Ma adrigaaovuoruri
A free picture book in Lugbarati (official orthography) by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi

Ma adrigaaovuoruri is a picture book in Lugbarati (official orthography) for ages 2–8 by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Lugbarati (official orthography)
- Written by
- Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi
- Illustrated by
- Mlungisi Dlamini, Ingrid Schechter
- Translated by
- Aluonzi Moses
- Reading level
- ages 2–8 · preschool, kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 1 · First words
- From
- Uganda
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY-NC 3.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Ma adrigaaovuoruri is a short illustrated picture book in Lugbarati (official orthography) by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi, illustrated by Mlungisi Dlamini, Ingrid Schechter and translated by Aluonzi Moses. 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 Lugbarati (official orthography). 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 33 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Ma engá o’dúá rɨ ̀ sɨ ̀ rá ma àcɨ ́ òdʉ̀. Ma yí dri. Ma éjá alé òsɨ ̀ Ma nyaká émvʉ́ alíá rɨ ̀ osa. Ma jóalé we. Ma àfa jó yɨ òjɨ ̀ Ma àzí nga àndèkókòrʉ́…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. “Ma adrigaaovuoruri” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Lui klein boetie
- Aringati · Álụ́ ma ꞌbã á dríp ̣ ị ĩmbírá ŋá ũ vú rĩ
- Bemba · Kandume yandi akanaŋani
- English · Lazy little brother (Colour-in)
- Jamaican Creole · Liezi likl breda
- Kaonde · Nkasami Wamulume Nkope
- Khoekhoegowab · ǀOpesa ǂkhari ǃgâsarob
- Kichaga · Maneru namroko
- Kikamba · Kamwanayia kaanu
- Kimaasai · Olotí aláshe túrúáí
- Kisukuma · Nzunaone ngokolo.
- Kiswahili · Mdogo wangu mvivu
- Lubukusu · Wandayase omutiti omukara
- Luganda · Muto wange munafu
- Lukhonzo · Mughala Wethu Omughatha
- Lumasaaba · Waandaaye umukyeekhe umutoro
- Lunda · Mwanyikami wamunyanya wakatala
- Lunyole · Muto yange omudoto
- Lusoga · Lwaki nkola zenka?
- Luvale · Songoyami walunga wauvwa
- Mauritian Creole · Enn ti frer pares
- Nyanja · Mphwanga Waulesi
- Oshikwanyama · Okamwameme mati okananyalo
- Oshindonga · Okamwamememati okananyalo
- Otjiherero · Okangu kotjirweyo
- Sesotho · Abuti ya monyenyane ya botswa
- Somali · Walal yar oo caajislow ah
- Spanish · El hermanito perezoso
- Tonga · Kasyoonto Kangu kasankwa Katolo
- Tswana · Kgantsadiake yo monnye wa sekopa
- Turkana · Lokaito Loochi Lokalany
- Xhosa · Umnakwethu Omncinci Olivila
- Zulu · Ubhuti omncane ovilaphayo
Reading together in Lugbarati (official orthography)
- 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 Lugbarati (official orthography)
Ágʉ̀pɨ́ ɨ́zʉ̀ rɨ́
Búkù àngù mile nɨ́ rɨ̀
Èbìó pɨ Òndʉ̀á be
Má vɨ́lé búsùá ngùá yǎ?
Candiru pi dri’biifi na ‘diyi be
Anzɨ Òdirì rʉ́ dɨ̀yɨ
Àfaamázʉ́
Ndrí ‘ɨ, Òcó ‘ɨ àzɨ́nɨ Tí ‘ɨ
See all 13 free Lugbarati (official orthography) books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Ma adrigaaovuoruri” free to read?
Yes. “Ma adrigaaovuoruri” 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 “Ma adrigaaovuoruri” in?
It is written in Lugbarati (official orthography). Pagine has 13 free children’s books in Lugbarati (official orthography).
What age is “Ma adrigaaovuoruri” for?
It is best for ages 2–8 (Level 1 · First words). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Ma adrigaaovuoruri” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Kiswahili, Kikamba, Kimaasai, Turkana, Somali and more.
Who wrote “Ma adrigaaovuoruri”?
“Ma adrigaaovuoruri” was written by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi and illustrated by Mlungisi Dlamini, Ingrid Schechter; the Lugbarati (official orthography) translation is by Aluonzi Moses.
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Get the free app →Credits: Ma adrigaaovuoruri — Written by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi; Illustrated by Mlungisi Dlamini, Ingrid Schechter; Translated by Aluonzi Moses. Lugbarati (official orthography), Level 1. From Global Storybooks (global-asp.github.io/storybooks-uganda), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=2896). CC BY-NC 3.0. · Page updated October 2026