PagineTom, el vendedor de plátanos
A free picture book in Spanish by Humphreys Odunga
Tom, el vendedor de plátanos is a picture book in Spanish for ages 5–8 by Humphreys Odunga that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Spanish
- Written by
- Humphreys Odunga
- Illustrated by
- Zablon Alex Nguku
- Translated by
- Karina Vásquez
- Reading level
- ages 5–8 · kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 2 · First sentences
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY 4.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Tom, el vendedor de plátanos is a short illustrated picture book in Spanish by Humphreys Odunga, illustrated by Zablon Alex Nguku and translated by Karina Vásquez. 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 Spanish. 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
Tom lleva una cesta de plátanos maduros. Tom va al mercado a vender plátanos. La gente compra fruta en el mercado. Pero nadie compra los plátanos de Tom. Prefieren comprarle a las mujeres. “En nuestra comunidad, sólo las mujeres venden…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. “Tom, el vendedor de plátanos” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Tom, die piesangverkoper
- Bemba · Tomu kashitisha wa nkonde
- English · Tom the banana seller
- Jamaican Creole · Taam Di Banaana-Man
- 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
- Swati · Themba umtsengisi wabhanana
- Tonga · Tom Sikusambala Mabbanana
- Tswana · Tom morekisi wa dipanana
- Xhosa · UTom, umthengisi webhanana
Reading together in Spanish
- 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 Spanish
Mi cuerpo
Andiswa, la estrella de fútbol
La Gallina y el Águila
Los plátanos de mi abuela
El fuego
El hermanito perezoso
Tingi y las vacas
La Cabra, el Perro y la Vaca
See all 40 free Spanish books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Tom, el vendedor de plátanos” free to read?
Yes. “Tom, el vendedor de plátanos” 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 “Tom, el vendedor de plátanos” in?
It is written in Spanish. Pagine has 40 free children’s books in Spanish.
What age is “Tom, el vendedor de plátanos” for?
It is best for ages 5–8 (Level 2 · First sentences). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Tom, el vendedor de plátanos” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Kiswahili, Somali, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Tswana and more.
Who wrote “Tom, el vendedor de plátanos”?
“Tom, el vendedor de plátanos” was written by Humphreys Odunga and illustrated by Zablon Alex Nguku; the Spanish translation is by Karina Vásquez.
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Get the free app →Credits: Tom, el vendedor de plátanos — Written by Humphreys Odunga; Illustrated by Zablon Alex Nguku; Translated by Karina Vásquez; Read by Áurea Vericat. Spanish, Level 2. From Global Storybooks (global-asp.github.io/storybooks-dc), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=13627). CC BY 4.0. · Page updated October 2026