Inkiláni e sukúul
A free picture book in Kimaasai by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi

Inkiláni e sukúul is a picture book in Kimaasai 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
- Kimaasai
- Written by
- Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi
- Illustrated by
- Mlungisi Dlamini, Ingrid Schechter
- Translated by
- Leonard Kotikash
- Reading level
- ages 2–8 · preschool, kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 1 · First words
- From
- Kenya, Tanzania
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY-NC 3.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Inkiláni e sukúul is a short illustrated picture book in Kimaasai by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi, illustrated by Mlungisi Dlamini, Ingrid Schechter and translated by Leonard Kotikash. 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 Kimaasai. 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 30 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Kéadó ená kílâ te entitó. Kélalá ená kílâ é oríóng te entitó. Kéísápuk elé bené te entitó. Óre ená kítatí… Éíkití ená ópiyia. Éídorropu kuná sókisiní. Éíng’ejuko kuná ámuka. …náa káajîng áaitobiraki. Inkiláni e sukúul — Written by Clare Verbeek,…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. “Inkiláni e sukúul” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Skoolklere
- Aringati · Ujaku ꞌbã bõ ngó sụ̃ kụ́ lụ̃ drị̂ kî
- Bemba · Ifyakufwala fya kusukulu
- English · School clothes
- Irish · Éadaí scoile
- Jamaican Creole · Skuul kluoz
- Kaonde · Bivwalo bya Sukuulu
- Khoekhoegowab · Skol saran
- Kikamba · Ngua sya sukulu
- Kikuyu · Nguo cia thukuru
- Kiswahili · Sare za shule
- Lukhonzo · Ebyambalho eby’erithendekero
- Lunda · Yakuvwala yakushikola
- Lunyole · Engoye j’esomero
- Lusoga · Byambalo bya isomero
- Luvale · Uvwalo wakushikola
- Mauritian Creole · Iniform lekol
- Nyanja · Zovala za kusukulu
- Oshikwanyama · Omidjalo dofikola
- Oshindonga · Omuzalo gwosikola
- Otjiherero · Ozombanda zosikore
- Sesotho · Diaparo tsa sekolo
- Somali · Dharka iskuulka
- Spanish · Ropa de escuela
- Tonga · Zyisani Zyakucikolo
- Tsonga · Swiambalo swa xikolo
- Tswana · Diaparo tsa sekolo
- Turkana · Ng’Iworui a Esukul
- Xhosa · Iimpahla zesikolo
- Zulu · Izingubo zesikole
Reading together in Kimaasai
- 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 Kimaasai
Olotí aláshe túrúáí
Aníng
Anansi ó Eng’énó
Káínyoo peê méáta olmákau ilpápít
Ilpápít
Nozibele ó ilpápít okúni
Inkéra é emánóó
Impukunót ó oloing’áng’e
See all 11 free Kimaasai books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Inkiláni e sukúul” free to read?
Yes. “Inkiláni e sukúul” 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 “Inkiláni e sukúul” in?
It is written in Kimaasai. Pagine has 11 free children’s books in Kimaasai.
What age is “Inkiláni e sukúul” for?
It is best for ages 2–8 (Level 1 · First words). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Inkiláni e sukúul” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Kiswahili, Kikuyu, Kikamba, Turkana, Somali and more.
Who wrote “Inkiláni e sukúul”?
“Inkiláni e sukúul” was written by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi and illustrated by Mlungisi Dlamini, Ingrid Schechter; the Kimaasai translation is by Leonard Kotikash.
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Get the free app →Credits: Inkiláni e sukúul — Written by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi; Illustrated by Mlungisi Dlamini, Ingrid Schechter; Translated by Leonard Kotikash. Kimaasai, Level 1. From Global Storybooks (global-asp.github.io/storybooks-kenya), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=1794). CC BY-NC 3.0. · Page updated October 2026