Tom ogulitsa nthoci

A free picture book in Nyanja by Humphreys Odunga

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

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Language

Nyanja

Written by

Humphreys Odunga

Illustrated by

Zablon Alex Nguku

Translated by

David Sani Mwanza

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 ogulitsa nthoci is a short illustrated picture book in Nyanja by Humphreys Odunga, illustrated by Zablon Alex Nguku and translated by David Sani Mwanza. 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 Nyanja. 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 amanyamula nswanda ya nthoci zakupsya. Tom amapita ku msika kukagulisa nthoci. Anthu pa msika agula ziphatso. Koma palibe amene agula nthoci za Tom. Asankha kugula zipatso za azimai. “M’mudzi mwathu, azimai okha ndio amene agulitsa nthoci,” anthu amatelo. “Kodi…

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 ogulitsa nthoci” 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
• 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 Nyanja

• 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 Nyanja

• Londi: Mtsikana wokonda kulota
• Osati Tsopano, Osati Tsopano!
• Zovala Zanga Zakusukulu
• Zovala za kusukulu
• Cona wanga ali kuti?
• Khalai alankhula ku Zomela
• Kambewu kangóno: Nkhani ya Wangari Maathai
• Kubwezela kwa Olozela kuli njuci

See all 105 free Nyanja books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩‍🏫 Assign this book to a class

Frequently asked questions

Is “Tom ogulitsa nthoci” free to read?

Yes. “Tom ogulitsa nthoci” 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 ogulitsa nthoci” in?

It is written in Nyanja. Pagine has 105 free children’s books in Nyanja.

What age is “Tom ogulitsa nthoci” for?

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

Is “Tom ogulitsa nthoci” available in other languages?

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

Who wrote “Tom ogulitsa nthoci”?

“Tom ogulitsa nthoci” was written by Humphreys Odunga and illustrated by Zablon Alex Nguku; the Nyanja translation is by David Sani Mwanza.

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Credits: Tom ogulitsa nthoci — Written by Humphreys Odunga; Illustrated by Zablon Alex Nguku; Translated by David Sani Mwanza; Read by Christine Mwanza. Nyanja, 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