Gweno Kodi Ongongolo

Name: Gweno Kodi Ongongolo
Availability: InStock
Author: Winny Asara

A free picture book in Dhopadhola by Winny Asara

Cover of Gweno Kodi Ongongolo, a Dhopadhola picture book

Gweno Kodi Ongongolo is a picture book in Dhopadhola for ages 5–11 by Winny Asara that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.

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Language: Dhopadhola
Written by: Winny Asara
Illustrated by: Magriet Brink
Translated by: Hellen Alowo
Reading level: ages 5–11 · kindergarten to 2nd grade, 3rd to 5th grade · Level 3 · First paragraphs
From: Uganda
Source: Global Storybooks
Licence: CC BY 3.0
Price: Free — read online, nothing to download

About this book

Gweno Kodi Ongongolo is a short illustrated picture book in Dhopadhola by Winny Asara, illustrated by Magriet Brink and translated by Hellen Alowo. It is written for ages 5–11 (Grades 2–3) and is graded as Level 3 · First paragraphs, so it works as a read-aloud for little ones and as practice for children learning to read in Dhopadhola. 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 26 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).

How it begins

Gweno kodi Ongongolo oyido mere. To oyido ju tere pyemo gi achieli kwong jo. Ndelo achieli ju yiko tuko mupira nyaka juneni jatuko maberi. Jukadho ikisawe toju chako tuko pajo. Gweno oyido ni piyopiyo to Ongongolo oyido nipiyo swa. Gweno…

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. “Gweno Kodi Ongongolo” is also available in:

Reading together in Dhopadhola

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 Dhopadhola

See all 7 free Dhopadhola books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩‍🏫 Assign this book to a class

Frequently asked questions

Is “Gweno Kodi Ongongolo” free to read?

Yes. “Gweno Kodi Ongongolo” 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 “Gweno Kodi Ongongolo” in?

It is written in Dhopadhola. Pagine has 7 free children’s books in Dhopadhola.

What age is “Gweno Kodi Ongongolo” for?

It is best for ages 5–11 (Level 3 · First paragraphs). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.

Is “Gweno Kodi Ongongolo” available in other languages?

Yes — the same story is in Somali, Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Tswana, Sesotho and more.

Who wrote “Gweno Kodi Ongongolo”?

“Gweno Kodi Ongongolo” was written by Winny Asara and illustrated by Magriet Brink; the Dhopadhola translation is by Hellen Alowo.

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Credits: Gweno Kodi Ongongolo — Written by Winny Asara; Illustrated by Magriet Brink; Translated by Hellen Alowo. Dhopadhola, Level 3. From Global Storybooks (global-asp.github.io/storybooks-uganda), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=9094). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026