Tom mukakulanjisa makonde

A free picture book in Luvale by Humphreys Odunga

Tom mukakulanjisa makonde is a picture book in Luvale for ages 5–8 by Humphreys Odunga that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.

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Language

Luvale

Written by

Humphreys Odunga

Illustrated by

Zablon Alex Nguku

Translated by

Masho Kaloza

Reading level

ages 5–8 · kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 2 · First sentences

From

Zambia

Source

Global Storybooks

Licence

CC BY 4.0

Price

Free — read online, nothing to download

About this book

Tom mukakulanjisa makonde is a short illustrated picture book in Luvale by Humphreys Odunga, illustrated by Zablon Alex Nguku and translated by Masho Kaloza. 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 Luvale. 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 mwambata lwalo lwamakonde akuhya. Tom mwaya kumaliketi nakulanjisa makonde. Vathu kumaliketi vali nakulanda mihako. Oloze naumwe wauchi ali nakulanda makonde a Tom. Vasaka kulanda mihako kuli maphwevo. Vathu veji kuhanjika ngwavo, “Mungalila yetu, maphwevo kaha vakhiko veji kulanjisanga mihako.”…

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 mukakulanjisa makonde” 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
• 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 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

• Ngwazanga kutanga!
• Jikhambu
• Mujimba wami
• Andiswa muyatwa wangunja yakumahinji
• Kasumbi na Chiselele
• Makonde akhaka
• Kakahya
• Songoyami walunga wauvwa

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

Frequently asked questions

Is “Tom mukakulanjisa makonde” free to read?

Yes. “Tom mukakulanjisa makonde” 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 mukakulanjisa makonde” in?

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

What age is “Tom mukakulanjisa makonde” for?

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

Is “Tom mukakulanjisa makonde” available in other languages?

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

Who wrote “Tom mukakulanjisa makonde”?

“Tom mukakulanjisa makonde” was written by Humphreys Odunga and illustrated by Zablon Alex Nguku; the Luvale translation is by Masho Kaloza.

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Credits: Tom mukakulanjisa makonde — Written by Humphreys Odunga; Illustrated by Zablon Alex Nguku; Translated by Masho Kaloza. Luvale, Level 2. From Global Storybooks (storybookszambia.net), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=13627). CC BY 4.0. · Page updated October 2026