Diaparo tsa sekolo
A free picture book in Sesotho by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi

Diaparo tsa sekolo is a picture book in Sesotho 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
- Sesotho
- Written by
- Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi
- Illustrated by
- Mlungisi Dlamini, Ingrid Schechter
- Translated by
- Maria Vaz
- Reading level
- ages 2–8 · preschool, kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 1 · First words
- From
- South Africa
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY-NC 3.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Diaparo tsa sekolo is a short illustrated picture book in Sesotho by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi, illustrated by Mlungisi Dlamini, Ingrid Schechter and translated by Maria Vaz. 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 Sesotho. 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 30 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Mose ona o molelele. Jeresi ena e kgolo. Mokotlana ona o moholo. Lebanta lena le… Katiba eo e nyenyane. Dikausu di kgutshwane. Empa dieta tsena di ntjha. …di ntekana hantle Diaparo tsa sekolo — Written by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla,…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. “Diaparo tsa sekolo” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Skoolklere
- Aringati · Ujaku ꞌbã bõ ngó sụ̃ kụ́ lụ̃ drị̂ kî
- Bemba · Ifyakufwala fya kusukulu
- English · School clothes
- Irish · Éadaí scoile
- Jamaican Creole · Skuul kluoz
- Kaonde · Bivwalo bya Sukuulu
- Khoekhoegowab · Skol saran
- Kikamba · Ngua sya sukulu
- Kikuyu · Nguo cia thukuru
- Kimaasai · Inkiláni e sukúul
- Kiswahili · Sare za shule
- Lukhonzo · Ebyambalho eby’erithendekero
- Lunda · Yakuvwala yakushikola
- Lunyole · Engoye j’esomero
- Lusoga · Byambalo bya isomero
- Luvale · Uvwalo wakushikola
- Mauritian Creole · Iniform lekol
- Nyanja · Zovala za kusukulu
- Oshikwanyama · Omidjalo dofikola
- Oshindonga · Omuzalo gwosikola
- Otjiherero · Ozombanda zosikore
- Somali · Dharka iskuulka
- Spanish · Ropa de escuela
- Tonga · Zyisani Zyakucikolo
- Tsonga · Swiambalo swa xikolo
- Tswana · Diaparo tsa sekolo
- Turkana · Ng’Iworui a Esukul
- Xhosa · Iimpahla zesikolo
- Zulu · Izingubo zesikole
Reading together in Sesotho
- 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 Sesotho
Moshemane ya jang dipanekuku feela
Setshelo sa dibisikiti se tlameha ho wa
Ke Tla o thusa
Kgauta ya Ntatemoholo
Katse le Ntja ba a taka ba tlotsa ka mebala
Neo le lempetje
Dikatse tsa Selemeng
Mosuwetsana Akinyi
See all 125 free Sesotho books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Diaparo tsa sekolo” free to read?
Yes. “Diaparo tsa sekolo” 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 “Diaparo tsa sekolo” in?
It is written in Sesotho. Pagine has 125 free children’s books in Sesotho.
What age is “Diaparo tsa sekolo” for?
It is best for ages 2–8 (Level 1 · First words). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Diaparo tsa sekolo” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Kiswahili, Kikuyu, Kikamba, Kimaasai, Turkana and more.
Who wrote “Diaparo tsa sekolo”?
“Diaparo tsa sekolo” was written by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi and illustrated by Mlungisi Dlamini, Ingrid Schechter; the Sesotho translation is by Maria Vaz.
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Get the free app →Credits: Diaparo tsa sekolo — Written by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi; Illustrated by Mlungisi Dlamini, Ingrid Schechter; Translated by Maria Vaz. Sesotho, Level 1. From Global Storybooks (southafricareads.org), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=1794). CC BY-NC 3.0. · Page updated October 2026