UTom, umthengisi webhanana

A free picture book in Xhosa by Humphreys Odunga

UTom, umthengisi webhanana is a picture book in Xhosa for ages 5–8 by Humphreys Odunga that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.

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Language

Xhosa

Written by

Humphreys Odunga

Illustrated by

Zablon Alex Nguku

Translated by

Nokuthula Bernelee Dyonase

Reading level

ages 5–8 · kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 2 · First sentences

From

South Africa

Source

Global Storybooks

Licence

CC BY 4.0

Price

Free — read online, nothing to download

About this book

UTom, umthengisi webhanana is a short illustrated picture book in Xhosa by Humphreys Odunga, illustrated by Zablon Alex Nguku and translated by Nokuthula Bernelee Dyonase. 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 Xhosa. 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

UTom uphethe ingobozi yeebhanana ezivuthiweyo. UTom uya emarikeni uyothengisa iibhanana. Abantu abasemarikeni bathenga iziqhamo. Kodwa akukho mntu ozithengayo iibhanana zikaTom. Bakhetha ukuthenga iziqhamo ebafazini. “Ekuhlaleni, ngabafazi bodwa abathengisa iziqhamo,” batsho abantu. “Yindoda enjani na le?” bayabuza abantu. Kodwa uTom akancami.…

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. “UTom, umthengisi webhanana” 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
• Khoekhoegowab · Tommi banana ǁamaxū-aob
• 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

Reading together in Xhosa

• 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 Xhosa

• Iqanda
• Usuku Oluxakeke Kakhulu!
• Izilwanyana zasekhaya
• Iphi ikati yam?
• Upalesa Uthanda Izityalo
• UNkukhu noSongololo
• Kwenzeke ntoni emanzini ethu?
• Iintyatyambo ezimangalisayo zikaMakhulu

See all 145 free Xhosa books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩‍🏫 Assign this book to a class

Frequently asked questions

Is “UTom, umthengisi webhanana” free to read?

Yes. “UTom, umthengisi webhanana” 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 “UTom, umthengisi webhanana” in?

It is written in Xhosa. Pagine has 145 free children’s books in Xhosa.

What age is “UTom, umthengisi webhanana” for?

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

Is “UTom, umthengisi webhanana” available in other languages?

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

Who wrote “UTom, umthengisi webhanana”?

“UTom, umthengisi webhanana” was written by Humphreys Odunga and illustrated by Zablon Alex Nguku; the Xhosa translation is by Nokuthula Bernelee Dyonase.

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Credits: UTom, umthengisi webhanana — Written by Humphreys Odunga; Illustrated by Zablon Alex Nguku; Translated by Nokuthula Bernelee Dyonase. Xhosa, Level 2. From Global Storybooks (southafricareads.org), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=13627). CC BY 4.0. · Page updated October 2026