Bilingual Swahili–English Books
A little Swahili. Every day.
The home of Swahili books for kids — bilingual Kiswahili–English stories, free Swahili learning games, and classroom resources for ages 2–8. Learn today's word below, then play the puzzle in 90 seconds. No signup.
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Your 10-minute Swahili routine
No signup. Start anywhere — most families do all three over one evening.
Most-asked questions
Direct answers for parents and teachers
Whatever brought you here — start with the question that matches you. Each page gives a usable answer in under 80 words, plus a printable.
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Our Collection
Best Swahili Children's Books
Top-rated stories to keep the little ones reading, thinking, and growing.
Love Is Kind (Upendo Hufadhili)
A heartwarming bilingual picture book set in Tanzania's Serengeti. Follow Bundi, a timid owl, as she learns kindness takes courage.
S is for Safari
From A is for Andazi to Z is for Zawadi, explore Africa's colors, sounds, and warmth through a bilingual alphabet adventure.
Kuku Kumi (Ten Chickens)
A delightful Swahili counting rhyme for young children. Count ten colourful chickens in this playful bilingual picture book — ideal for early learners discovering Swahili numbers.
Jambo Means Hello
Introduces children to the Swahili alphabet through stunning illustrations by Tom Feelings and engaging pronunciation keys.
We All Went on Safari
A counting journey through Tanzania's grasslands with Maasai friends, meeting elephants, lions, and more while counting in English and Swahili.
Resources
Free Swahili printables
Print-ready sheets for home and the classroom — vocabulary, songs, masks, bunting and more.
Free Teaching-Ready Classroom Resources
The three resources teachers actually use — each with real Swahili audio so your lesson is ready to run. Print them, press play, and go. No sign-up required.
Jambo Welcome Song Sheet
Lyrics and simple actions for the 'Jambo Bwana' welcome song — press play to hear it in real Swahili, then lead your class.
Get the welcome songRead-Aloud Story Guide
Step-by-step guide for reading bilingual stories aloud, with discussion prompts — hear a sample so your pronunciation is spot on.
Get the read-aloud guideEast Africa Map Poster
Colourful printable map showing where Swahili is spoken across East Africa — tap play to hear each country name pronounced for your class display.
Print the East Africa mapOpens each PDF in a new tab — save or print directly from your browser
Why Teach Swahili?
Swahili is spoken by over 100 million people in more than 14 countries. Teaching Swahili fosters cultural pride, global awareness, and cognitive development.
43% of the world's population is bilingual. Give your child the gift of language — think "Hakuna Matata!"
What's Your Swahili Name?
Discover a beautiful, real Swahili name based on yours — and share it with friends!
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Verified Reviews
What Parents Say About Our Swahili Books
"This was a great book. My daughter loved the rhyming words and the bright colorful pictures. It is a very good introduction to Swahili for kids who are learning the language. It kept us engaged and interested to the end!"
— Verified Parent
USA
About Us | Sisi
Our Mission: Bilingual Books for Every Family
"To share Swahili simply with fun rhymes and meaningful bilingual children's books."
As bilingual parents, our goal is to offer choice and make more Swahili children's books available — making it easier for families to enjoy reading aloud together and strengthening second-language acquisition through the introduction of new words and sounds.
Research shows that children exposed to a second language before age eight develop stronger cognitive flexibility, problem-solving skills, and cultural empathy. Our curated collection of Swahili-English bilingual picture books is designed for toddlers, preschoolers, and early readers — bringing East African heritage, Kiswahili vocabulary, and joyful storytelling into homes, classrooms, and libraries worldwide.
Baba Bata, the curious and adventurous duck, is our mascot. Join us — explore the world and share the life-lessons and wonderful experiences along the way.
Written by Parents
Tanzanian parents and educators passionate about Swahili and early childhood literacy.
School Partners
Partner with schools globally to bring Swahili children's books to classrooms and libraries.
Made with Love
Proudly created in Tanzania, celebrating East African culture and heritage.