Umwana Punda

Name: Umwana Punda
Availability: InStock
Author: Lindiwe Matshikiza

A free picture book in Bemba by Lindiwe Matshikiza

Cover of Umwana Punda, a Bemba picture book

Umwana Punda is a picture book in Bemba for ages 5–11 by Lindiwe Matshikiza that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.

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Language: Bemba
Written by: Lindiwe Matshikiza
Illustrated by: Meghan Judge
Translated by: Agnes Chileshe Chibamba
Reading level: ages 5–11 · kindergarten to 2nd grade, 3rd to 5th grade · Level 3 · First paragraphs
From: Zambia
Source: Global Storybooks
Licence: CC BY 4.0
Price: Free — read online, nothing to download

About this book

Umwana Punda is a short illustrated picture book in Bemba by Lindiwe Matshikiza, illustrated by Meghan Judge and translated by Agnes Chileshe Chibamba. It is written for ages 5–11 (Grades 2–3) and is graded as Level 3 · First paragraphs, 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 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

Umukashana umunoono ewabalilepo ukumona icintu cileisa akatalamukila. Ilyo ico cintu cafikile mupepi, aamwene ukuti ni namaayo uwali pabukulu. Nangu umukashana aali ne nsoni alishipile no kupalama mupepi na namaayo. “Tufwile twamusunga uyu namaayo,” efyalandile abantu. “Tulemusunga bwino no mwana wakwe.”…

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. “Umwana Punda” is also available in:

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

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

Frequently asked questions

Is “Umwana Punda” free to read?

Yes. “Umwana Punda” 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 “Umwana Punda” in?

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

What age is “Umwana Punda” for?

It is best for ages 5–11 (Level 3 · First paragraphs). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.

Is “Umwana Punda” available in other languages?

Yes — the same story is in English, Turkana, Somali, Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and more.

Who wrote “Umwana Punda”?

“Umwana Punda” was written by Lindiwe Matshikiza and illustrated by Meghan Judge; the Bemba translation is by Agnes Chileshe Chibamba.

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Credits: Umwana Punda — Written by Lindiwe Matshikiza; Illustrated by Meghan Judge; Translated by Agnes Chileshe Chibamba. Bemba, Level 3. From Global Storybooks (storybookszambia.net), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=15028). CC BY 4.0. · Page updated October 2026