Bana ba kerese

Name: Bana ba kerese
Availability: InStock
Author: Southern African Folktale

A free picture book in Sepedi by Southern African Folktale

Cover of Bana ba kerese, a Sepedi picture book

Bana ba kerese is a picture book in Sepedi for ages 5–8 by Southern African Folktale that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.

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Language: Sepedi
Written by: Southern African Folktale
Illustrated by: Wiehan de Jager
Translated by: Maphokane Mapule Mohlamme
Reading level: ages 5–8 · kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 2 · First sentences
From: South Africa
Source: Global Storybooks
Licence: CC BY 3.0
Price: Free — read online, nothing to download

About this book

Bana ba kerese is a short illustrated picture book in Sepedi by Southern African Folktale, illustrated by Wiehan de Jager and translated by Maphokane Mapule Mohlamme. 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 Sepedi. 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 30 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).

How it begins

Kgale kgale go be go na le balapa le lengwe la go phela ka thabo. Ba be ba sa kgopišane. Ba be ba thuša batswadi ba bona ka gae le kua mašemong. Eupša ba be sa dumelelwa go ba kgaufsi…

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. “Bana ba kerese” is also available in:

Reading together in Sepedi

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 Sepedi

See all 104 free Sepedi books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩‍🏫 Assign this book to a class

Frequently asked questions

Is “Bana ba kerese” free to read?

Yes. “Bana ba kerese” 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 “Bana ba kerese” in?

It is written in Sepedi. Pagine has 104 free children’s books in Sepedi.

What age is “Bana ba kerese” for?

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

Is “Bana ba kerese” available in other languages?

Yes — the same story is in English, Kiswahili, EkeGusii, Kikamba, Kimaasai, Turkana and more.

Who wrote “Bana ba kerese”?

“Bana ba kerese” was written by Southern African Folktale and illustrated by Wiehan de Jager; the Sepedi translation is by Maphokane Mapule Mohlamme.

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Credits: Bana ba kerese — Written by Southern African Folktale; Illustrated by Wiehan de Jager; Translated by Maphokane Mapule Mohlamme. Sepedi, Level 2. From Global Storybooks (southafricareads.org), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=2181). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026