Khalai Ulabandika Kuzyisyango

A free picture book in Tonga by Ursula Nafula

Khalai Ulabandika Kuzyisyango is a picture book in Tonga for ages 5–8 by Ursula Nafula that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.

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Language

Tonga

Written by

Ursula Nafula

Illustrated by

Jesse Pietersen

Translated by

Chester Mwanza

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 Ulabandika Kuzyisyango is a short illustrated picture book in Tonga by Ursula Nafula, illustrated by Jesse Pietersen and translated by Chester Mwanza. 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 Tonga. 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

Oyu ngu Khalai. Ujisi myaka yakuzyalwa iili ciloba. Izyina lyakwe lipandulula kuti “mubotu” mucisyobo cakwe ca Lubukusu. Khalai ulabuka akwaambaula kucisamu camafwuleenke. “Ndakukomba ocisamu camafwuleenke, kokomena ukatupe mafwuleenke manji aabizwide.” Khalai uleenda kuya kucikolo. Munzila, Khalai ulaambaula abwizu. “Ndakukomba obwizu,…

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 Ulabandika Kuzyisyango” 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
• 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
• 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 Tonga

• 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 Tonga

• Kasyoonto Kangu kasankwa Katolo
• Tingi Aŋombe
• Mpongo, Mubwa a ŋombe
• Nozibele a Masusu Otatwe
• Magozwe
• Zyisani Zyakucikolo
• Ino Kaaze Wangu Uli Kuli?
• Cisubulo

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

Frequently asked questions

Is “Khalai Ulabandika Kuzyisyango” free to read?

Yes. “Khalai Ulabandika Kuzyisyango” 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 Ulabandika Kuzyisyango” in?

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

What age is “Khalai Ulabandika Kuzyisyango” for?

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

Is “Khalai Ulabandika Kuzyisyango” available in other languages?

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

Who wrote “Khalai Ulabandika Kuzyisyango”?

“Khalai Ulabandika Kuzyisyango” was written by Ursula Nafula and illustrated by Jesse Pietersen; the Tonga translation is by Chester Mwanza.

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Credits: Khalai Ulabandika Kuzyisyango — Written by Ursula Nafula; Illustrated by Jesse Pietersen; Translated by Chester Mwanza. Tonga, 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