PagineTobilo
A free picture book in Tonga by Carole Bloch
Tobilo is a picture book in Tonga for ages 2–8 by Carole Bloch that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Tonga
- Written by
- Carole Bloch
- Illustrated by
- Richard MacIntosh
- Translated by
- Chester Mwanza
- 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
Tobilo is a short illustrated picture book in Tonga by Carole Bloch, illustrated by Richard MacIntosh and translated by Chester Mwanza. 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 Tonga. 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 26 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Maanza obilo masyoonto akujata. Maulu obilo masyoonto aume. Meso obilo masyoonto alange. Matwi obilo masyoonto aswiilile. Alimwi maanza obilo aaluyando akumbate! Tobilo — Written by Carole Bloch; Illustrated by Richard MacIntosh; Translated by Chester Mwanza. Tonga, Level 1. From Global…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. “Tobilo” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Twee
- Bemba · Tubili
- Dagbani · ayi
- English · Two
- Jamaican Creole · Tuu
- Kaonde · Tubiji
- Khoekhoegowab · ǀGam
- Kigogo · Nyejete
- Kikuyu · Igĩrĩ
- Kiswahili · Mbili
- Krio · Tu
- Lukhonzo · Ibiri
- Lunda · Ayedi
- Luvale · Avali
- Mauritian Creole · De
- Nyanja · Awili
- Oshikwanyama · Mbali
- Oshindonga · Mbali
- Otjiherero · Uvari
- Sepedi · Pedi
- Sesotho · Pedi
- Somali · Labo
- Spanish · Dos
- Tswana · Pedi
- Turkana · Ng’arei
- Zulu · Ezimbili
Reading together in Tonga
- 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 Tonga
Nyimbo ya Sakima
Ndayandisya Kubala!
Masusu
Civwubwe Ncatajisi Boya
Andiswa nyenyezi ya Mupila
Nkuku a Musyika
Mabbanana Aabaneene
Mulilo
See all 40 free Tonga books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Tobilo” free to read?
Yes. “Tobilo” 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 “Tobilo” in?
It is written in Tonga. Pagine has 40 free children’s books in Tonga.
What age is “Tobilo” for?
It is best for ages 2–8 (Level 1 · First words). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Tobilo” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Kiswahili, Kikuyu, Turkana, Somali, Zulu and more.
Who wrote “Tobilo”?
“Tobilo” was written by Carole Bloch and illustrated by Richard MacIntosh; the Tonga translation is by Chester Mwanza.
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Get the free app →Credits: Tobilo — Written by Carole Bloch; Illustrated by Richard MacIntosh; Translated by Chester Mwanza. Tonga, Level 1. From Global Storybooks (storybookszambia.net), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=3072). CC BY-NC 3.0. · Page updated October 2026