Tom omusuburi w’ameeru

A free picture book in Lukhonzo by Humphreys Odunga

Tom omusuburi w’ameeru is a picture book in Lukhonzo for ages 5–8 by Humphreys Odunga that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.

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Language

Lukhonzo

Written by

Humphreys Odunga

Illustrated by

Zablon Alex Nguku

Translated by

Amos Mubunga Kambere

Reading level

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

From

Uganda

Source

Global Storybooks

Licence

CC BY 4.0

Price

Free — read online, nothing to download

About this book

Tom omusuburi w’ameeru is a short illustrated picture book in Lukhonzo by Humphreys Odunga, illustrated by Zablon Alex Nguku and translated by Amos Mubunga Kambere. 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 Lukhonzo. 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 akaheka endemere y’ameeru. Tom akaghenda omwakathale eriyaghulya ameeru. Abandu omwakathale bakaghlha ebitunda. Aliriryo sihali oyukawulha okwa ameeru a’Tom. Bakathwamo eriyaghulha okwabandi bakali. Omwa kyalo kyethu hano abaghole sibobakaghulhaya e’bighuma, kutse amatunda. “ibwa iwe ulimulhumeki?” abandu bakayibulhaya. Kyonga Tom iyo…

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 omusuburi w’ameeru” 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
• 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 Lukhonzo

• 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 Lukhonzo

• Akangyangwa kayi kalihayi?
• Khalai akakanaya n’ebirimwa
• Erihera embutho: Omwatsi wa Wangari Maathai
• Erithuhulia ly’omunyabukyi
• Eriyowa
• Ekitabu ky’obuthuku
• Abana b’enimba
• Zama Niw’amani

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

Frequently asked questions

Is “Tom omusuburi w’ameeru” free to read?

Yes. “Tom omusuburi w’ameeru” 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 omusuburi w’ameeru” in?

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

What age is “Tom omusuburi w’ameeru” for?

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

Is “Tom omusuburi w’ameeru” available in other languages?

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

Who wrote “Tom omusuburi w’ameeru”?

“Tom omusuburi w’ameeru” was written by Humphreys Odunga and illustrated by Zablon Alex Nguku; the Lukhonzo translation is by Amos Mubunga Kambere.

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Credits: Tom omusuburi w’ameeru — Written by Humphreys Odunga; Illustrated by Zablon Alex Nguku; Translated by Amos Mubunga Kambere. Lukhonzo, Level 2. From Global Storybooks (global-asp.github.io/storybooks-uganda), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=13627). CC BY 4.0. · Page updated October 2026