Khalai Alasosha Icaani ne Fimuti

A free picture book in Bemba by Ursula Nafula

Khalai Alasosha Icaani ne Fimuti is a picture book in Bemba for ages 5–8 by Ursula Nafula that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.

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Language

Bemba

Written by

Ursula Nafula

Illustrated by

Jesse Pietersen

Translated by

Margaret Nambao, Agnes Chileshe Chibamba

Reading level

ages 5–8 · kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 2 · First sentences

From

Zambia

Source

Global Storybooks

Licence

CC BY 4.0

Price

Free — read online, nothing to download

About this book

Khalai Alasosha Icaani ne Fimuti is a short illustrated picture book in Bemba by Ursula Nafula, illustrated by Jesse Pietersen and translated by Margaret Nambao, Agnes Chileshe Chibamba. 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 Bemba. The book comes from Global Storybooks and is shared under an open CC BY 4.0 licence, which is why it is free to read. The same story is available in 24 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).

How it begins

Uyu ni Khalai. Ali na imyaka cine-lubali. Ishina lyakwe mu lulimi lwakwe, ulwa Cilubukusu lipilibula “umusuma”. Lyonse Khalai nga ashibuka alasosha icimuti ca macungwa ati: “We cimuti ca macungwa, napaapaata kula, utwaale na macungwa ayaapya ayeengi.” Khalai nga aleenda lyonse…

Opening lines quoted from the openly licensed book (CC BY 4.0).

This story in other languages

Reading the same story in two languages helps bilingual children connect words they already know. “Khalai Alasosha Icaani ne Fimuti” is also available in:

• Afrikaans · Khalai praat met plante
• English · Khalai talks to plants
• Jamaican Creole · Kalaahi
• Kaonde · Khalai wisamba na bijimwa
• Khoekhoegowab · Khalais ge haidi ǀkha ra ǃhoa
• Kiswahili · Khalai azungumza na mimea
• Lukhonzo · Khalai akakanaya n’ebirimwa
• Lunda · Khalai wahoshan’ga na zhimbutu
• Luvale · Khalai eji kuhanjika navimbuto
• Mauritian Creole · Khalai koz avek bann plant
• Nigerian Pidgin · Khalai yan with plant
• Nyanja · Khalai alankhula ku Zomela
• Oshikwanyama · Khalai ta popi noimeno
• Oshindonga · Khalai ta popi niimeno
• Otjiherero · Khalai ma hungirisa omiti
• Sesotho · Khalai o bua le dimela
• Somali · Kalaay waxay la hadashaa dhirta
• Spanish · Khalai le habla a las plantas
• Tonga · Khalai Ulabandika Kuzyisyango
• Tsonga · Wavhidi a Vulavula Na Swimilana
• Tswana · Khalai o bua le dimela
• Venda · Khalai U Amba Na Zwitavhiwa
• Xhosa · Upalesa Uthanda Izityalo
• Zulu · Ukhalai Ukhuluma Nezitshalo

Reading together in Bemba

• 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 Bemba

• Ico imfubu ishakwatila umushishi
• Umuntu umutali saana
• Ubushiku nafumine pa ŋanda ukuya ku kalaale
• Cuuti kuli bamaama
• Iŋwena iyansala
• Ukwipika
• Tomu kashitisha wa nkonde
• Umwana Punda

See all 40 free Bemba books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩‍🏫 Assign this book to a class

Frequently asked questions

Is “Khalai Alasosha Icaani ne Fimuti” free to read?

Yes. “Khalai Alasosha Icaani ne Fimuti” 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 4.0).

What language is “Khalai Alasosha Icaani ne Fimuti” in?

It is written in Bemba. Pagine has 40 free children’s books in Bemba.

What age is “Khalai Alasosha Icaani ne Fimuti” for?

It is best for ages 5–8 (Level 2 · First sentences). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.

Is “Khalai Alasosha Icaani ne Fimuti” available in other languages?

Yes — the same story is in English, Nigerian Pidgin, Kiswahili, Somali, Zulu, Xhosa and more.

Who wrote “Khalai Alasosha Icaani ne Fimuti”?

“Khalai Alasosha Icaani ne Fimuti” was written by Ursula Nafula and illustrated by Jesse Pietersen; the Bemba translation is by Margaret Nambao, Agnes Chileshe Chibamba.

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Credits: Khalai Alasosha Icaani ne Fimuti — Written by Ursula Nafula; Illustrated by Jesse Pietersen; Translated by Margaret Nambao, Agnes Chileshe Chibamba. Bemba, Level 2. From Global Storybooks (storybookszambia.net), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=13545). CC BY 4.0. · Page updated October 2026