PagineUBongani neenkomo
A free picture book in South Ndebele by Ingrid Schechter
UBongani neenkomo is a picture book in South Ndebele for ages 5–8 by Ingrid Schechter that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- South Ndebele · isiNdebele
- Written by
- Ingrid Schechter
- Illustrated by
- Ingrid Schechter
- Translated by
- Carol Mabena, Gloria Magana
- 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
UBongani neenkomo is a short illustrated picture book in South Ndebele by Ingrid Schechter, illustrated by Ingrid Schechter and translated by Carol Mabena, Gloria Magana. 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 South Ndebele. 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 27 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
uBongani bekahlala nogogwakhe. Bekavame ukutjheja iinkomo naye. Ngelinye lamalanga amasotja eza. Athatha iinkomo. uBongani nogogwakhe babaleka bese babhaca. Babhaca ehlathini kwaze kwaba sebusuku. Yeke-ke amasotja abuya. Ugogo wafihla uBongani ngaphasi kwamakari. Omunye wamasotja wabeka inyawo phezu kwakaBonganii, kodwana wathula. Nasele…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. “UBongani neenkomo” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Tingi en die koeie
- Bemba · Tingi ne ŋombe
- English · Tingi and the cows
- Ga · Tingi kɛ tsinai lɛ
- Jamaican Creole · Tinggi an di Kou
- Kaonde · Tingi ne Bañombe
- Khoekhoegowab · Tingib tsî gomadi
- Kigogo · Tingi na ng’ombe
- Kiswahili · Tingi na ng’ombe
- Luganda · Tingi n’ente
- Lukhonzo · Tingi N’esyande
- Lunda · Tingi nawa ng’ombi
- Luvale · Tingi navangombe
- Mauritian Creole · Tingi ek bann vas
- Nigerian Pidgin · Tingi and cows
- Nyanja · Tingi ndi ng’ombe
- Oshikwanyama · Tingi neengobe
- Oshindonga · Tingi noongombe
- Otjiherero · Tingi nozongombe
- Rutooro · Tingi N’Ente
- Sesotho · Tingi le dikgomo
- Somali · Tingi iyo lo’dii
- Spanish · Tingi y las vacas
- Tonga · Tingi Aŋombe
- Tswana · Tingi le dikgomo
- Xhosa · UTingi kunye Nenkomo
- Zulu · Utingi
Reading together in South Ndebele
- 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 South Ndebele
Ihlathi leenyoka
Ibhesi ekulu ehlaza sasibhakabhaka
Utjhontjhwani usindisa izuba
Umdoko
UBaba uza ekhaya
Imbewu Encazana
Iqanda
Buya, katsu!
See all 69 free South Ndebele books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “UBongani neenkomo” free to read?
Yes. “UBongani neenkomo” 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 “UBongani neenkomo” in?
It is written in South Ndebele (isiNdebele). Pagine has 69 free children’s books in South Ndebele.
What age is “UBongani neenkomo” for?
It is best for ages 5–8 (Level 2 · First sentences). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “UBongani neenkomo” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Nigerian Pidgin, Kiswahili, Somali, Zulu, Xhosa and more.
Who wrote “UBongani neenkomo”?
“UBongani neenkomo” was written by Ingrid Schechter and illustrated by Ingrid Schechter; the South Ndebele translation is by Carol Mabena, Gloria Magana.
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Get the free app →Credits: UBongani neenkomo — Written by Ingrid Schechter; Illustrated by Ingrid Schechter; Translated by Carol Mabena, Gloria Magana. isiNdebele, Level 2. From Global Storybooks (southafricareads.org), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=7441). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026