Taam Di Banaana-Man

A free picture book in Jamaican Creole by Humphreys Odunga

Taam Di Banaana-Man is a picture book in Jamaican Creole for ages 5–8 by Humphreys Odunga that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.

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Language

Jamaican Creole

Written by

Humphreys Odunga

Illustrated by

Zablon Alex Nguku

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 4.0

Price

Free — read online, nothing to download

About this book

Taam Di Banaana-Man is a short illustrated picture book in Jamaican Creole by Humphreys Odunga, illustrated by Zablon Alex Nguku 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 4.0 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

Taam a kyari wahn baaskit a raip banaana. Taam go a maakit fi sel banaana. Piipl a maakit a bai fruut. Bot nobadi naa bai Taam banaana dem. Dem prifa fi bai fruut fram di uman dem. “Ina fiwi komyuuniti,…

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. “Taam Di Banaana-Man” is also available in:

• Afrikaans · Tom, die piesangverkoper
• Bemba · Tomu kashitisha wa nkonde
• English · Tom the banana seller
• Kaonde · Tom Musulu Wamakonde
• Khoekhoegowab · Tommi banana ǁamaxū-aob
• Kiswahili · Tom muuza ndizi
• Lukhonzo · Tom omusuburi w’ameeru
• Lunda · Tom namukakulandisha makondi
• Lunyole · Tom omutundi w’amalafu
• Luvale · Tom mukakulanjisa makonde
• Mauritian Creole · Tom marsan banann
• Nyanja · Tom ogulitsa nthoci
• Oshikwanyama · Tom omulandifi womabanana
• Oshindonga · Tom omulandithi gwomambanana
• Otjiherero · Tom omurandise wovipanana
• Sesotho · Tom ya rekisang dipanana
• Somali · Tom muus iibiyaha
• Spanish · Tom, el vendedor de plátanos
• Swati · Themba umtsengisi wabhanana
• Tonga · Tom Sikusambala Mabbanana
• Tswana · Tom morekisi wa dipanana
• Xhosa · UTom, umthengisi webhanana

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

• Fiilinz
• Weda buk
• Pikni dem we mek outa waks
• Zama a di bes!
• Chikin an Milipiid
• Simbegwiere
• Luk Pan Di Animal Dem
• Wa yu a du?

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

Frequently asked questions

Is “Taam Di Banaana-Man” free to read?

Yes. “Taam Di Banaana-Man” 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 “Taam Di Banaana-Man” in?

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

What age is “Taam Di Banaana-Man” for?

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

Is “Taam Di Banaana-Man” available in other languages?

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

Who wrote “Taam Di Banaana-Man”?

“Taam Di Banaana-Man” was written by Humphreys Odunga and illustrated by Zablon Alex Nguku; the Jamaican Creole translation is by Georgette McGlashen.

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Credits: Taam Di Banaana-Man — Written by Humphreys Odunga; Illustrated by Zablon Alex Nguku; 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=13627). CC BY 4.0. · Page updated October 2026