PagineUkupheka
A free picture book in Zulu by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi
Ukupheka is a picture book in Zulu for ages 2–8 by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Zulu
- Written by
- Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi
- Illustrated by
- Kathy Arbuckle, Ingrid Schechter
- Translated by
- Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla and
- 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
Ukupheka is a short illustrated picture book in Zulu by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi, illustrated by Kathy Arbuckle, Ingrid Schechter and translated by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla and. 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 Zulu. 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 30 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Ngicwecwa amazambane. Ngiqoba iklabishi. Ngigretha iziqathi. Ngigeza ubhontshisi. Ngiqoba ithanga. Ngiqoba imifino. Umama wami uqoba uanyanisi. Uanyanisi ungenza ngikhale uma uqotshwa. Ukupheka — Written by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi; Illustrated by Kathy Arbuckle, Ingrid Schechter; Translated by Clare…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. “Ukupheka” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Kook
- Aringati · Aꞌdíŋá
- Ateso · Aipo
- Bemba · Ukwipika
- Dhopadhola · Tedo
- English · Cooking (Colour-in)
- Jamaican Creole · A kuk
- Kaonde · Kuteeka
- Khoekhoegowab · ǂÛdīs
- Kichaga · Kora
- Kisukuma · Kozuga
- Kiswahili · Kupika
- Lugbarati (official orthography) · Nyaká a’dɨ́zà
- Lukhonzo · Erihuka
- Lumasaaba · Khuuteekha
- Lunda · Kuteleka
- Lunyole · Ohunyiiya
- Lusoga · Okufumba
- Luvale · Kuteleka
- Mauritian Creole · Lakwizinn
- Nyanja · Kuphika
- Oshikwanyama · Okuteleka
- Oshindonga · Okuteleka
- Otjiherero · Okutereka
- Sesotho · Ho pheha
- Somali · Karin
- Spanish · Cocinando
- Tonga · Kujika
- Tswana · Apaya
- Xhosa · Ukupheka
Reading together in Zulu
- 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 Zulu
Umshado wenhlanzi nenkukhu
Izicathulo zikaShongololo
Hhu-Hhu!
Ukumamatheka kukaSizwe
Amakati kaZamo
Umlilo
Ubhuti omncane ovilaphayo
Ukhalai Ukhuluma Nezitshalo
See all 145 free Zulu books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Ukupheka” free to read?
Yes. “Ukupheka” 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 “Ukupheka” in?
It is written in Zulu. Pagine has 145 free children’s books in Zulu.
What age is “Ukupheka” for?
It is best for ages 2–8 (Level 1 · First words). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Ukupheka” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Kiswahili, Somali, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Tswana and more.
Who wrote “Ukupheka”?
“Ukupheka” was written by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi and illustrated by Kathy Arbuckle, Ingrid Schechter; the Zulu translation is by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla and.
Log books, set goals and build a daily reading habit — free on iOS, Android and the web.
Get the free app →Credits: Ukupheka — Written by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi; Illustrated by Kathy Arbuckle, Ingrid Schechter; Translated by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla and; Read by Beauty Ngwenya. Zulu, Level 1. From Global Storybooks (southafricareads.org), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=2795). CC BY-NC 3.0. · Page updated October 2026