Zama ni mkubwa!

A free picture book in Kiswahili by Michael Oguttu

Zama ni mkubwa! is a picture book in Kiswahili for ages 5–8 by Michael Oguttu that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.

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Language

Kiswahili

Written by

Michael Oguttu

Illustrated by

Vusi Malindi

Translated by

Matteo E

Reading level

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

From

Kenya

Source

Global Storybooks

Licence

CC BY 3.0

Price

Free — read online, nothing to download

About this book

Zama ni mkubwa! is a short illustrated picture book in Kiswahili by Michael Oguttu, illustrated by Vusi Malindi and translated by Matteo E. 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 Kiswahili. 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

Mdogo wangu anachelewa kuamka. Mimi naamka mapema kwa sababu mimi ni mkubwa! Mimi ndiye ninayeruhusu jua kuingia ndani. “Wewe ni nyota wangu wa asubuhi,” anasema mama. Naoga mwenyewe, sihitaji msaada. Naweza kustahimili maji ya baridi na sabuni ya bluu inayonukia.…

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 ni mkubwa!” 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
• 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!
• Tonga · Zama Mukali!
• Tswana · Zama o godile.

Reading together in Kiswahili

• 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 Kiswahili

• Refu na Fupi
• Fisi na Kunguru
• Ndizi za Bibi
• Nguruwe Hawaruhusiwi
• Hamisi abahatika
• Watoto walioumbwa kwa nta
• Kuku na Jongoo
• Ng'ombe wetu Pendo

See all 100 free Kiswahili books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩‍🏫 Assign this book to a class

Frequently asked questions

Is “Zama ni mkubwa!” free to read?

Yes. “Zama ni mkubwa!” 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 ni mkubwa!” in?

It is written in Kiswahili. Pagine has 100 free children’s books in Kiswahili.

What age is “Zama ni mkubwa!” for?

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

Is “Zama ni mkubwa!” available in other languages?

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

Who wrote “Zama ni mkubwa!”?

“Zama ni mkubwa!” was written by Michael Oguttu and illustrated by Vusi Malindi; the Kiswahili translation is by Matteo E.

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Credits: Zama ni mkubwa! — Written by Michael Oguttu; Illustrated by Vusi Malindi; Translated by Matteo E. Mwita; Read by Lauwo George. Kiswahili, Level 2. From Global Storybooks (global-asp.github.io/storybooks-kenya), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=9984). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026