Tom omulandithi gwomambanana
A free picture book in Oshindonga by Humphreys Odunga

Tom omulandithi gwomambanana is a picture book in Oshindonga for ages 5–8 by Humphreys Odunga that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Oshindonga
- Written by
- Humphreys Odunga
- Illustrated by
- Zablon Alex Nguku
- Translated by
- Rachel Nandjembo
- Reading level
- ages 5–8 · kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 2 · First sentences
- From
- Namibia
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY 4.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Tom omulandithi gwomambanana is a short illustrated picture book in Oshindonga by Humphreys Odunga, illustrated by Zablon Alex Nguku and translated by Rachel Nandjembo. 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 Oshindonga. 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 okwa humbata oshimbamba shoombanana dha pya nawa. Tom oku uka komatala a ka landithe omambanana. Aantu ohaa landa iiyimati pomatala. Ashike kapwa li nando ogumwe a landa omambanana gaTom. Oya li ya panda okulanda iiyimati kaakulukadhi. “Momudhingoloko gwetu, aakulukadhi…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 omulandithi gwomambanana” 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
- 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 Oshindonga
- 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 Oshindonga
Etokolo
Kaandje netango
Nozibele noondali ndatu dhomafufu
Ondi hole okulesha!
Omafufu
Olutu lwandje
Andiswa enyakwa metanga lyokoompadhi
Okambuto okashonashona: Ehokololo lyaWangari Maathai
See all 40 free Oshindonga books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Tom omulandithi gwomambanana” free to read?
Yes. “Tom omulandithi gwomambanana” 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 omulandithi gwomambanana” in?
It is written in Oshindonga. Pagine has 40 free children’s books in Oshindonga.
What age is “Tom omulandithi gwomambanana” for?
It is best for ages 5–8 (Level 2 · First sentences). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Tom omulandithi gwomambanana” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Kiswahili, Somali, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Tswana and more.
Who wrote “Tom omulandithi gwomambanana”?
“Tom omulandithi gwomambanana” was written by Humphreys Odunga and illustrated by Zablon Alex Nguku; the Oshindonga translation is by Rachel Nandjembo.
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Get the free app →Credits: Tom omulandithi gwomambanana — Written by Humphreys Odunga; Illustrated by Zablon Alex Nguku; Translated by Rachel Nandjembo; Read by Rachel Nandjembo. Oshindonga, Level 2. From Global Storybooks (storybooksnamibia.net), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=13627). CC BY 4.0. · Page updated October 2026