Khalai wisamba na bijimwa

A free picture book in Kaonde by Ursula Nafula

Khalai wisamba na bijimwa is a picture book in Kaonde for ages 5–8 by Ursula Nafula that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.

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Language

Kaonde

Written by

Ursula Nafula

Illustrated by

Jesse Pietersen

Translated by

Ruth Kapamba, Mwitila Ntabo

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 wisamba na bijimwa is a short illustrated picture book in Kaonde by Ursula Nafula, illustrated by Jesse Pietersen and translated by Ruth Kapamba, Mwitila Ntabo. 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 Kaonde. 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

Awe Khalai. Uji namwaka yakusemwa itanu naisatu. Mumulaka wanji wa Lubukusu, jizhina janji jalumbulula buwame. Khalai ubuuka ne kwisamba na bichi bya maolengi. “Nakupopwelapo obe kichi kya maolengi, komanga bukiji witupenga maolengi aavula aapya.” Khalai wenda kuya kusukuulu. Mujishinda wisamba…

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 wisamba na bijimwa” is also available in:

• Afrikaans · Khalai praat met plante
• Bemba · Khalai Alasosha Icaani ne Fimuti
• English · Khalai talks to plants
• Jamaican Creole · Kalaahi
• 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 Kaonde

• 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 Kaonde

• Tubiji
• Kyabujila Byovwe Kwikala Nabooya
• Muntu Walepa Bingi
• Juuba Jonafumine Kumuzhi Kuya Kutaunyi
• Moba Akukokoloka na ba Nkambo Babakazhi
• Kiwele Waumvwine Nzala
• Kuteeka
• Tom Musulu Wamakonde

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

Frequently asked questions

Is “Khalai wisamba na bijimwa” free to read?

Yes. “Khalai wisamba na bijimwa” 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 wisamba na bijimwa” in?

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

What age is “Khalai wisamba na bijimwa” for?

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

Is “Khalai wisamba na bijimwa” available in other languages?

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

Who wrote “Khalai wisamba na bijimwa”?

“Khalai wisamba na bijimwa” was written by Ursula Nafula and illustrated by Jesse Pietersen; the Kaonde translation is by Ruth Kapamba, Mwitila Ntabo.

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Credits: Khalai wisamba na bijimwa — Written by Ursula Nafula; Illustrated by Jesse Pietersen; Translated by Ruth Kapamba, Mwitila Ntabo. Kaonde, 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