PagineUkubala izilwanyana
A free picture book in Xhosa by Zanele Buthelezi, Thembani Dladla, Clare Verbeek
Ukubala izilwanyana is a picture book in Xhosa for ages 2–8 by Zanele Buthelezi, Thembani Dladla, Clare Verbeek that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Xhosa
- Written by
- Zanele Buthelezi, Thembani Dladla, Clare Verbeek
- Illustrated by
- Rob Owen
- Translated by
- Siyasanga Manakele
- Reading level
- ages 2–8 · preschool, kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 1 · First words
- From
- South Africa
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY 3.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Ukubala izilwanyana is a short illustrated picture book in Xhosa by Zanele Buthelezi, Thembani Dladla, Clare Verbeek, illustrated by Rob Owen and translated by Siyasanga Manakele. 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 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
Indlovu enye iyokusela amanzi. Iindlulamthi ezimbini ziyokusela amanzi. Iiinyathi ezintathu kunye neentaka ezine nazo ziyokusela amanzi. Ii-impala ezintandathu kunye neehagu zehlathi zimhamba ziya emanzini. Amaqwarhashe asixhenxe abaleka esiya emanzini. Amasele asibhozo aqubha emanzini. Ingonyama enye iyagquma. Kwaye nayo ifuna ukusela.…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. “Ukubala izilwanyana” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Tel die diere
- Akuapem Twi · Mmoa Akenkan
- Bemba · Ukupenda Inama
- Dagaare · Donne Sɔrebo
- Dagbani · Binkɔbri Kalibu
- Fante · Mbowadoma Nkanee
- Ga · Kooloi Kanemɔ
- Gonja · Asɔbɔaya Be Ke Karga
- Hausa · Kidayar Dabbobi
- Irish · Ag comhaireamh ainmhithe
- Jamaican Creole · A Kount Di Animal Dem
- Kaonde · Kubala Banyama
- Kasem · Vara Garem
- Khoekhoegowab · Xamarina ǃgôas
- Kiswahili · Kuhesabu wanyama
- Luganda · Okubala ebisolo
- Lukhonzo · Eribara kutse erighanza ebisoro
- Lunda · Kuchinda tunyama
- Luvale · Kulava tunyama
- Mauritian Creole · Anou kont zanimo
- Nigerian Pidgin · Count animals
- Nyanja · Kuwelengela Nyama
- Nzema · Nane Edianlɛ
- Oshikwanyama · Okuvalula oinamwenyo
- Oshindonga · Okuyalula iinamwenyo
- Otjiherero · Okuvara ovipuka
- Runyankore · Okubara Ebinyamiiswa
- Sesotho · Ho bala diphoofolo
- Somali · Xayawaan tirin
- Spanish · Contando animales
- Tonga · Kubala Banyama
- Tswana · Go bala ditshedi
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
Kutheni iiMvubu Zingenaboya Nje
Indoda Ende Kakhulu
Unozibele Namanwele Amathathu
Utya njani?
UZenande uyancedisa
Lusuku lwam lokuzalwa!
Eyona Ndlwane Ibalaseleyo
Indlela yoKwenza Mbuna iRhamncwa
See all 145 free Xhosa books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Ukubala izilwanyana” free to read?
Yes. “Ukubala izilwanyana” 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 “Ukubala izilwanyana” in?
It is written in Xhosa. Pagine has 145 free children’s books in Xhosa.
What age is “Ukubala izilwanyana” for?
It is best for ages 2–8 (Level 1 · First words). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Ukubala izilwanyana” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in Nigerian Pidgin, Hausa, Kiswahili, Somali, Afrikaans, Tswana and more.
Who wrote “Ukubala izilwanyana”?
“Ukubala izilwanyana” was written by Zanele Buthelezi, Thembani Dladla, Clare Verbeek and illustrated by Rob Owen; the Xhosa translation is by Siyasanga Manakele.
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Get the free app →Credits: Ukubala izilwanyana — Written by Zanele Buthelezi, Thembani Dladla, Clare Verbeek; Illustrated by Rob Owen; Translated by Siyasanga Manakele. Xhosa, Level 1. From Global Storybooks (southafricareads.org), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=9671). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026