PagineAKAKUWAN
A free picture book in Ateso by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi
AKAKUWAN is a picture book in Ateso for ages 2–8 by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Ateso
- Written by
- Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi
- Illustrated by
- Mlungisi Dlamini, Cathy Feek, Ingrid Schechter
- Translated by
- John Emongot
- Reading level
- ages 2–8 · preschool, kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 1 · First words
- From
- Uganda
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY-NC 3.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
AKAKUWAN is a short illustrated picture book in Ateso by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi, illustrated by Mlungisi Dlamini, Cathy Feek, Ingrid Schechter and translated by John Emongot. It is written for ages 2–8 (Nursery–Year 1) and is graded as Level 1 · First words, so it works as a read-aloud for little ones and as practice for children learning to read in Ateso. The book comes from Global Storybooks and is shared under an open CC BY-NC 3.0 licence, which is why it is free to read. The same story is available in 29 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Apedori engo akerit. Apedori engo aisom. Apedori engo ekoso. Apedori engo aiduu. Apedori engo aisuuk. apedori engo aipet emopira. Apedori engo aiwonyakin. Konye mam engo apedori aipor AKAKUWAN — Written by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi; Illustrated by Mlungisi…Opening lines quoted from the openly licensed book (CC BY-NC 3.0).
This story in other languages
Reading the same story in two languages helps bilingual children connect words they already know. “AKAKUWAN” is also available in:
- Acholi · Kuma
- Afrikaans · My liggaam
- Bemba · Umubili wandi
- Irish · Mo chorp
- Jamaican Creole · Mi badi
- Kaonde · Mubuji Wami
- Khoekhoegowab · Ti Soros
- Kikamba · Mwii wakwa
- Kiswahili · Mwili wangu
- Krio · Mi bodi
- Luganda · Omubiri gwange
- Lukhonzo · Omubiri Waghi
- Lunda · Muzhimba wami
- Lusoga · Omubiri Gwange
- Luvale · Mujimba wami
- Mauritian Creole · Mo lekor
- Nyanja · Thupi Langa
- Oshikwanyama · Olutu lange
- Oshindonga · Olutu lwandje
- Otjiherero · Orutu rwandje
- Sepedi · Mmele waka
- Sesotho · Mmele wa ka
- Somali · Jirkeyga
- Spanish · Mi cuerpo
- Tonga · Mubili Wangu
- Tsonga · Miri wa mina
- Tswana · Mmele wame
- Xhosa · Umzimba wam
- Zulu · Umzimba wami
Reading together in Ateso
- 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 Ateso
See all 8 free Ateso books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “AKAKUWAN” free to read?
Yes. “AKAKUWAN” 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-NC 3.0).
What language is “AKAKUWAN” in?
It is written in Ateso. Pagine has 8 free children’s books in Ateso.
What age is “AKAKUWAN” for?
It is best for ages 2–8 (Level 1 · First words). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “AKAKUWAN” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in Kiswahili, Kikamba, Somali, Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and more.
Who wrote “AKAKUWAN”?
“AKAKUWAN” was written by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi and illustrated by Mlungisi Dlamini, Cathy Feek, Ingrid Schechter; the Ateso translation is by John Emongot.
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Get the free app →Credits: AKAKUWAN — Written by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi; Illustrated by Mlungisi Dlamini, Cathy Feek, Ingrid Schechter; Translated by John Emongot. Ateso, Level 1. From Global Storybooks (global-asp.github.io/storybooks-uganda), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=1790). CC BY-NC 3.0. · Page updated October 2026