Ondi hole okulesha!

Name: Ondi hole okulesha!
Availability: InStock
Author: Letta Machoga

A free picture book in Oshindonga by Letta Machoga

Cover of Ondi hole okulesha!, a Oshindonga picture book

Ondi hole okulesha! is a picture book in Oshindonga for ages 2–8 by Letta Machoga that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.

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Language: Oshindonga
Written by: Letta Machoga
Illustrated by: Wiehan de Jager
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 3.0
Price: Free — read online, nothing to download

About this book

Ondi hole okulesha! is a short illustrated picture book in Oshindonga by Letta Machoga, illustrated by Wiehan de Jager 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 3.0 licence, which is why it is free to read. The same story is available in 35 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).

How it begins

Ondi hole okulesha. Olye tandi leshele ko? Omumwamemekadhona okwa kotha. Olye tandi leshele ko? Meme nakuku oyi ipyakidhila. Olye tandi leshele ko? Tate nakuku gwomusamane oyi ipyakidhila. Olye tandi leshele ko? Otandi ileshele ngame mwene! Ondi hole okulesha! — Written…

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. “Ondi hole okulesha!” 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 “Ondi hole okulesha!” free to read?

Yes. “Ondi hole okulesha!” 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 “Ondi hole okulesha!” in?

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

What age is “Ondi hole okulesha!” for?

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

Is “Ondi hole okulesha!” available in other languages?

Yes — the same story is in Hausa, Somali, Zulu, Xhosa, Tswana, Tsonga and more.

Who wrote “Ondi hole okulesha!”?

“Ondi hole okulesha!” was written by Letta Machoga and illustrated by Wiehan de Jager; the Oshindonga translation is by Rachel Nandjembo.

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Credits: Ondi hole okulesha! — Written by Letta Machoga; Illustrated by Wiehan de Jager; 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=10547). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026