PagineUBhokhwe, uNja, noNkomo
A free picture book in Xhosa by Fabian Wakholi
UBhokhwe, uNja, noNkomo is a picture book in Xhosa for ages 5–8 by Fabian Wakholi that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Xhosa
- Written by
- Fabian Wakholi
- Illustrated by
- Marleen Visser, Ingrid Schechter
- Translated by
- Bukiwe Tiyane
- Reading level
- ages 5–8 · kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 2 · First sentences
- From
- South Africa
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY 3.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
UBhokhwe, uNja, noNkomo is a short illustrated picture book in Xhosa by Fabian Wakholi, illustrated by Marleen Visser, Ingrid Schechter and translated by Bukiwe Tiyane. 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 Xhosa. 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 32 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
UBhokhwe, uNja, noNkomo yayingabahlobo abakhulu. Ngenye imini bathatha uhambo ngetekisi. Xa befika ekupheleni kohambo lwabo, umqhubi wabacela ukuba babhatale imali yokukhwela. UNkomo wabhatala imali yakhe. UNja wabhatala engaphezulu ngokuba wayengenayo imali eqingqekileyo. Umqhubi wayesele eza kunika uNja imali yakhe suka…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. “UBhokhwe, uNja, noNkomo” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Bok, Hond en Koei
- Bemba · Imbushi, Imbwa ne ŋombe
- Dhopadhola · Dyel, Gwok Kodi Dhyaŋ
- English · Goat, Dog and Cow (Colour-in)
- Jamaican Creole · Guot, Daag an Kou
- Kaonde · Mbuzhi, Kabwa ne Ñombe
- Khoekhoegowab · Piris, Arib, tsî Gomas xa
- Kikamba · Mbui, Ngiti na Ng’ombe
- Kimaasai · Enkíné, Oldía ó Enkíténg
- Kiswahili · Mbuzi, Mbwa na Ng’ombe
- Luganda · Wambuzi, Wambwa ne Wante
- Lugbarati (official orthography) · Ndrí ‘ɨ, Òcó ‘ɨ àzɨ́nɨ Tí ‘ɨ
- Lukhonzo · Embene, Embwa, n’Ende
- Lumasaaba · Imbusi, Imbwa ni Ngaafu
- Lunda · Impembi, Kawa na Ng’ombi
- Lunyole · Embusi, Embwa n’Eῃombe
- Luvale · Phembe, Kawa, na Ngombe
- Mauritian Creole · Kabri, Lisien, ek Vas
- Nigerian Pidgin · Goat, dog, and Malu
- Nyanja · Mbuzi, Galu ndi Ng’ombe
- Oshikwanyama · Shikombo, Mbwa nOngobe
- Oshindonga · Oshikombo, ombwa nongombe
- Otjiherero · Ongombo, ombwa nongombe
- Rutooro · Embuzi, Embwa, N’Ente
- Sesotho · Podi, Ntja le kgomo
- Somali · Ri, Eey iyo Sac
- South Ndebele · Imbuzi, Inja Nekomo
- Spanish · La Cabra, el Perro y la Vaca
- Tonga · Mpongo, Mubwa a ŋombe
- Tswana · Podi,Ntsa le Kgomo
- Turkana · Akine, Ing’ok Ka Aite
- Zulu · Imbuzi, Inja Nenkomo
Reading together in Xhosa
- 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 Xhosa
Ezona zinto zibalulekileyo
Bekunokuba njani ukuba …?
Ukukhangela umoya wentwasahlobo
Ndingumbala wobusi
Ukucula inyaniso: Ibali likaMiriam Makeba
Ndifuna!
UDaisy Omangalisayo!
Iingonyama zisoloko zikhaliphile
See all 145 free Xhosa books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “UBhokhwe, uNja, noNkomo” free to read?
Yes. “UBhokhwe, uNja, noNkomo” 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 “UBhokhwe, uNja, noNkomo” in?
It is written in Xhosa. Pagine has 145 free children’s books in Xhosa.
What age is “UBhokhwe, uNja, noNkomo” for?
It is best for ages 5–8 (Level 2 · First sentences). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “UBhokhwe, uNja, noNkomo” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Nigerian Pidgin, Kiswahili, Kikamba, Kimaasai, Turkana and more.
Who wrote “UBhokhwe, uNja, noNkomo”?
“UBhokhwe, uNja, noNkomo” was written by Fabian Wakholi and illustrated by Marleen Visser, Ingrid Schechter; the Xhosa translation is by Bukiwe Tiyane.
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Get the free app →Credits: UBhokhwe, uNja, noNkomo — Written by Fabian Wakholi; Illustrated by Marleen Visser, Ingrid Schechter; Translated by Bukiwe Tiyane. Xhosa, Level 2. From Global Storybooks (southafricareads.org), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=6380). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026