PagineEzimbili
A free picture book in Zulu by Carole Bloch
Ezimbili is a picture book in Zulu for ages 2–8 by Carole Bloch that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Zulu
- Written by
- Carole Bloch
- Illustrated by
- Richard MacIntosh
- Translated by
- Fikile Simelane
- 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
Ezimbili is a short illustrated picture book in Zulu by Carole Bloch, illustrated by Richard MacIntosh and translated by Fikile Simelane. 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 Zulu. 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 26 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Izandla ezimbili ezincane zokubamba. Izinyawo ezimbili ezincane zokukhahlela. Amehlo amabili okubona. Izindlebe ezimbili zokulalela. Nezingalo ezimbili ezithandekayo zokuGONA! Ezimbili — Written by Carole Bloch; Illustrated by Richard MacIntosh; Translated by Fikile Simelane; Read by Beauty Ngwenya. Zulu, Level 1. From…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. “Ezimbili” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Twee
- Bemba · Tubili
- Dagbani · ayi
- English · Two
- Jamaican Creole · Tuu
- Kaonde · Tubiji
- Khoekhoegowab · ǀGam
- Kigogo · Nyejete
- Kikuyu · Igĩrĩ
- Kiswahili · Mbili
- Krio · Tu
- Lukhonzo · Ibiri
- Lunda · Ayedi
- Luvale · Avali
- Mauritian Creole · De
- Nyanja · Awili
- Oshikwanyama · Mbali
- Oshindonga · Mbali
- Otjiherero · Uvari
- Sepedi · Pedi
- Sesotho · Pedi
- Somali · Labo
- Spanish · Dos
- Tonga · Tobilo
- Tswana · Pedi
- Turkana · Ng’arei
Reading together in Zulu
- 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 Zulu
Mama, sizodlani emini?
U-Unathi neNunu Enukayo Engcolile
Intuthwane evilaphayo
Akuyena uThabi!
UMina Nengubo Yosuku Lokuzalwa
Isitayela SikaRafiki
ULara, umaqhulwane ophuzi
Inhlanzi eyayingakwazi ukubhukuda
See all 145 free Zulu books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Ezimbili” free to read?
Yes. “Ezimbili” 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 “Ezimbili” in?
It is written in Zulu. Pagine has 145 free children’s books in Zulu.
What age is “Ezimbili” for?
It is best for ages 2–8 (Level 1 · First words). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Ezimbili” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Kiswahili, Kikuyu, Turkana, Somali, Afrikaans and more.
Who wrote “Ezimbili”?
“Ezimbili” was written by Carole Bloch and illustrated by Richard MacIntosh; the Zulu translation is by Fikile Simelane.
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Get the free app →Credits: Ezimbili — Written by Carole Bloch; Illustrated by Richard MacIntosh; Translated by Fikile Simelane; Read by Beauty Ngwenya. Zulu, Level 1. From Global Storybooks (southafricareads.org), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=3072). CC BY-NC 3.0. · Page updated October 2026