PagineHobaneng dikubu di se na moriri
A free picture book in Sesotho by Basilio Gimo, David Ker
Hobaneng dikubu di se na moriri is a picture book in Sesotho for ages 5–8 by Basilio Gimo, David Ker that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Sesotho
- Written by
- Basilio Gimo, David Ker
- Illustrated by
- Carol Liddiment
- Translated by
- Maria Vaz
- 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
Hobaneng dikubu di se na moriri is a short illustrated picture book in Sesotho by Basilio Gimo, David Ker, illustrated by Carol Liddiment and translated by Maria Vaz. 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 Sesotho. 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 31 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Ka letsatsi le leng Mmutlanyana o ne a tsamaya pela noka. Kubu le yena o ne a le moo, a itsamaela butle mme a ja bojwang bo botala bo monate. Kubu o ne a sa tsebe hore Mmutlanyana o moo,…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. “Hobaneng dikubu di se na moriri” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Hoekom seekoeie nie hare het nie
- Alur · The lembe muketho rau yuk wiye ope
- Ateso · Inyobo eyinakit imiriai emameete kede ka ajul?
- Bemba · Ico imfubu ishakwatila umushishi
- Jamaican Creole · Wa mek Ipo no av no ier
- Kaonde · Kyabujila Byovwe Kwikala Nabooya
- Khoekhoegowab · ǃKhaon ǀûna ūhâba tama ǃaromas
- Kimaasai · Káínyoo peê méáta olmákau ilpápít
- Kiswahili · Kwa nini Viboko Hawana Nywele
- Luganda · Lwaki Envubu tezirina bwoya
- Lugbarati (official orthography) · Ròbí yɨ mà ‘bɨ́ko yo à’dɨ e’yósɨ̀à rɨ̀
- Lukhonzo · Habwaki Eyisere siyiwite Bweya
- Lumasaaba · Lwasiina tsifubu tsitamba bubwoya
- Lunda · Mulon’gadi anzovu chiyabulilawu insuki?
- Lusoga · Lwaki Wanvubu Azira Bwoya
- Luvale · Chahonesa nguvu kupwa naungona
- Ma'di · Ra Robi olujo biako rii adu?
- Mauritian Creole · Kifer ban ipopotam pena pwal ?
- Nyanja · Ncifukwa Ciani Mvuu zilibe Tsitsi
- Oshikwanyama · Omolwashike ondjabameva ihe na olududi
- Oshindonga · Omolwashike oondjambameya dhaa na omafufu
- Otjiherero · Ongwaye ozonḓuu tji ze hi na omainya
- Rutooro · Habwaki Ensere Tizigira Bwoya?
- Somali · Waa maxay sababta aysan jeerta ulahayn timo
- Spanish · ¿Por qué los hipopótamos no tienen pelo?
- Swati · Kungani imvubu ingena tinwele
- Tonga · Civwubwe Ncatajisi Boya
- Tswana · Goreng bokubu ba sena moriri
- Turkana · Nyonte Emakar Epir Ng’Itim
- Xhosa · Kutheni iiMvubu Zingenaboya Nje
- Zulu · Kungani umvubu engena zinwele?
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
Peo e nyane
Ho batlana le moya wa selemo
Sindiwe le dinakangwedi
Ke konopo ya mang ee?
Ke mang ya ka balang ho fihla ho leshome?
Katse le Ntja le serurubele
Ho ba le boqhwala ha se ho hloka bokgoni
Nko ya tlou
See all 125 free Sesotho books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Hobaneng dikubu di se na moriri” free to read?
Yes. “Hobaneng dikubu di se na moriri” 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 “Hobaneng dikubu di se na moriri” in?
It is written in Sesotho. Pagine has 125 free children’s books in Sesotho.
What age is “Hobaneng dikubu di se na moriri” for?
It is best for ages 5–8 (Level 2 · First sentences). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Hobaneng dikubu di se na moriri” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in Kiswahili, Kimaasai, Turkana, Somali, Zulu, Xhosa and more.
Who wrote “Hobaneng dikubu di se na moriri”?
“Hobaneng dikubu di se na moriri” was written by Basilio Gimo, David Ker and illustrated by Carol Liddiment; the Sesotho translation is by Maria Vaz.
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Get the free app →Credits: Hobaneng dikubu di se na moriri — Written by Basilio Gimo, David Ker; Illustrated by Carol Liddiment; Translated by Maria Vaz. Sesotho, Level 2. From Global Storybooks (southafricareads.org), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=6160). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026