Tom omutundi w’amalafu

A free picture book in Lunyole by Humphreys Odunga

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

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Language

Lunyole

Written by

Humphreys Odunga

Illustrated by

Zablon Alex Nguku

Translated by

Bukheye Mulongo Christopher

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 omutundi w’amalafu is a short illustrated picture book in Lunyole by Humphreys Odunga, illustrated by Zablon Alex Nguku and translated by Bukheye Mulongo Christopher. 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 Lunyole. 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 agega ahasuniya h’amalafu. Tom atiina mu hatale ohutunda amalafu. Abaatu mu hatale bali hugula ebibala. Naye eŋuma ali hugula amalafu ga Tom. Benda hugula bibala hu bahaasi. “Mu hitehere hyeefe, abahasi nja batunda ebibala. Musinde hi ono?” bawuusa. Aye…

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 omutundi w’amalafu” 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
• 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 Lunyole

• 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 Lunyole

• Abaana bomu bulimbo
• Sibahwana
• Muto yange omudoto
• Engoho ni Haŋungu
• Omuliro
• Ekapa yange yiri ŋeena?
• Ohuŋumulira ewa nguhwa
• Efiiri

See all 19 free Lunyole books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩‍🏫 Assign this book to a class

Frequently asked questions

Is “Tom omutundi w’amalafu” free to read?

Yes. “Tom omutundi w’amalafu” 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 omutundi w’amalafu” in?

It is written in Lunyole. Pagine has 19 free children’s books in Lunyole.

What age is “Tom omutundi w’amalafu” for?

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

Is “Tom omutundi w’amalafu” available in other languages?

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

Who wrote “Tom omutundi w’amalafu”?

“Tom omutundi w’amalafu” was written by Humphreys Odunga and illustrated by Zablon Alex Nguku; the Lunyole translation is by Bukheye Mulongo Christopher.

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Credits: Tom omutundi w’amalafu — Written by Humphreys Odunga; Illustrated by Zablon Alex Nguku; Translated by Bukheye Mulongo Christopher. Lunyole, 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