PagineIncwadi yemozulu
A free picture book in Xhosa by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi
Incwadi yemozulu is a picture book in Xhosa 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
- Xhosa
- Written by
- Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi
- Illustrated by
- Sandra McDougall, Ingrid Schechter
- Translated by
- Siyasanga Manakele
- 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
Incwadi yemozulu is a short illustrated picture book in Xhosa by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi, illustrated by Sandra McDougall, Ingrid Schechter and translated by Siyasanga Manakele. 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 Xhosa. 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 37 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Komile. Ilanga liyatshisa. Kukho umoya. Kukho amafu. Kuyabanda. Kuyanetha. Kuyaduduma. Ndibona umnyama. Incwadi yemozulu — Written by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi; Illustrated by Sandra McDougall, Ingrid Schechter; Translated by Siyasanga Manakele. Xhosa, Level 1. From Global Storybooks (southafricareads.org),…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. “Incwadi yemozulu” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Boek oor die weer
- Bemba · Ibuuku lya pamiceele
- Dagbani · Dabisili nahiŋgbana buku
- English · Weather book
- Ga · Je lɛ mlitsakemɔ he wolo
- Irish · An Aimsir
- Jamaican Creole · Weda buk
- Kaonde · Buuku Wankilo
- Khoekhoegowab · ǂOaǀnanumâsib ǂKhanis
- Kikuyu · Ibuku rĩa rĩera
- Kimaasai · Impukunót ó oloing’áng’e
- Kiswahili · Kitabu cha hali ya hewa
- Krio · Wɛda buk
- Luganda · Akatabo k’obudde
- Lugbarati (official orthography) · Búkù àngù mile nɨ́ rɨ̀
- Lukhonzo · Ekitabu ky’obuthuku
- Lumasaaba · Shiitabo shishiwaamba khu bwiile
- Lunda · Mukanda wa watusulu
- Lusoga · Ekitabo ekiraga embeera yobwiire
- Luvale · Mukanda wajingonde
- Mauritian Creole · Liv meteo
- Nepali · मौसमको किताब
- Nyanja · Buku ya nyengo
- Olukhayo · Esitabu Sialinga
- Oshikwanyama · Embo longhalo yomhepo
- Oshindonga · Embo lyonkalo yombepo
- Otjiherero · Embo romaukiro womuinyo weyuru
- Sesotho · Buka ya boemo ba lehodimo
- Somali · Buugi cimilida
- Spanish · El libro del clima
- Tibetan · གནམ་གཤིས་ཀྱི་དེབ།
- Tonga · Bbuku Lyabweende Bwaluwo
- Tsonga · Buku ya Maxelo
- Tswana · Buka ya seemo sa bosa
- Turkana · Akitab Na Eboyor Akwap
- Yoruba · Ìwé òjò
- Zulu · Incwadi yesimo sezulu
Reading together in Xhosa
- 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 Xhosa
Iculo lika Sakima
Itishu kaThuli
Lo uphakathi
UFifi noTeddy
Mama, sizawutya ntoni emini?
U-Unathi neRhamncwa eliMdaka, eliNukayo
UTumi owoyikayo
Ukuhleka okulahlekileyo
See all 145 free Xhosa books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Incwadi yemozulu” free to read?
Yes. “Incwadi yemozulu” 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 “Incwadi yemozulu” in?
It is written in Xhosa. Pagine has 145 free children’s books in Xhosa.
What age is “Incwadi yemozulu” for?
It is best for ages 2–8 (Level 1 · First words). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Incwadi yemozulu” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Yoruba, Kiswahili, Kikuyu, Kimaasai, Turkana and more.
Who wrote “Incwadi yemozulu”?
“Incwadi yemozulu” was written by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi and illustrated by Sandra McDougall, Ingrid Schechter; the Xhosa translation is by Siyasanga Manakele.
Log books, set goals and build a daily reading habit — free on iOS, Android and the web.
Get the free app →Credits: Incwadi yemozulu — Written by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi; Illustrated by Sandra McDougall, Ingrid Schechter; Translated by Siyasanga Manakele. Xhosa, Level 1. From Global Storybooks (southafricareads.org), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=1861). CC BY-NC 3.0. · Page updated October 2026