Tom muuza ndizi

A free picture book in Kiswahili by Humphreys Odunga

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

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Language

Kiswahili

Written by

Humphreys Odunga

Illustrated by

Zablon Alex Nguku

Translated by

Matteo E

Reading level

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

From

Kenya

Source

Global Storybooks

Licence

CC BY 4.0

Price

Free — read online, nothing to download

About this book

Tom muuza ndizi is a short illustrated picture book in Kiswahili by Humphreys Odunga, illustrated by Zablon Alex Nguku and translated by Matteo E. 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 Kiswahili. 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 anabeba tenga la ndizi zilizoiva. Tom anaenda sokoni kuuza ndizi. Sokoni watu wananunua matunda. Lakini hakuna anayenunua ndizi za Tom. Wanapenda kununua matunda kutoka kwa akina mama. “Kwenye jamii yetu, ni wanawake pekee ndio wanaouza matunda,” watu wanasema. “Ni…

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 muuza ndizi” 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
• 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 Kiswahili

• 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 Kiswahili

• Siku ya Kutembelea Kiwanja cha Michezo
• Nin Anataka Kuvalishwa Nguo
• Sayari Jua ya Saba
• Kwa nini viboko hawana manyoya
• Namorutunga
• Fisi mlafi
• Marafiki
• Magozwe

See all 100 free Kiswahili books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩‍🏫 Assign this book to a class

Frequently asked questions

Is “Tom muuza ndizi” free to read?

Yes. “Tom muuza ndizi” 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 muuza ndizi” in?

It is written in Kiswahili. Pagine has 100 free children’s books in Kiswahili.

What age is “Tom muuza ndizi” for?

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

Is “Tom muuza ndizi” available in other languages?

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

Who wrote “Tom muuza ndizi”?

“Tom muuza ndizi” was written by Humphreys Odunga and illustrated by Zablon Alex Nguku; the Kiswahili translation is by Matteo E.

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Credits: Tom muuza ndizi — Written by Humphreys Odunga; Illustrated by Zablon Alex Nguku; Translated by Matteo E. Mwita; Read by Lauwo George. Kiswahili, Level 2. From Global Storybooks (global-asp.github.io/storybooks-kenya), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=13627). CC BY 4.0. · Page updated October 2026