PagineZama lyatwila!
A free picture book in Luvale by Michael Oguttu
Zama lyatwila! is a picture book in Luvale for ages 5–8 by Michael Oguttu that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Luvale
- Written by
- Michael Oguttu
- Illustrated by
- Vusi Malindi
- Translated by
- Masho Kaloza
- Reading level
- ages 5–8 · kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 2 · First sentences
- From
- Zambia
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY 3.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Zama lyatwila! is a short illustrated picture book in Luvale by Michael Oguttu, illustrated by Vusi Malindi and translated by Masho Kaloza. 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 Luvale. 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 21 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Songo yami walunga eji kukotokela chikuma kusavala nge kunatoko. Ami ngweji kuhindukanga washi mwomwo ngwapwa wakulikwachisa! Yami ngweji kunehesanga musana kwingila. Mama ahanjikile ngwenyi, “Wapwa uthanganyika yami wakuchimene.” Ngweji kulisanyisa yami yavene, kangwechi kutonda wakungukafwakoko. Ngunahase kusana meya atuta nasopo…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. “Zama lyatwila!” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Zama is oulik!
- Bemba · Zama Alicenjela!
- English · Zama is great!
- Irish · Tá Zama thar barr!
- Jamaican Creole · Zama a di bes!
- Kaonde · Zama Wakosa
- Khoekhoegowab · Zamas ge a ǂoaǂamsa
- Kiswahili · Zama ni mkubwa!
- Lukhonzo · Zama Niw’amani
- Lunda · Zama wang’ovu
- Mauritian Creole · Zama enn top!
- Nigerian Pidgin · Zana dey great!
- Nyanja · Zama ndi wamkulu
- Oshikwanyama · Zama omunandjungu
- Oshindonga · Zama ependafule!
- Otjiherero · Zama omusemba!
- Sesotho · Zama ya moholo
- Somali · Zama waa mid aad u wanaagsan!
- Spanish · ¡Zama es genial!
- Tonga · Zama Mukali!
- Tswana · Zama o godile.
Reading together in Luvale
- 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 Luvale
Anansi na Chinyingi
Ovyo ahanjikile ndumbu ya Vusi
Kulava tunyama
Avali
Chahonesa nguvu kupwa naungona
Andiswa muyatwa wangunja yakumahinji
Likumbi ngwafumine hembo nakuya kumbaka
Makumbi akunokha nakhaka waphwevo
See all 40 free Luvale books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Zama lyatwila!” free to read?
Yes. “Zama lyatwila!” 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 “Zama lyatwila!” in?
It is written in Luvale. Pagine has 40 free children’s books in Luvale.
What age is “Zama lyatwila!” for?
It is best for ages 5–8 (Level 2 · First sentences). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Zama lyatwila!” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Nigerian Pidgin, Kiswahili, Somali, Afrikaans, Tswana and more.
Who wrote “Zama lyatwila!”?
“Zama lyatwila!” was written by Michael Oguttu and illustrated by Vusi Malindi; the Luvale translation is by Masho Kaloza.
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Get the free app →Credits: Zama lyatwila! — Written by Michael Oguttu; Illustrated by Vusi Malindi; Translated by Masho Kaloza. Luvale, Level 2. From Global Storybooks (storybookszambia.net), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=9984). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026