PagineKhalai yan with plant
A free picture book in Nigerian Pidgin by Ursula Nafula
Khalai yan with plant is a picture book in Nigerian Pidgin for ages 5–8 by Ursula Nafula that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Nigerian Pidgin
- Written by
- Ursula Nafula
- Illustrated by
- Jesse Pietersen
- Translated by
- Anthonia Ujene
- Reading level
- ages 5–8 · kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 2 · First sentences
- From
- Nigeria
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY 4.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Khalai yan with plant is a short illustrated picture book in Nigerian Pidgin by Ursula Nafula, illustrated by Jesse Pietersen and translated by Anthonia Ujene. 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 Nigerian Pidgin. 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
Na Khalai be dis. She be seven years. D meaning of her name na ‘good one’ for dem dialect, wen be Lubukusu. Khalai wake up begin yan with orange tree. “Abeg orange tree, dey grow oo make we for dey…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 yan with plant” 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
- 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 Nigerian Pidgin
- 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 Nigerian Pidgin
See all 7 free Nigerian Pidgin books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Khalai yan with plant” free to read?
Yes. “Khalai yan with plant” 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 yan with plant” in?
It is written in Nigerian Pidgin. Pagine has 7 free children’s books in Nigerian Pidgin.
What age is “Khalai yan with plant” for?
It is best for ages 5–8 (Level 2 · First sentences). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Khalai yan with plant” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Kiswahili, Somali, Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and more.
Who wrote “Khalai yan with plant”?
“Khalai yan with plant” was written by Ursula Nafula and illustrated by Jesse Pietersen; the Nigerian Pidgin translation is by Anthonia Ujene.
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Get the free app →Credits: Khalai yan with plant — Written by Ursula Nafula; Illustrated by Jesse Pietersen; Translated by Anthonia Ujene. Nigerian Pidgin, Level 2. From Global Storybooks (global-asp.github.io/storybooks-nigeria), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=13545). CC BY 4.0. · Page updated October 2026