Okuteleka

Name: Okuteleka
Availability: InStock
Author: Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi

A free picture book in Oshindonga by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi

Cover of Okuteleka, a Oshindonga picture book

Okuteleka is a picture book in Oshindonga for ages 2–8 by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.

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Language: Oshindonga
Written by: Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi
Illustrated by: Kathy Arbuckle, Ingrid Schechter
Translated by: Rachel Nandjembo
Reading level: ages 2–8 · preschool, kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 1 · First words
From: Namibia
Source: Global Storybooks
Licence: CC BY-NC 3.0
Price: Free — read online, nothing to download

About this book

Okuteleka is a short illustrated picture book in Oshindonga by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi, illustrated by Kathy Arbuckle, Ingrid Schechter and translated by Rachel Nandjembo. 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 Oshindonga. 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 30 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).

How it begins

Onda yuguna iihakautu. Onda tete omboga yomutse. Onda kweya uunawamundesha. Onda yogo omakunde. Onda tete uunyangwa. Onda tete omboga yomafo. Meme okwa tete oonyanga. Oonyanga ohadhi zitha ndje omahodhi uuna tadhi tetwa. Okuteleka — Written by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla,…

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. “Okuteleka” is also available in:

Reading together in Oshindonga

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 Oshindonga

See all 40 free Oshindonga books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩‍🏫 Assign this book to a class

Frequently asked questions

Is “Okuteleka” free to read?

Yes. “Okuteleka” 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 “Okuteleka” in?

It is written in Oshindonga. Pagine has 40 free children’s books in Oshindonga.

What age is “Okuteleka” for?

It is best for ages 2–8 (Level 1 · First words). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.

Is “Okuteleka” available in other languages?

Yes — the same story is in English, Kiswahili, Somali, Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and more.

Who wrote “Okuteleka”?

“Okuteleka” was written by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi and illustrated by Kathy Arbuckle, Ingrid Schechter; the Oshindonga translation is by Rachel Nandjembo.

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Credits: Okuteleka — Written by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi; Illustrated by Kathy Arbuckle, Ingrid Schechter; Translated by Rachel Nandjembo; Read by Rachel Nandjembo. Oshindonga, Level 1. From Global Storybooks (storybooksnamibia.net), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=2795). CC BY-NC 3.0. · Page updated October 2026