Ku Endzela Kokwana Wa Xisati Hi Tiholideyi

A free picture book in Tsonga by Violet Otieno

Ku Endzela Kokwana Wa Xisati Hi Tiholideyi is a picture book in Tsonga for ages 8–11 by Violet Otieno that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.

📖 Read it free →

Language

Tsonga

Written by

Violet Otieno

Illustrated by

Catherine Groenewald

Translated by

Mkomati John Mongwe

Reading level

ages 8–11 · 3rd to 5th grade · Level 4 · Longer paragraphs

From

South Africa

Source

Global Storybooks

Licence

CC BY 4.0

Price

Free — read online, nothing to download

About this book

Ku Endzela Kokwana Wa Xisati Hi Tiholideyi is a short illustrated picture book in Tsonga by Violet Otieno, illustrated by Catherine Groenewald and translated by Mkomati John Mongwe. It is written for ages 8–11 (Grades 3–4) and is graded as Level 4 · Longer paragraphs, so it works as a read-aloud for little ones and as practice for children learning to read in Tsonga. 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 21 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).

How it begins

Odongo na Apiyo va tshama edorobeni na bava wa vona. Va langutela ku ya eka tiholideyi. Ku nga ri hikuva xikolo xi pfarile, kambe hikuva va lava ku endzela kokwa wa vona wa xisati. U tshama ematikoxikaya laha va phasaka…

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. “Ku Endzela Kokwana Wa Xisati Hi Tiholideyi” is also available in:

• Asante Twi · Kɔsra Wɔn Nanabaa
• Bemba · Cuuti kuli bamaama
• Dhopadhola · Ywomirok Bothi Adhadha
• Jamaican Creole · Alidie wid Granmaa
• Kaonde · Moba Akukokoloka na ba Nkambo Babakazhi
• Kichaga · Enda Irikira Mai
• Kiswahili · Likizo kwa bibi
• Lukhonzo · Ekihumuro E’wamukaka
• Lunda · Hakunoka na nkanka wamubanda
• Lunyole · Ohuŋumulira ewa nguhwa
• Luvale · Makumbi akunokha nakhaka waphwevo
• Mauritian Creole · Vakans kot granmer
• Sepedi · Re etela koko
• Somali · Fasaxyadii lala joogay ayeeyo
• Spanish · De vacaciones con la abuela
• Tonga · Mupumuno kuli Baneene
• Tswana · Nako ya boikhutso le mmemogolo
• Turkana · Akilakin Ata Egolitoe Esukul
• Venda · Holodeyi Na Makhulu
• Xhosa · Ulilitha Noluniko Batyelela Umakhulu Wabo
• Zulu · Umondli Nombali Bavakashela Ugogo Wabo

Reading together in Tsonga

• 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 Tsonga

• Riendzo Lerikulu ra Xinyenyana
• Swimilani leswitsongo
• Xitayili xa Rafiki
• N’wamfutsu a kuma kaya ra yena
• Xana u endla yini?
• Tivoneli, Luthando!
• Xirhapa xa Kokwani Farouk
• Xana u etlela njhani?

See all 56 free Tsonga books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩‍🏫 Assign this book to a class

Frequently asked questions

Is “Ku Endzela Kokwana Wa Xisati Hi Tiholideyi” free to read?

Yes. “Ku Endzela Kokwana Wa Xisati Hi Tiholideyi” 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 “Ku Endzela Kokwana Wa Xisati Hi Tiholideyi” in?

It is written in Tsonga. Pagine has 56 free children’s books in Tsonga.

What age is “Ku Endzela Kokwana Wa Xisati Hi Tiholideyi” for?

It is best for ages 8–11 (Level 4 · Longer paragraphs). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.

Is “Ku Endzela Kokwana Wa Xisati Hi Tiholideyi” available in other languages?

Yes — the same story is in Turkana, Somali, Zulu, Xhosa, Sepedi, Tswana and more.

Who wrote “Ku Endzela Kokwana Wa Xisati Hi Tiholideyi”?

“Ku Endzela Kokwana Wa Xisati Hi Tiholideyi” was written by Violet Otieno and illustrated by Catherine Groenewald; the Tsonga translation is by Mkomati John Mongwe.

Track reading with the free Pagine app

Log books, set goals and build a daily reading habit — free on iOS, Android and the web.

Get the free app →

Credits: Ku Endzela Kokwana Wa Xisati Hi Tiholideyi — Written by Violet Otieno; Illustrated by Catherine Groenewald; Translated by Mkomati John Mongwe. Tsonga, Level 4. From Global Storybooks (southafricareads.org), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=12084). CC BY 4.0. · Page updated October 2026