Efiiri
A free picture book in Lunyole by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi

Efiiri is a picture book in Lunyole 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
- Lunyole
- Written by
- Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi
- Illustrated by
- Bronwen Heath, Ingrid Schechter
- Translated by
- Gershom Hirome
- 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
Efiiri is a short illustrated picture book in Lunyole by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi, illustrated by Bronwen Heath, Ingrid Schechter and translated by Gershom Hirome. 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 Lunyole. 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 34 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Tina ali n’efiiri nyiipi Anna ali n’efiiri ereeŋi. Kasalina ali n’efiiri erihilira erala obuleeŋi. Zauma ahambire efiiri lirye. Bbabbu ali n’ehirefu. Zaina asusuuye efiiri lirye Tabo ahendehiiseho efiiri. Tabo abegireho efiiri lilye. Efiiri — 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. “Efiiri” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Hare
- Aringati · ̃ ĩnũ wé lẽ Drĩꞌ̣ bị́ Iz
- Ateso · Itima
- Bemba · Umushishi
- English · Hair
- Irish · Gruaig
- Jamaican Creole · Ier
- Kaonde · Nsuki
- Khoekhoegowab · ǀÛn
- Kigogo · Mvwili
- Kikamba · Nzwĩĩ
- Kimaasai · Ilpápít
- Kiswahili · Nywele
- Krio · Ia
- Luganda · Enviri
- Lukhonzo · Esy’anzwiri
- Lumasaaba · Litsuune
- Lunda · Insuki
- Lusoga · Nviiri
- Luvale · Jikhambu
- Mauritian Creole · Seve
- Nyanja · Tsitsi
- Oshikwanyama · Eexwiki
- Oshindonga · Omafufu
- Otjiherero · Ozondjise
- Sesotho · Moriri
- Somali · Timo
- Spanish · El pelo
- Tonga · Masusu
- Tswana · Moriri
- Turkana · Ng’Itim
- Venda · Mavhudzi
- Xhosa · Iinwele
- Zulu · Izinwele
Reading together in Lunyole
- 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 Lunyole
Ohuŋumulira ewa nguhwa
Muto yange omudoto
Embusi, Embwa n’Eῃombe
Weŋulira otye?
Ekapa yange yiri ŋeena?
Omulagiriri w’aŋali omudungere n’omwegalulo gugwe
Engoye j’esomero
Omusinde omuleeŋi obugali
See all 19 free Lunyole books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Efiiri” free to read?
Yes. “Efiiri” 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 “Efiiri” in?
It is written in Lunyole. Pagine has 19 free children’s books in Lunyole.
What age is “Efiiri” for?
It is best for ages 2–8 (Level 1 · First words). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Efiiri” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Kiswahili, Kikamba, Kimaasai, Turkana, Somali and more.
Who wrote “Efiiri”?
“Efiiri” was written by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi and illustrated by Bronwen Heath, Ingrid Schechter; the Lunyole translation is by Gershom Hirome.
Log books, set goals and build a daily reading habit — free on iOS, Android and the web.
Get the free app →Credits: Efiiri — Written by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi; Illustrated by Bronwen Heath, Ingrid Schechter; Translated by Gershom Hirome. Lunyole, Level 1. From Global Storybooks (global-asp.github.io/storybooks-uganda), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=1746). CC BY-NC 3.0. · Page updated October 2026