Jesus and the Children
Jesus and Zacchaeus
What are they doing?
Learn some common verbs with this fun early reader. Illustrated by N.D. Mazin. This book is also available on the African Storybook website. You can find the English version here. If you look at the English book’s information, you can see all the other languages it has been translated into under “Translations and Adaptations”. Want […]
Luwo’s House
My Family
Let’s Eat!
Farm Animals
Learn the names of some common animals with this easy reader book. This book is also available on the African Storybook website. You can find the English version here. If you look at the English book’s information, you can see all the other languages it has been translated into under “Translations and Adaptations”. Want this […]
Nema Buys Thread
Nema is working on a project. She needs some thread. Illustrated by Mirjam Gyger. Artwork and text used by permission of JOCUM and Mercy Air. This book is also available on the African Storybook website. You can find the English version here. If you look at the English book’s information, you can see all the […]
Everyone is Different
Tall? Short? How would you describe that person? Learn your adjectives with this charmingly illustrated book. This book is also available on the African Storybook website. You can find the English version here. If you look at the English book’s information, you can see all the other languages it has been translated into under “Translations […]
Where Is?
With hidden animals, repeating words, and delightful illustrations, ‘Where Is’ is an engaging first words book. This book is also available on the African Storybook website. You can find the English version here. If you look at the English book’s information, you can see all the other languages it has been translated into under “Translations […]
Face and Body
Learn the parts of the face and body with the help of some beautifully illustrated friends. This book is also available on the African Storybook website. You can find the English version here for the parts of the face. You can find the English version here for the parts of the body. If you look […]
One Two Three
The Bean book is one of our most popular titles. In places where people are unaccustomed to reading their own language, One Two Three Beans provides a low-stress way to have a successful reading session and explore reading in their own language. This book can be adapted for any language. Want this book in your […]
Wild Animals
This book is one of our most popular titles. It features photos of wild animals and their names in local languages. The photos were used by permission from the Wikimedia Foundation. This book can be adapted to contain animals appropriate to any region of Africa. Want this book in your own language? Visit this page […]
Sara’s Canoe
Sara has a canoe, and everyone wants her help to cross the river! Find out what happens when she tries to give everyone a ride at once in this fun, rhythmic story. Illustrated by Rachel Greer. Artwork and text used by permission of JOCUM and Mercy Air. This book is also available on the African […]
Nakehi and the Beans
A couple years ago, we reached out to Sindia Foster and the rest of the Elomwe team, asking if they had stories they would like us to make books about. One story they gave us was this story about a proud man, and his neighbors. According to Little Zebra Books director, David Ker, “We don’t just […]
Proverbs
This project features amazing artwork by Australian artist, Max Okoto. For this book, we provided Max with English translations of 16 animal proverbs of the Nyungwe people, and these are the result. This book is also available on the African Storybook website. You can find the English version here.You can find the Nyungwe version here. […]
Rats!
Rats! tells the story of a bunch of rats who try to get into a bottle of cooking oil. The story teaches the value of cooperation. Stephanie Simpson, a South African artist has illustrated this fun book with her distinctive quirky style. This book is also available on the African Storybook website. You can find […]
No Pigs Allowed
No Pigs Allowed is an example of an origin story. Origin stories are special kinds of folktales that explain in a humorous way why things are the way they are. Our first story, Rabbit Makes Friends with Fire, is an origin story about why rabbits have big feet. (They got stepped on by hippo!) And […]
Jesus Feeds the Multitude
This book is based on the story of one of Jesus’ miracles. It reminds us that if we’re willing to give what we have, He can do the impossible. The wonderfully dynamic illustrations were done by South African artist Gavin Thomson. This book is also available on the African Storybook website. You can find the […]
Jesus Walks on Water
This story about Jesus is charmingly illustrated by South African artist Gavin Thomson. Gavin actually traveled all the way to Mozambique to figure out how to portray Jesus in a way that Mozambican children liked. To read more about the development of this book, read our blog post here. This book is also available on the […]
Our Father
The words of the Lord’s prayer are accompanied by beautifully detailed illustrations from South African artist Marleen Visser. Familiar Mozambican scenes drive home the power and relevance of the Lord’s prayer for children today. This book is also available on the African Storybook website. You can find the English version here. If you look at […]
The Lord Is My Shepherd
South African artist Marleen Visser beautifully illustrates Psalm 23 with images from life in rural Mozambique, giving us a fresh look at this classic psalm. This book is also available on the African Storybook website. You can find the English version here. If you look at the English book’s information, you can see all the […]
Who Is My Neighbor?
In the parable of the good Samaritan in Luke 15, Jesus shows that being a good neighbor is all about compassion. Illustrated by South African artist Tamsin Hinrichsen, the book vividly brings to life a familiar story by placing it in a modern context. This book is also available on the African Storybook website. You […]
The Lost Son
In the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15, Jesus shows how much God cares about everyone, even if they’ve done wrong things. South African artists Magriet Brink and Leo Daly created the poignant illustrations for this book. This book is also available on the African Storybook website. You can find the English version […]
The Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin
In the parable of the lost sheep and coin in Luke 15, Jesus shows how precious every single person is to God. South African artists Magriet Brink and Leo Daly created the beautiful illustrations for this book. This book is also available on the African Storybook website. You can find the English version here. If […]
The Widow and the Judge
This book illustrates Jesus’ parable in Luke 18 in which a widow is rewarded for her persistence in prayer. American illustrator, Brianna Alexander, created a beautiful series of illustrations that perfectly complement the Gospel story. This book is available for translation in any language. This book is also available on the African Storybook website. You […]
Guests at the Feast
For this book, we took Jesus’ parable from Luke 14 about wedding guests and set it in contemporary Africa. The artwork by South African artist Alzette Prins draws attention to Jesus’ message of how God welcomes everyone to his feast. This book is available for translation in any language. This book is also available on […]
The Sower
In the parable of the Sower in Luke 8, Jesus shows how his message is received by different types of people. South African artist, Tamsin Hinrichsin, provides the whimsical illustrations for this book. This book is also available on the African Storybook website. You can find the English version here. If you look at the […]
The Rich Fool
This parable of Jesus from Luke 12 tells the story of a rich man who neglects the things that matter most. The parable teaches us to store up treasures in heaven. The book is colorfully illustrated by American artist, Brianna Alexander. This book is also available on the African Storybook website. You can find the […]
The Friend at Night
This parable of Jesus from Luke 11 tells the story of what happens when a man gets a surprise visit at night. The story teaches the values of generosity, persistence and faithful prayer. The book is humorously illustrated by South African artist, Magriet Brink. This book is also available on the African Storybook website. You […]
Rabbit Makes Friends With Fire
Rabbits are popular characters in African folktales. They are famous for behaving badly and always getting away with it. In this Nyungwe folktale, we see what happens when Rabbit refuses to forgive Hippo for stepping on his foot. African folktales frequently teach positive messages by showing bad behavior. In addition to being a funny story, […]
The Friendship of Baboon and Crocodile
How strong is friendship? That’s the question this Cinyungwe story asks. The title in the original language is, The End of the Friendship between Crocodile and Baboon. Things are fine for these good friends until Crocodile gets sick. The witch doctor creates a crisis when he tells them that Baboon must pay the ultimate sacrifice if […]
The Animals Dig A Well
This Nyungwe folktale features stunning artwork by Brazilian artist João Carlos Brito. The story tells what happens when the animals try to keep Rabbit away from their waterhole because he didn’t help dig! This book is also available on the African Storybook website. You can find the English version here. If you look at the […]
Goat, Dog and Cow
Taxis are a familiar sight on roads all over southern Africa. So are goats, dogs, and cows. This charming modern folktale is an explanatory story. It imagines a history to explain why each of the animals interacts in a different way with the familiar form of transportation. This book is also available on the African […]
Lion Gets Sick
In this traditional folktale of the Nyungwe people of Mozambique, the animals select Lion to be their king. But when he gets sick, Hyena comes up with a plan to get Rabbit in trouble. Will Rabbit survive? This book is lavishly illustrated by Argentinian artist, Claudio Molina. This book is also available on the African […]
Chameleon Races Rabbit
A couple years ago, we reached out to Sindia Foster and the rest of the Elomwe team, asking if they had stories they would like us to make books about. The story they gave us was this traditional tale about a trickster chameleon and a hapless rabbit. Rabbits feature heavily in many stories from this […]
