Re etela koko

A free picture book in Sepedi by Violet Otieno

Re etela koko is a picture book in Sepedi for ages 8–11 by Violet Otieno that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.

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Language

Sepedi

Written by

Violet Otieno

Illustrated by

Catherine Groenewald

Translated by

Motlhago Sara Mohale

Reading level

ages 8–11 · 3rd to 5th grade · Level 4 · Longer paragraphs

From

South Africa

Source

Global Storybooks

Licence

CC BY 4.0

Price

Free — read online, nothing to download

About this book

Re etela koko is a short illustrated picture book in Sepedi by Violet Otieno, illustrated by Catherine Groenewald and translated by Motlhago Sara Mohale. It is written for ages 8–11 (Grades 3–4) and is graded as Level 4 · Longer paragraphs, so it works as a read-aloud for little ones and as practice for children learning to read in Sepedi. 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 21 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).

How it begins

Odongo le Apiyo ba dula motsesetoropong le tatago bona. Ba be ba fela pelo gore maikhutšo a dikolo a thoma neng. Ba fela pelo ka gore ba ya go etela koko. Odongo le Apiyo ba be ba thabile ka gore…

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. “Re etela koko” is also available in:

• Asante Twi · Kɔsra Wɔn Nanabaa
• Bemba · Cuuti kuli bamaama
• Dhopadhola · Ywomirok Bothi Adhadha
• Jamaican Creole · Alidie wid Granmaa
• Kaonde · Moba Akukokoloka na ba Nkambo Babakazhi
• Kichaga · Enda Irikira Mai
• Kiswahili · Likizo kwa bibi
• Lukhonzo · Ekihumuro E’wamukaka
• Lunda · Hakunoka na nkanka wamubanda
• Lunyole · Ohuŋumulira ewa nguhwa
• Luvale · Makumbi akunokha nakhaka waphwevo
• Mauritian Creole · Vakans kot granmer
• Somali · Fasaxyadii lala joogay ayeeyo
• Spanish · De vacaciones con la abuela
• Tonga · Mupumuno kuli Baneene
• Tsonga · Ku Endzela Kokwana Wa Xisati Hi Tiholideyi
• Tswana · Nako ya boikhutso le mmemogolo
• Turkana · Akilakin Ata Egolitoe Esukul
• Venda · Holodeyi Na Makhulu
• Xhosa · Ulilitha Noluniko Batyelela Umakhulu Wabo
• Zulu · Umondli Nombali Bavakashela Ugogo Wabo

Reading together in Sepedi

• 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 Sepedi

• Go sepela mmogo
• Go nyakana le moya wa seruthwane
• Go opela nnete: Kanegelo ya Miriam Makeba
• Boa, Katse!
• Mmutla Ka Tlase Ga Mohlare
• Nangila, Mosetsana Wa Sebete
• Tšeo Ke Ratago Go Dira
• Palesa O Rata Dimela

See all 104 free Sepedi books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩‍🏫 Assign this book to a class

Frequently asked questions

Is “Re etela koko” free to read?

Yes. “Re etela koko” 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 “Re etela koko” in?

It is written in Sepedi. Pagine has 104 free children’s books in Sepedi.

What age is “Re etela koko” for?

It is best for ages 8–11 (Level 4 · Longer paragraphs). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.

Is “Re etela koko” available in other languages?

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

Who wrote “Re etela koko”?

“Re etela koko” was written by Violet Otieno and illustrated by Catherine Groenewald; the Sepedi translation is by Motlhago Sara Mohale.

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Credits: Re etela koko — Written by Violet Otieno; Illustrated by Catherine Groenewald; Translated by Motlhago Sara Mohale. Sepedi, Level 4. From Global Storybooks (southafricareads.org), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=12084). CC BY 4.0. · Page updated October 2026