Tommi banana ǁamaxū-aob

A free picture book in Khoekhoegowab by Humphreys Odunga

Tommi banana ǁamaxū-aob is a picture book in Khoekhoegowab for ages 5–8 by Humphreys Odunga that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.

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Language

Khoekhoegowab

Written by

Humphreys Odunga

Illustrated by

Zablon Alex Nguku

Translated by

Ngeve Shangombe

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

Tommi banana ǁamaxū-aob is a short illustrated picture book in Khoekhoegowab by Humphreys Odunga, illustrated by Zablon Alex Nguku and translated by Ngeve Shangombe. 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 Khoekhoegowab. 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

Tommi ge ǂhûiǂgawab ǃnâ ǁansa bananaga ra tani. Tommi ge ǁamaxūǃkhaib ǁga bananana ra ǁamaxū ǃgû. ǁAmaxūǃkhaib tawan ge khoena haiǂûna ra ǁama. Xawe i ge khoe-i xare-e Tommi di bananaga ǁama tama hâ. ǁÎn ge haiǂûna tarare khoede xu…

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. “Tommi banana ǁamaxū-aob” 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
• 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
• 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 Khoekhoegowab

• 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 Khoekhoegowab

• Tingib tsî gomadi
• Piris, Arib, tsî Gomas xa
• ǁGâu-anib tsî Tūsôab hâkha
• Vusib ausis ge mîs
• Skol saran
• Ti ǀhôasa mâpa hâ?
• Khalais ge haidi ǀkha ra ǃhoa
• Anansib tsî Gā-aisib

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

Frequently asked questions

Is “Tommi banana ǁamaxū-aob” free to read?

Yes. “Tommi banana ǁamaxū-aob” 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 “Tommi banana ǁamaxū-aob” in?

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

What age is “Tommi banana ǁamaxū-aob” for?

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

Is “Tommi banana ǁamaxū-aob” available in other languages?

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

Who wrote “Tommi banana ǁamaxū-aob”?

“Tommi banana ǁamaxū-aob” was written by Humphreys Odunga and illustrated by Zablon Alex Nguku; the Khoekhoegowab translation is by Ngeve Shangombe.

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Credits: Tommi banana ǁamaxū-aob — Written by Humphreys Odunga; Illustrated by Zablon Alex Nguku; Translated by Ngeve Shangombe. Khoekhoegowab, 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