PagineKutheni iiMvubu Zingenaboya Nje
A free picture book in Xhosa by Basilio Gimo, David Ker
Kutheni iiMvubu Zingenaboya Nje is a picture book in Xhosa for ages 5–8 by Basilio Gimo, David Ker that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Xhosa
- Written by
- Basilio Gimo, David Ker
- Illustrated by
- Carol Liddiment
- Translated by
- Little Zebra Books
- Reading level
- ages 5–8 · kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 2 · First sentences
- From
- South Africa
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY 3.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Kutheni iiMvubu Zingenaboya Nje is a short illustrated picture book in Xhosa by Basilio Gimo, David Ker, illustrated by Carol Liddiment and translated by Little Zebra Books. 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 Xhosa. The book comes from Global Storybooks and is shared under an open CC BY 3.0 licence, which is why it is free to read. The same story is available in 31 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Ngaminazana ithile, uMvundlana wawuzihambela ngasemlanjeni. UMvubu naye wayelapho, ezithele chu emane ukugramza ingca eluhlaza. UMvubu wayengaboni ukuba uMvundla ukhona nawo apha waze ngelishwa wathi gximfi enyathela unyawo loMvundla. Wasitsho isikhalo uMvundla ekwangxolisa uMvubu, “Hey wena Mvubu! Awuziboni ukuba uyandinyathela enyaweni?”…Opening lines quoted from the openly licensed book (CC BY 3.0).
This story in other languages
Reading the same story in two languages helps bilingual children connect words they already know. “Kutheni iiMvubu Zingenaboya Nje” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Hoekom seekoeie nie hare het nie
- Alur · The lembe muketho rau yuk wiye ope
- Ateso · Inyobo eyinakit imiriai emameete kede ka ajul?
- Bemba · Ico imfubu ishakwatila umushishi
- Jamaican Creole · Wa mek Ipo no av no ier
- Kaonde · Kyabujila Byovwe Kwikala Nabooya
- Khoekhoegowab · ǃKhaon ǀûna ūhâba tama ǃaromas
- Kimaasai · Káínyoo peê méáta olmákau ilpápít
- Kiswahili · Kwa nini Viboko Hawana Nywele
- Luganda · Lwaki Envubu tezirina bwoya
- Lugbarati (official orthography) · Ròbí yɨ mà ‘bɨ́ko yo à’dɨ e’yósɨ̀à rɨ̀
- Lukhonzo · Habwaki Eyisere siyiwite Bweya
- Lumasaaba · Lwasiina tsifubu tsitamba bubwoya
- Lunda · Mulon’gadi anzovu chiyabulilawu insuki?
- Lusoga · Lwaki Wanvubu Azira Bwoya
- Luvale · Chahonesa nguvu kupwa naungona
- Ma'di · Ra Robi olujo biako rii adu?
- Mauritian Creole · Kifer ban ipopotam pena pwal ?
- Nyanja · Ncifukwa Ciani Mvuu zilibe Tsitsi
- Oshikwanyama · Omolwashike ondjabameva ihe na olududi
- Oshindonga · Omolwashike oondjambameya dhaa na omafufu
- Otjiherero · Ongwaye ozonḓuu tji ze hi na omainya
- Rutooro · Habwaki Ensere Tizigira Bwoya?
- Sesotho · Hobaneng dikubu di se na moriri
- Somali · Waa maxay sababta aysan jeerta ulahayn timo
- Spanish · ¿Por qué los hipopótamos no tienen pelo?
- Swati · Kungani imvubu ingena tinwele
- Tonga · Civwubwe Ncatajisi Boya
- Tswana · Goreng bokubu ba sena moriri
- Turkana · Nyonte Emakar Epir Ng’Itim
- Zulu · Kungani umvubu engena zinwele?
Reading together in Xhosa
- 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 Xhosa
Kufanele ukuba kubekho umnyama
Ukucoca Okukhulu
Owu Mvula Yiza
USloth Vilavoco
Ndiculele
USenzo neLanga
Ihlabathi lemilingo likaNkszn Helen
Usuku Oluhle
See all 145 free Xhosa books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Kutheni iiMvubu Zingenaboya Nje” free to read?
Yes. “Kutheni iiMvubu Zingenaboya Nje” 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 3.0).
What language is “Kutheni iiMvubu Zingenaboya Nje” in?
It is written in Xhosa. Pagine has 145 free children’s books in Xhosa.
What age is “Kutheni iiMvubu Zingenaboya Nje” for?
It is best for ages 5–8 (Level 2 · First sentences). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Kutheni iiMvubu Zingenaboya Nje” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in Kiswahili, Kimaasai, Turkana, Somali, Zulu, Afrikaans and more.
Who wrote “Kutheni iiMvubu Zingenaboya Nje”?
“Kutheni iiMvubu Zingenaboya Nje” was written by Basilio Gimo, David Ker and illustrated by Carol Liddiment; the Xhosa translation is by Little Zebra Books.
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Get the free app →Credits: Kutheni iiMvubu Zingenaboya Nje — Written by Basilio Gimo, David Ker; Illustrated by Carol Liddiment; Translated by Little Zebra Books. Xhosa, Level 2. From Global Storybooks (southafricareads.org), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=6160). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026