PagineLeba ditshedi
A free picture book in Tswana by Jenny Katz
Leba ditshedi is a picture book in Tswana for ages 2–8 by Jenny Katz that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Tswana
- Written by
- Jenny Katz
- Illustrated by
- Sandy Campbell
- Translated by
- Antonia Madi
- Reading level
- ages 2–8 · preschool, kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 1 · First words
- From
- South Africa, Namibia
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY-NC 3.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Leba ditshedi is a short illustrated picture book in Tswana by Jenny Katz, illustrated by Sandy Campbell and translated by Antonia Madi. It is written for ages 2–8 (Nursery–Year 1) and is graded as Level 1 · First words, so it works as a read-aloud for little ones and as practice for children learning to read in Tswana. The book comes from Global Storybooks and is shared under an open CC BY-NC 3.0 licence, which is why it is free to read. The same story is available in 25 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Leba ditshedi. Kgomo e a re, “Moo.” Podi ya re, “Mee, Pitse ya re, “Kukunyetsa.” Kolobe e a “Kgorotlha.” Koko e a, “Kokoretsa.” Ntswa e a, “Bogola.” Morui a re, “Shh!” Leba ditshedi — Written by Jenny Katz; Illustrated by…Opening lines quoted from the openly licensed book (CC BY-NC 3.0).
This story in other languages
Reading the same story in two languages helps bilingual children connect words they already know. “Leba ditshedi” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Kyk na die diere
- Ateso · Ongolia Ityiang Lu
- Bemba · Mona Inama
- English · Look at the animals
- Hausa · Kalli Dabbobin
- Jamaican Creole · Luk Pan Di Animal Dem
- Kaonde · Mona Banyama
- Khoekhoegowab · Kō re xamarina
- Kiswahili · Tazama wanyama
- Lukhonzo · Erithungerera ebisoro
- Lunda · Tala tunyama
- Lunyole · Bona esolo
- Luvale · Tala tunyama
- Mauritian Creole · Get bann zanimo
- Nyanja · Onani Nyama
- Oshikwanyama · Tala koinamwenyo
- Oshindonga · Tala kiinamwenyo
- Otjiherero · Tara ovipuka
- Sepedi · Diphoofolo tša ka gae
- Sesotho · Sheba diphoofolo
- Somali · Fiiri xayawaanada
- Spanish · Mira a los animales
- Tonga · Kolanga Banyama
- Xhosa · Izilwanyana zasekhaya
- Zulu · Izilwane zasepulazini
Reading together in Tswana
- 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 Tswana
Koko le Sebokolodi
Simbegwire
Ntate o tla gae
Go na le molelo mo Thabeng
Lara khukhwane e e serolwana
Bopelokgale Jo Bogolo jwa ga Talanyane
Letsatsi le le Ntle
Pula, Pula Naa
See all 103 free Tswana books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Leba ditshedi” free to read?
Yes. “Leba ditshedi” 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-NC 3.0).
What language is “Leba ditshedi” in?
It is written in Tswana. Pagine has 103 free children’s books in Tswana.
What age is “Leba ditshedi” for?
It is best for ages 2–8 (Level 1 · First words). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Leba ditshedi” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Hausa, Kiswahili, Somali, Zulu, Xhosa and more.
Who wrote “Leba ditshedi”?
“Leba ditshedi” was written by Jenny Katz and illustrated by Sandy Campbell; the Tswana translation is by Antonia Madi.
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Get the free app →Credits: Leba ditshedi — Written by Jenny Katz; Illustrated by Sandy Campbell; Translated by Antonia Madi. Tswana, Level 1. From Global Storybooks (southafricareads.org), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=1221). CC BY-NC 3.0. · Page updated October 2026