PagineTubili
A free picture book in Bemba by Carole Bloch
Tubili is a picture book in Bemba for ages 2–8 by Carole Bloch that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Bemba
- Written by
- Carole Bloch
- Illustrated by
- Richard MacIntosh
- Translated by
- Joseph Mwansa
- Reading level
- ages 2–8 · preschool, kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 1 · First words
- From
- Zambia
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY-NC 3.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Tubili is a short illustrated picture book in Bemba by Carole Bloch, illustrated by Richard MacIntosh and translated by Joseph Mwansa. It is written for ages 2–8 (Nursery–Year 1) and is graded as Level 1 · First words, so it works as a read-aloud for little ones and as practice for children learning to read in Bemba. The book comes from Global Storybooks and is shared under an open CC BY-NC 3.0 licence, which is why it is free to read. The same story is available in 26 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Utumaboko tubili utwakwikatilako. Utumakasa tubili utwakupantilako. Utumenso tubili utwakumwenako. Utumatwi tubili utwakumfwilako. Utumaboko tubili utwacitemwiko kabili utwakukumbatilako. Tubili — Written by Carole Bloch; Illustrated by Richard MacIntosh; Translated by Joseph Mwansa. Bemba, Level 1. From Global Storybooks (storybookszambia.net), originally from…Opening lines quoted from the openly licensed book (CC BY-NC 3.0).
This story in other languages
Reading the same story in two languages helps bilingual children connect words they already know. “Tubili” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Twee
- Dagbani · ayi
- English · Two
- Jamaican Creole · Tuu
- Kaonde · Tubiji
- Khoekhoegowab · ǀGam
- Kigogo · Nyejete
- Kikuyu · Igĩrĩ
- Kiswahili · Mbili
- Krio · Tu
- Lukhonzo · Ibiri
- Lunda · Ayedi
- Luvale · Avali
- Mauritian Creole · De
- Nyanja · Awili
- Oshikwanyama · Mbali
- Oshindonga · Mbali
- Otjiherero · Uvari
- Sepedi · Pedi
- Sesotho · Pedi
- Somali · Labo
- Spanish · Dos
- Tonga · Tobilo
- Tswana · Pedi
- Turkana · Ng’arei
- Zulu · Ezimbili
Reading together in Bemba
- 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 Bemba
Magozwe
Ifyakufwala fya kusukulu
Umubili wandi
Khalai Alasosha Icaani ne Fimuti
Ulubuto Lunoono: Ilyashi lya pali Wangari Maathai
Icilandushi ca ŋuni
Ifyo ngumfwa
Kandume yandi akanaŋani
See all 40 free Bemba books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Tubili” free to read?
Yes. “Tubili” 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-NC 3.0).
What language is “Tubili” in?
It is written in Bemba. Pagine has 40 free children’s books in Bemba.
What age is “Tubili” for?
It is best for ages 2–8 (Level 1 · First words). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Tubili” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Kiswahili, Kikuyu, Turkana, Somali, Zulu and more.
Who wrote “Tubili”?
“Tubili” was written by Carole Bloch and illustrated by Richard MacIntosh; the Bemba translation is by Joseph Mwansa.
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Get the free app →Credits: Tubili — Written by Carole Bloch; Illustrated by Richard MacIntosh; Translated by Joseph Mwansa. Bemba, Level 1. From Global Storybooks (storybookszambia.net), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=3072). CC BY-NC 3.0. · Page updated October 2026