PagineRòbí yɨ mà ‘bɨ́ko yo à’dɨ e’yósɨ̀à rɨ̀
A free picture book in Lugbarati (official orthography) by Basilio Gimo, David Ker
Ròbí yɨ mà ‘bɨ́ko yo à’dɨ e’yósɨ̀à rɨ̀ is a picture book in Lugbarati (official orthography) for ages 5–8 by Basilio Gimo, David Ker that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Lugbarati (official orthography)
- Written by
- Basilio Gimo, David Ker
- Illustrated by
- Little Zebra Books, Carol Liddiment
- Translated by
- Doris Maandebo
- Reading level
- ages 5–8 · kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 2 · First sentences
- From
- Uganda
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY 3.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Ròbí yɨ mà ‘bɨ́ko yo à’dɨ e’yósɨ̀à rɨ̀ is a short illustrated picture book in Lugbarati (official orthography) by Basilio Gimo, David Ker, illustrated by Little Zebra Books, Carol Liddiment and translated by Doris Maandebo. 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 Lugbarati (official orthography). 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 31 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
O’dú àlʉ Ètóó rɨ ací yí àra mà tiásɨ̀. Ròbí nɨ dè vɨ́nɨ ‘dǎ cɨ́, acírɨá è’yere èrɨ́bí àrǒpɨ pkàcɨ̀ ‘dɨ̀yɨ ocɨ́rɨá. Ròbí awɨ́nɨ́ Ètóó nɨ ‘dǎ cɨ́ yàrɨ̀ ně kʉ ànɨ́ drìléònzɨ́ sɨ̀ ‘bà ‘ɨ́mà pá Ètóó mà pá…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. “Ròbí yɨ mà ‘bɨ́ko yo à’dɨ e’yósɨ̀à rɨ̀” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Hoekom seekoeie nie hare het nie
- Alur · The lembe muketho rau yuk wiye ope
- Ateso · Inyobo eyinakit imiriai emameete kede ka ajul?
- Bemba · Ico imfubu ishakwatila umushishi
- Jamaican Creole · Wa mek Ipo no av no ier
- Kaonde · Kyabujila Byovwe Kwikala Nabooya
- Khoekhoegowab · ǃKhaon ǀûna ūhâba tama ǃaromas
- Kimaasai · Káínyoo peê méáta olmákau ilpápít
- Kiswahili · Kwa nini Viboko Hawana Nywele
- Luganda · Lwaki Envubu tezirina bwoya
- Lukhonzo · Habwaki Eyisere siyiwite Bweya
- Lumasaaba · Lwasiina tsifubu tsitamba bubwoya
- Lunda · Mulon’gadi anzovu chiyabulilawu insuki?
- Lusoga · Lwaki Wanvubu Azira Bwoya
- Luvale · Chahonesa nguvu kupwa naungona
- Ma'di · Ra Robi olujo biako rii adu?
- Mauritian Creole · Kifer ban ipopotam pena pwal ?
- Nyanja · Ncifukwa Ciani Mvuu zilibe Tsitsi
- Oshikwanyama · Omolwashike ondjabameva ihe na olududi
- Oshindonga · Omolwashike oondjambameya dhaa na omafufu
- Otjiherero · Ongwaye ozonḓuu tji ze hi na omainya
- Rutooro · Habwaki Ensere Tizigira Bwoya?
- Sesotho · Hobaneng dikubu di se na moriri
- Somali · Waa maxay sababta aysan jeerta ulahayn timo
- Spanish · ¿Por qué los hipopótamos no tienen pelo?
- Swati · Kungani imvubu ingena tinwele
- Tonga · Civwubwe Ncatajisi Boya
- Tswana · Goreng bokubu ba sena moriri
- Turkana · Nyonte Emakar Epir Ng’Itim
- Xhosa · Kutheni iiMvubu Zingenaboya Nje
- Zulu · Kungani umvubu engena zinwele?
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)
Búkù àngù mile nɨ́ rɨ̀
Èbìó pɨ Òndʉ̀á be
Nyaká a’dɨ́zà
Candiru pi dri’biifi na ‘diyi be
Anzɨ Òdirì rʉ́ dɨ̀yɨ
Àfaamázʉ́
Ndrí ‘ɨ, Òcó ‘ɨ àzɨ́nɨ Tí ‘ɨ
Ma adrigaaovuoruri
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 “Ròbí yɨ mà ‘bɨ́ko yo à’dɨ e’yósɨ̀à rɨ̀” free to read?
Yes. “Ròbí yɨ mà ‘bɨ́ko yo à’dɨ e’yósɨ̀à rɨ̀” 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 “Ròbí yɨ mà ‘bɨ́ko yo à’dɨ e’yósɨ̀à rɨ̀” in?
It is written in Lugbarati (official orthography). Pagine has 13 free children’s books in Lugbarati (official orthography).
What age is “Ròbí yɨ mà ‘bɨ́ko yo à’dɨ e’yósɨ̀à rɨ̀” for?
It is best for ages 5–8 (Level 2 · First sentences). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Ròbí yɨ mà ‘bɨ́ko yo à’dɨ e’yósɨ̀à rɨ̀” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in Kiswahili, Kimaasai, Turkana, Somali, Zulu, Xhosa and more.
Who wrote “Ròbí yɨ mà ‘bɨ́ko yo à’dɨ e’yósɨ̀à rɨ̀”?
“Ròbí yɨ mà ‘bɨ́ko yo à’dɨ e’yósɨ̀à rɨ̀” was written by Basilio Gimo, David Ker and illustrated by Little Zebra Books, Carol Liddiment; the Lugbarati (official orthography) translation is by Doris Maandebo.
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Get the free app →Credits: Ròbí yɨ mà ‘bɨ́ko yo à’dɨ e’yósɨ̀à rɨ̀ — Written by Basilio Gimo, David Ker; Illustrated by Little Zebra Books, Carol Liddiment; Translated by Doris Maandebo. Lugbarati (official orthography), Level 2. From Global Storybooks (global-asp.github.io/storybooks-uganda), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=6160). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026