Khalai wahoshan’ga na zhimbutu

A free picture book in Lunda by Ursula Nafula

Khalai wahoshan’ga na zhimbutu is a picture book in Lunda for ages 5–8 by Ursula Nafula that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.

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Language

Lunda

Written by

Ursula Nafula

Illustrated by

Jesse Pietersen

Translated by

Oscar Zangata

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 wahoshan’ga na zhimbutu is a short illustrated picture book in Lunda by Ursula Nafula, illustrated by Jesse Pietersen and translated by Oscar Zangata. 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 Lunda. 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

Iwu diyi Khalai. Wukweti yaaka yitanu nayiyedi. Izhina dindi dalumbuluka ‘wakusakulewa’ mumuchidi windi wa, Lubukusu. Khalai wahindukan’ga nakuhosha na mutondu wamalalanji. “Nalembi eyi mutondu wamalalanji, kuulaku muneni nawa twinka malalanji akwiha’.” Khalai wendan’ga nakuya ku shikola. Munzhila hakuya wahoshan’ga namatahu.”Nalembi…

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 wahoshan’ga na zhimbutu” 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
• 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 Lunda

• 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 Lunda

• Kambuntu kakanyanya: insan’gu ya Wangari Maathai.
• Inkoku ya kazhila kawichi
• Munatiyilang’a
• Mukanda wa watusulu
• Anyana andunda
• Zama wang’ovu
• Kasumbi na munzhon’olu
• Simbegwire

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

Frequently asked questions

Is “Khalai wahoshan’ga na zhimbutu” free to read?

Yes. “Khalai wahoshan’ga na zhimbutu” 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 wahoshan’ga na zhimbutu” in?

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

What age is “Khalai wahoshan’ga na zhimbutu” for?

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

Is “Khalai wahoshan’ga na zhimbutu” available in other languages?

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

Who wrote “Khalai wahoshan’ga na zhimbutu”?

“Khalai wahoshan’ga na zhimbutu” was written by Ursula Nafula and illustrated by Jesse Pietersen; the Lunda translation is by Oscar Zangata.

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Credits: Khalai wahoshan’ga na zhimbutu — Written by Ursula Nafula; Illustrated by Jesse Pietersen; Translated by Oscar Zangata. Lunda, 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