Tom Musulu Wamakonde

A free picture book in Kaonde by Humphreys Odunga

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

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Language

Kaonde

Written by

Humphreys Odunga

Illustrated by

Zablon Alex Nguku

Translated by

Ruth Kapamba, Mwitila Ntabo

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 Musulu Wamakonde is a short illustrated picture book in Kaonde by Humphreys Odunga, illustrated by Zablon Alex Nguku and translated by Ruth Kapamba, Mwitila Ntabo. 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 Kaonde. 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 usenda tule wamakonde apya. Tom uya kukisankanyi nakupotesha makonde. Bantu babena kupota bipangwa mukisankanyi. Bino kafwako wapotelenga makonde akwa Tom ne. Bantu bapotelengatu bipangwa kubainetu. “Muno munyaunda yetu, babakazhitu bobonkatu bapotesha bipangwa,” byobyamba bantu. “Nanchi awe ke mwanamulume wamutunduka…

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 Musulu Wamakonde” is also available in:

• Afrikaans · Tom, die piesangverkoper
• Bemba · Tomu kashitisha wa nkonde
• English · Tom the banana seller
• Jamaican Creole · Taam Di Banaana-Man
• 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 Kaonde

• 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 Kaonde

• Anansi ne Mpoto ya Maana
• Byaambile Ñenya Yakwa Vusi
• Kubala Banyama
• Tubiji
• Kyabujila Byovwe Kwikala Nabooya
• Muntu Walepa Bingi
• Juuba Jonafumine Kumuzhi Kuya Kutaunyi
• Moba Akukokoloka na ba Nkambo Babakazhi

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

Frequently asked questions

Is “Tom Musulu Wamakonde” free to read?

Yes. “Tom Musulu Wamakonde” 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 Musulu Wamakonde” in?

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

What age is “Tom Musulu Wamakonde” for?

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

Is “Tom Musulu Wamakonde” available in other languages?

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

Who wrote “Tom Musulu Wamakonde”?

“Tom Musulu Wamakonde” was written by Humphreys Odunga and illustrated by Zablon Alex Nguku; the Kaonde translation is by Ruth Kapamba, Mwitila Ntabo.

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Credits: Tom Musulu Wamakonde — Written by Humphreys Odunga; Illustrated by Zablon Alex Nguku; Translated by Ruth Kapamba, Mwitila Ntabo. Kaonde, 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