PagineKalli Dabbobin
A free picture book in Hausa by Jenny Katz
Kalli Dabbobin is a picture book in Hausa for ages 2–8 by Jenny Katz that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Hausa
- Written by
- Jenny Katz
- Illustrated by
- Sandy Campbell
- Translated by
- Halima Lawal Daura
- Reading level
- ages 2–8 · preschool, kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 1 · First words
- From
- Nigeria
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY-NC 3.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Kalli Dabbobin is a short illustrated picture book in Hausa by Jenny Katz, illustrated by Sandy Campbell and translated by Halima Lawal Daura. 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 Hausa. 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 25 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Kalli dabbodin Shanu na kuka, “moo.” Akuya na cewa, “meh, meh.” Doki na haniniya Alade na gurnani Kaza na yin kyarkyara Kare na woof-woof Manomin ya ce “shhh!” Kalli Dabbobin — Written by Jenny Katz; Illustrated by Sandy Campbell; Translated…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. “Kalli Dabbobin” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Kyk na die diere
- Ateso · Ongolia Ityiang Lu
- Bemba · Mona Inama
- English · Look at the animals
- Jamaican Creole · Luk Pan Di Animal Dem
- Kaonde · Mona Banyama
- Khoekhoegowab · Kō re xamarina
- Kiswahili · Tazama wanyama
- Lukhonzo · Erithungerera ebisoro
- Lunda · Tala tunyama
- Lunyole · Bona esolo
- Luvale · Tala tunyama
- Mauritian Creole · Get bann zanimo
- Nyanja · Onani Nyama
- Oshikwanyama · Tala koinamwenyo
- Oshindonga · Tala kiinamwenyo
- Otjiherero · Tara ovipuka
- Sepedi · Diphoofolo tša ka gae
- Sesotho · Sheba diphoofolo
- Somali · Fiiri xayawaanada
- Spanish · Mira a los animales
- Tonga · Kolanga Banyama
- Tswana · Leba ditshedi
- Xhosa · Izilwanyana zasekhaya
- Zulu · Izilwane zasepulazini
Reading together in Hausa
- 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 Hausa
Yaya Abba
Tafiya Tare
Allah ne Mai Baryarwa
Asirin Arziki
Jagoran Jama'a
Nagari Na Kowa
Ɓera mai Handama
Ali Ya Nace
See all 204 free Hausa books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Kalli Dabbobin” free to read?
Yes. “Kalli Dabbobin” 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 “Kalli Dabbobin” in?
It is written in Hausa. Pagine has 204 free children’s books in Hausa.
What age is “Kalli Dabbobin” for?
It is best for ages 2–8 (Level 1 · First words). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Kalli Dabbobin” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Kiswahili, Somali, Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and more.
Who wrote “Kalli Dabbobin”?
“Kalli Dabbobin” was written by Jenny Katz and illustrated by Sandy Campbell; the Hausa translation is by Halima Lawal Daura.
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Get the free app →Credits: Kalli Dabbobin — Written by Jenny Katz; Illustrated by Sandy Campbell; Translated by Halima Lawal Daura. Hausa, Level 1. From Global Storybooks (global-asp.github.io/storybooks-nigeria), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=1221). CC BY-NC 3.0. · Page updated October 2026