PagineQeto
A free picture book in Sesotho by Ursula Nafula
Qeto is a picture book in Sesotho for ages 5–8 by Ursula Nafula that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Sesotho
- Written by
- Ursula Nafula
- Illustrated by
- Vusi Malindi
- Translated by
- Maria Vaz
- Reading level
- ages 5–8 · kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 2 · First sentences
- From
- South Africa
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY 4.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Qeto is a short illustrated picture book in Sesotho by Ursula Nafula, illustrated by Vusi Malindi and translated by Maria Vaz. 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 Sesotho. The book comes from Global Storybooks and is shared under an open CC BY 4.0 licence, which is why it is free to read. The same story is available in 22 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Motsana wa heso o ne o na le mathata a mangata. Re ne re etsa mola o molelele ho ya kga metsi pompong e le nngwe. Re ne re emela dijo tseo batho ba bang ba nehelanang ka tsona. Re…Opening lines quoted from the openly licensed book (CC BY 4.0).
This story in other languages
Reading the same story in two languages helps bilingual children connect words they already know. “Qeto” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Die Besluit
- Bemba · Ukusalapo
- English · Decision
- Jamaican Creole · Disizhan
- Kaonde · Kufuukula
- Khoekhoegowab · Mîǁguib
- Kichaga · Irikiana
- Kiswahili · Uamuzi
- Lukhonzo · Eritwamo
- Lunda · Kuzhina
- Luvale · Kusakula
- Mauritian Creole · Desizion
- Nyanja · Ganizo
- Oshikwanyama · Etokolo
- Oshindonga · Etokolo
- Otjiherero · Omazuvasaneno
- Somali · Go’aan
- Spanish · La decisión
- Tonga · Kusala
- Tswana · Tshwetso
- Turkana · Atiakun Akiroit
- Xhosa · Isigqibo
Reading together in Sesotho
- 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 Sesotho
Ntho e ntle ka ho fetisisa
Hoja …?
Lara, maleshwane e mosehla
Lenyalo la Tlhapi le Kgoho
Ho batlana le moya wa hwetla
Moru wa dinoha
Moqebelo o mong o tjhesang haholo
Bese ya mmala wa botala ba lehodimo
See all 125 free Sesotho books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Qeto” free to read?
Yes. “Qeto” 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 4.0).
What language is “Qeto” in?
It is written in Sesotho. Pagine has 125 free children’s books in Sesotho.
What age is “Qeto” for?
It is best for ages 5–8 (Level 2 · First sentences). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Qeto” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Kiswahili, Turkana, Somali, Xhosa, Afrikaans and more.
Who wrote “Qeto”?
“Qeto” was written by Ursula Nafula and illustrated by Vusi Malindi; the Sesotho translation is by Maria Vaz.
Log books, set goals and build a daily reading habit — free on iOS, Android and the web.
Get the free app →Credits: Qeto — Written by Ursula Nafula; Illustrated by Vusi Malindi; Translated by Maria Vaz. Sesotho, Level 2. From Global Storybooks (southafricareads.org), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=13304). CC BY 4.0. · Page updated October 2026