Izingubo zesikole

Name: Izingubo zesikole
Availability: InStock
Author: Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi

A free picture book in Zulu by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi

Cover of Izingubo zesikole, a Zulu picture book

Izingubo zesikole is a picture book in Zulu 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: Zulu
Written by: Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi
Illustrated by: Mlungisi Dlamini, Ingrid Schechter
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

Izingubo zesikole is a short illustrated picture book in Zulu by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi, illustrated by Mlungisi Dlamini, Ingrid Schechter 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 30 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).

How it begins

Yinde le ngubo. Likhulu leli jezi. Sikhulu lesi sikhwama Ibhande li … Sincane lesi singcoko. Mafishane amasokisi. Kodwa lezi zicathulo zintsha. … zilingana kahle. Izingubo zesikole — Written by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi; Illustrated by Mlungisi Dlamini, Ingrid…

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. “Izingubo zesikole” is also available in:

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

See all 145 free Zulu books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩‍🏫 Assign this book to a class

Frequently asked questions

Is “Izingubo zesikole” free to read?

Yes. “Izingubo zesikole” 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 “Izingubo zesikole” in?

It is written in Zulu. Pagine has 145 free children’s books in Zulu.

What age is “Izingubo zesikole” for?

It is best for ages 2–8 (Level 1 · First words). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.

Is “Izingubo zesikole” available in other languages?

Yes — the same story is in English, Kiswahili, Kikuyu, Kikamba, Kimaasai, Turkana and more.

Who wrote “Izingubo zesikole”?

“Izingubo zesikole” was written by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi and illustrated by Mlungisi Dlamini, Ingrid Schechter; the Zulu translation is by Fikile Simelane.

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Credits: Izingubo zesikole — Written by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi; Illustrated by Mlungisi Dlamini, Ingrid Schechter; 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=1794). CC BY-NC 3.0. · Page updated October 2026