PagineWanuna Wo Leha Swinene
A free picture book in Tsonga by Cornelius Gulere
Wanuna Wo Leha Swinene is a picture book in Tsonga for ages 5–8 by Cornelius Gulere that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Tsonga
- Written by
- Cornelius Gulere
- Illustrated by
- Catherine Groenewald
- Translated by
- Elias Macuacua
- Reading level
- ages 5–8 · kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 2 · First sentences
- From
- South Africa
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY 3.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Wanuna Wo Leha Swinene is a short illustrated picture book in Tsonga by Cornelius Gulere, illustrated by Catherine Groenewald and translated by Elias Macuacua. 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 Tsonga. 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 35 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Xikomu xa yena a xi komile Rivanti ra yena a ri komile Mubedo wa yena a wu komile Basikiri ya yena a yi komile Wanuma loyi a lehe swinene U endlile xikomu xo leha swinene U endile rivanti ro leha…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. “Wanuna Wo Leha Swinene” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · ‘n Baie lang man
- Aringati · Ágóbí ázó mbílíkó rĩ
- Ateso · Etunganan Lo Awojan Noi
- Bemba · Umuntu umutali saana
- Dhopadhola · Jali Ma Bori Tektek Swa
- English · A very tall man
- Ga · Nuu Kakadaŋŋ Ko
- Gurene · Budaa n ba’am wɔgε
- Hausa · Wani Dogon Mutum
- Jamaican Creole · Wahn taal-taal man
- Kakwa · Ŋ Utu Laga a Lojo
- Kaonde · Muntu Walepa Bingi
- Khoekhoegowab · Gaxu aob
- Kiswahili · Mwanamume mrefu
- Luganda · Omusajja Omuwanvu ennyo
- Lugbarati (official orthography) · Ágʉ̀pɨ́ ɨ́zʉ̀ rɨ́
- Lukhonzo · Omulhume muli
- Lumasaaba · Umusaani umuleeyi naabi
- Lunda · Iyala wamulehi nankshi
- Lunyole · Omusinde omuleeŋi obugali
- Lusoga · Omusaadha omuleeyi einho
- Luvale · Lunga wamusuku chikuma
- Mauritian Creole · Enn misie bien long
- Nigerian Pidgin · Na longie man o
- Nyanja · Bambo wamutali kwambili
- Oshikwanyama · Omulumenhu omule unene
- Oshindonga · Omulumentu omule unene
- Otjiherero · Omurumendu omure tjinene
- Somali · Nin aad u dheer
- South Ndebele · Uthimba Uyaphulukisa!
- Spanish · Un hombre muy alto
- Tonga · Mwaalumi Mulamfwu Kapati
- Tswana · Monna o motelele-telele
- Turkana · Ekile Lokooyan Noi
- Xhosa · Indoda Ende Kakhulu
Reading together in Tsonga
- 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 Tsonga
Sindiwe na Switsayitsayi
Siku ro Saseka
Wavhidi a Vulavula Na Swimilana
Tirhisipi ta Lonwabo
Ntsindza wa Kahle wa Manana Phengwini
Xana i mani n’wana luya?
Munghana wa Mali
A hi yena Thabi! Liya i mpfuvu!
See all 56 free Tsonga books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Wanuna Wo Leha Swinene” free to read?
Yes. “Wanuna Wo Leha Swinene” 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 “Wanuna Wo Leha Swinene” in?
It is written in Tsonga. Pagine has 56 free children’s books in Tsonga.
What age is “Wanuna Wo Leha Swinene” for?
It is best for ages 5–8 (Level 2 · First sentences). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Wanuna Wo Leha Swinene” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Nigerian Pidgin, Hausa, Kiswahili, Turkana, Somali and more.
Who wrote “Wanuna Wo Leha Swinene”?
“Wanuna Wo Leha Swinene” was written by Cornelius Gulere and illustrated by Catherine Groenewald; the Tsonga translation is by Elias Macuacua.
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Get the free app →Credits: Wanuna Wo Leha Swinene — Written by Cornelius Gulere; Illustrated by Catherine Groenewald; Translated by Elias Macuacua. Tsonga, Level 2. From Global Storybooks (southafricareads.org), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=918). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026