PagineZama Mukali!
A free picture book in Tonga by Michael Oguttu
Zama Mukali! is a picture book in Tonga for ages 5–8 by Michael Oguttu that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Tonga
- Written by
- Michael Oguttu
- Illustrated by
- Vusi Malindi
- Translated by
- Chester Mwanza
- 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 Mukali! is a short illustrated picture book in Tonga by Michael Oguttu, illustrated by Vusi Malindi and translated by Chester Mwanza. 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 Tonga. 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
Musyoonto wangu musankwa ulaccelwa koona. Ndilafwambaana kubuka, nkaambo ndimukali. Ndime ndijalwida zuba. Baama baamba kuti, “Ulinyenyezi yangu yakubucedo.” Ndilasamba endike, nseyandi lugwasyo luli loonse. Ndinyina penzi ameenda atontola ansipa inunka yabbuluu. Baama balandiyeeyezya, “Utalubi kucumba meno.” Ndaingula kuti “Peepe, kutali…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 Mukali!” 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
- Luvale · Zama lyatwila!
- 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!
- Tswana · Zama o godile.
Reading together in Tonga
- 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 Tonga
Cizyole ca Ngede
Kulimvwa
Bbuku Lyabweende Bwaluwo
Bana Babunzuka
Mwaalumi Mulamfwu Kapati
Nkuku a Joongolo
Simbegwire
Kolanga Banyama
See all 40 free Tonga books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Zama Mukali!” free to read?
Yes. “Zama Mukali!” 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 Mukali!” in?
It is written in Tonga. Pagine has 40 free children’s books in Tonga.
What age is “Zama Mukali!” for?
It is best for ages 5–8 (Level 2 · First sentences). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Zama Mukali!” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Nigerian Pidgin, Kiswahili, Somali, Afrikaans, Tswana and more.
Who wrote “Zama Mukali!”?
“Zama Mukali!” was written by Michael Oguttu and illustrated by Vusi Malindi; the Tonga translation is by Chester Mwanza.
Log books, set goals and build a daily reading habit — free on iOS, Android and the web.
Get the free app →Credits: Zama Mukali! — Written by Michael Oguttu; Illustrated by Vusi Malindi; Translated by Chester Mwanza. Tonga, 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