Khalai eji kuhanjika navimbuto

A free picture book in Luvale by Ursula Nafula

Khalai eji kuhanjika navimbuto is a picture book in Luvale for ages 5–8 by Ursula Nafula that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.

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Language

Luvale

Written by

Ursula Nafula

Illustrated by

Jesse Pietersen

Translated by

Masho Kaloza

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 eji kuhanjika navimbuto is a short illustrated picture book in Luvale by Ursula Nafula, illustrated by Jesse Pietersen and translated by Masho Kaloza. 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 Luvale. 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

Ou ikhiye Khalai. Ali namyaka itanu nayivali yakusemuka. Lijina lyenyi lyalumbunuka “wamwaza” mulilimi lyenyi, Lubukusu. Khalai mwahinduka nakuhanjika kumutondo wamamalalanja. “Ove mutondo wamalalanja, kola mangana utuhane malalanja akuhya amavulu.” Khalai mwaya kushikola. Mujila mwahanjika namwila. “Ove mwila, twalililaho kukola kaha…

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 eji kuhanjika navimbuto” is also available in:

• Afrikaans · Khalai praat met plante
• Bemba · Khalai Alasosha Icaani ne Fimuti
• 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
• 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 Luvale

• 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 Luvale

• Songoyami walunga wauvwa
• Tingi navangombe
• Phembe, Kawa, na Ngombe
• Nozibele najize jikhambu jitatu
• Magozwe
• Uvwalo wakushikola
• Kangatwe kami ali kulihi?
• Kuzangamisa

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

Frequently asked questions

Is “Khalai eji kuhanjika navimbuto” free to read?

Yes. “Khalai eji kuhanjika navimbuto” 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 eji kuhanjika navimbuto” in?

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

What age is “Khalai eji kuhanjika navimbuto” for?

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

Is “Khalai eji kuhanjika navimbuto” available in other languages?

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

Who wrote “Khalai eji kuhanjika navimbuto”?

“Khalai eji kuhanjika navimbuto” was written by Ursula Nafula and illustrated by Jesse Pietersen; the Luvale translation is by Masho Kaloza.

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Credits: Khalai eji kuhanjika navimbuto — Written by Ursula Nafula; Illustrated by Jesse Pietersen; Translated by Masho Kaloza. Luvale, 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