PagineUkpatema man Mbaagundu
A free picture book in Tiv by Merga Debelo, Elizabeth Laird
Ukpatema man Mbaagundu is a picture book in Tiv for ages 5–11 by Merga Debelo, Elizabeth Laird that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Tiv
- Author
- Merga Debelo, Elizabeth Laird
- Reading level
- ages 5–11 · kindergarten to 2nd grade, 3rd to 5th grade
- From
- Nigeria
- Source
- African Storybook
- Licence
- CC BY 4.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Ukpatema man Mbaagundu is a short illustrated picture book in Tiv by Merga Debelo, Elizabeth Laird. It is written for ages 5–11, so it works as a read-aloud for little ones and as practice for children learning to read in Tiv. The book comes from the African Storybook and is shared under an open CC BY 4.0 licence, which is why it is free to read.
How it begins
Merga Debelo Ngise ngise Ukpatema man Mbaagundu — Author: Merga Debelo, Elizabeth Laird; Translation: Terkule Aorabee; Illustration: Jacob Kono. Language: Tiv. Level: First paragraphs. © African Storybook Initiative 2016. CC BY 4.0. Source: https://www.africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=32809Opening lines quoted from the openly licensed book (CC BY 4.0).
Reading together in Tiv
- 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.
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See all 176 free Tiv books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Ukpatema man Mbaagundu” free to read?
Yes. “Ukpatema man Mbaagundu” 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 “Ukpatema man Mbaagundu” in?
It is written in Tiv. Pagine has 176 free children’s books in Tiv.
What age is “Ukpatema man Mbaagundu” for?
It is best for ages 5–11. Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Who wrote “Ukpatema man Mbaagundu”?
“Ukpatema man Mbaagundu” was written by Merga Debelo, Elizabeth Laird.
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Get the free app →Credits: Ukpatema man Mbaagundu — Author: Merga Debelo, Elizabeth Laird; Translation: Terkule Aorabee; Illustration: Jacob Kono. Language: Tiv. Level: First paragraphs. © African Storybook Initiative 2016. CC BY 4.0. Source: https://www.africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=32809 · Page updated October 2026