benjamin Mitchley; Translated by Matteo E. Mwita; Read by Lauwo George. Kiswahili, Level 5. From Global Storybooks (global-asp.github.io/storybooks-kenya), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=7068). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026