PagineTala tunyama
A free picture book in Luvale by Jenny Katz
Tala tunyama is a picture book in Luvale for ages 2–8 by Jenny Katz that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Luvale
- Written by
- Jenny Katz
- Illustrated by
- Sandy Campbell
- Translated by
- Masho Kaloza
- Reading level
- ages 2–8 · preschool, kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 1 · First words
- From
- Zambia
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY-NC 3.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Tala tunyama is a short illustrated picture book in Luvale by Jenny Katz, illustrated by Sandy Campbell and translated by Masho Kaloza. It is written for ages 2–8 (Nursery–Year 1) and is graded as Level 1 · First words, 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-NC 3.0 licence, which is why it is free to read. The same story is available in 25 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Tala tunyama. Ngombe ngwenyi, “Mooo.” Phembe ngwenyi, “Mee mee.” Kavalu ngwenyi, “Neee.” Ngulu ngwenyi, “Nguuu nguu.” Kasumbi ngwenyi, “Kokokokooo.” Kawa ngwenyi, “Woo woo woo.” Njimi ngwenyi, “Shiii!” Tala tunyama — Written by Jenny Katz; Illustrated by Sandy Campbell; Translated by…Opening lines quoted from the openly licensed book (CC BY-NC 3.0).
This story in other languages
Reading the same story in two languages helps bilingual children connect words they already know. “Tala tunyama” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Kyk na die diere
- Ateso · Ongolia Ityiang Lu
- Bemba · Mona Inama
- English · Look at the animals
- Hausa · Kalli Dabbobin
- Jamaican Creole · Luk Pan Di Animal Dem
- Kaonde · Mona Banyama
- Khoekhoegowab · Kō re xamarina
- Kiswahili · Tazama wanyama
- Lukhonzo · Erithungerera ebisoro
- Lunda · Tala tunyama
- Lunyole · Bona esolo
- Mauritian Creole · Get bann zanimo
- Nyanja · Onani Nyama
- Oshikwanyama · Tala koinamwenyo
- Oshindonga · Tala kiinamwenyo
- Otjiherero · Tara ovipuka
- Sepedi · Diphoofolo tša ka gae
- Sesotho · Sheba diphoofolo
- Somali · Fiiri xayawaanada
- Spanish · Mira a los animales
- Tonga · Kolanga Banyama
- Tswana · Leba ditshedi
- Xhosa · Izilwanyana zasekhaya
- Zulu · Izilwane zasepulazini
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
Makumbi akunokha nakhaka waphwevo
Ngandu Wazala
Uli nakulinga ika?
Kusakula
Mwana Chimbulu
Mwaso wa Sakima
Ngwazanga kutanga!
Avali
See all 40 free Luvale books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Tala tunyama” free to read?
Yes. “Tala tunyama” 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-NC 3.0).
What language is “Tala tunyama” in?
It is written in Luvale. Pagine has 40 free children’s books in Luvale.
What age is “Tala tunyama” for?
It is best for ages 2–8 (Level 1 · First words). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Tala tunyama” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Hausa, Kiswahili, Somali, Zulu, Xhosa and more.
Who wrote “Tala tunyama”?
“Tala tunyama” was written by Jenny Katz and illustrated by Sandy Campbell; the Luvale translation is by Masho Kaloza.
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Get the free app →Credits: Tala tunyama — Written by Jenny Katz; Illustrated by Sandy Campbell; Translated by Masho Kaloza. Luvale, Level 1. From Global Storybooks (storybookszambia.net), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=1221). CC BY-NC 3.0. · Page updated October 2026