PagineSheba diphoofolo
A free picture book in Sesotho by Jenny Katz
Sheba diphoofolo is a picture book in Sesotho for ages 2–8 by Jenny Katz that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Sesotho
- Written by
- Jenny Katz
- Illustrated by
- Sandy Campbell
- Translated by
- Maria Vaz
- Reading level
- ages 2–8 · preschool, kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 1 · First words
- From
- South Africa
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY-NC 3.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Sheba diphoofolo is a short illustrated picture book in Sesotho by Jenny Katz, illustrated by Sandy Campbell and translated by Maria Vaz. 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 Sesotho. 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 25 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Kgomo e re “muu.” Podi e re, “mee, mee.” Pere e re, “hii.” Kolobe e re, “hong.” Kgoho e re, “kokoko.” Ntja e re, “houhou.” Rapolasi o re, “shh.” Sheba diphoofolo — Written by Jenny Katz; Illustrated by Sandy Campbell;…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. “Sheba diphoofolo” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Kyk na die diere
- Ateso · Ongolia Ityiang Lu
- Bemba · Mona Inama
- English · Look at the animals
- Hausa · Kalli Dabbobin
- Jamaican Creole · Luk Pan Di Animal Dem
- Kaonde · Mona Banyama
- Khoekhoegowab · Kō re xamarina
- Kiswahili · Tazama wanyama
- Lukhonzo · Erithungerera ebisoro
- Lunda · Tala tunyama
- Lunyole · Bona esolo
- Luvale · Tala tunyama
- Mauritian Creole · Get bann zanimo
- Nyanja · Onani Nyama
- Oshikwanyama · Tala koinamwenyo
- Oshindonga · Tala kiinamwenyo
- Otjiherero · Tara ovipuka
- Sepedi · Diphoofolo tša ka gae
- Somali · Fiiri xayawaanada
- Spanish · Mira a los animales
- Tonga · Kolanga Banyama
- Tswana · Leba ditshedi
- Xhosa · Izilwanyana zasekhaya
- Zulu · Izilwane zasepulazini
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
Ho na le Mollo Thabeng
Ha se Thabi eno! Ke kubu!
Ngwana elwa ke mang?
Potsanyane
Ntlo bakeng sa Tweba
Lulu o kae?
Daisy ya makatsang!
Sotheha o tsukutlehe
See all 125 free Sesotho books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Sheba diphoofolo” free to read?
Yes. “Sheba diphoofolo” 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 “Sheba diphoofolo” in?
It is written in Sesotho. Pagine has 125 free children’s books in Sesotho.
What age is “Sheba diphoofolo” for?
It is best for ages 2–8 (Level 1 · First words). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Sheba diphoofolo” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Hausa, Kiswahili, Somali, Zulu, Xhosa and more.
Who wrote “Sheba diphoofolo”?
“Sheba diphoofolo” was written by Jenny Katz and illustrated by Sandy Campbell; the Sesotho translation is by Maria Vaz.
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Get the free app →Credits: Sheba diphoofolo — Written by Jenny Katz; Illustrated by Sandy Campbell; Translated by Maria Vaz. Sesotho, Level 1. From Global Storybooks (southafricareads.org), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=1221). CC BY-NC 3.0. · Page updated October 2026