PagineUcita Ciani?
A free picture book in Nyanja by Nina Orange
Ucita Ciani? is a picture book in Nyanja for ages 2–8 by Nina Orange that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Nyanja
- Written by
- Nina Orange
- Illustrated by
- Wiehan de Jager
- Translated by
- David Sani Mwanza
- Reading level
- ages 2–8 · preschool, kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 1 · First words
- From
- Zambia
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY 3.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Ucita Ciani? is a short illustrated picture book in Nyanja by Nina Orange, illustrated by Wiehan de Jager and translated by David Sani Mwanza. 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 Nyanja. The book comes from Global Storybooks and is shared under an open CC BY 3.0 licence, which is why it is free to read. The same story is available in 29 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Ndiimba. Abaibisa. Ndiomba m’manja. Atambasula manja. Aitana. Ndiyankha. Amvetsela. Ucita ciani? Ucita Ciani? — Written by Nina Orange; Illustrated by Wiehan de Jager; Translated by David Sani Mwanza; Read by Christine Mwanza. Nyanja, Level 1. From Global Storybooks (storybookszambia.net), originally…Opening lines quoted from the openly licensed book (CC BY 3.0).
This story in other languages
Reading the same story in two languages helps bilingual children connect words they already know. “Ucita Ciani?” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Wat doen jy?
- Bemba · Finshi Uleecita?
- Dagbani · Bɔ ka a niŋda?
- Jamaican Creole · Wa yu a du?
- Kaonde · Ubena Kuuba ka?
- Khoekhoegowab · Tare-ets ra dī?
- Kichaga · Kiki kukeuta?
- Kikuyu · Nĩkĩĩ ureka?
- Kisukuma · Uleetake?
- Kiswahili · Unafanya nini?
- Krio · Wetin yu de du?
- Lukhonzo · Ukakolhaki?
- Lunda · Winakwiladi?
- Lunyole · Ohola hiina?
- Luvale · Uli nakulinga ika?
- Mauritian Creole · Ki to pe fer?
- Oshikwanyama · Oto ningi shike?
- Oshindonga · Oto ningi shike?
- Otjiherero · Ove mo tjiti tjike?
- Sepedi · O dira eng?
- Sesotho · O etsang?
- Somali · Maxaad samaynaysaa?
- Spanish · ¿Qué estás haciendo?
- Tonga · Ino Ucita Nzi?
- Tsonga · Xana u endla yini?
- Tswana · O dira eng?
- Turkana · Nyo Isubi Iyong?
- Xhosa · Wenza Ntoni?
- Zulu · Wenzani?
Reading together in Nyanja
- 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 Nyanja
See all 105 free Nyanja books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Ucita Ciani?” free to read?
Yes. “Ucita Ciani?” 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 3.0).
What language is “Ucita Ciani?” in?
It is written in Nyanja. Pagine has 105 free children’s books in Nyanja.
What age is “Ucita Ciani?” for?
It is best for ages 2–8 (Level 1 · First words). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Ucita Ciani?” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in Kikuyu, Turkana, Somali, Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and more.
Who wrote “Ucita Ciani?”?
“Ucita Ciani?” was written by Nina Orange and illustrated by Wiehan de Jager; the Nyanja translation is by David Sani Mwanza.
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Get the free app →Credits: Ucita Ciani? — Written by Nina Orange; Illustrated by Wiehan de Jager; Translated by David Sani Mwanza; Read by Christine Mwanza. Nyanja, Level 1. From Global Storybooks (storybookszambia.net), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=7292). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026