Uli nakulinga ika?
A free picture book in Luvale by Nina Orange

Uli nakulinga ika? is a picture book in Luvale for ages 2–8 by Nina Orange that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Luvale
- Written by
- Nina Orange
- Illustrated by
- Wiehan de Jager
- Translated by
- Kaloza Masho
- Reading level
- ages 2–8 · preschool, kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 1 · First words
- From
- Zambia
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY 3.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Uli nakulinga ika? is a short illustrated picture book in Luvale by Nina Orange, illustrated by Wiehan de Jager and translated by Kaloza Masho. 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 Luvale. 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 29 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Nguli nakwimba. Ali nakunyengesa livoko. Nguli nakusakwila. Ali nakulyolola. Ali nakusanyika. Nguli nakukumbulula. Ali nakwivwilila. Uli nakulinga ika? — Written by Nina Orange; Illustrated by Wiehan de Jager; Translated by Kaloza Masho. Luvale, Level 1. From Global Storybooks (storybookszambia.net), originally…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. “Uli nakulinga ika?” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Wat doen jy?
- Bemba · Finshi Uleecita?
- Dagbani · Bɔ ka a niŋda?
- Jamaican Creole · Wa yu a du?
- Kaonde · Ubena Kuuba ka?
- Khoekhoegowab · Tare-ets ra dī?
- Kichaga · Kiki kukeuta?
- Kikuyu · Nĩkĩĩ ureka?
- Kisukuma · Uleetake?
- Kiswahili · Unafanya nini?
- Krio · Wetin yu de du?
- Lukhonzo · Ukakolhaki?
- Lunda · Winakwiladi?
- Lunyole · Ohola hiina?
- Mauritian Creole · Ki to pe fer?
- Nyanja · Ucita Ciani?
- Oshikwanyama · Oto ningi shike?
- Oshindonga · Oto ningi shike?
- Otjiherero · Ove mo tjiti tjike?
- Sepedi · O dira eng?
- Sesotho · O etsang?
- Somali · Maxaad samaynaysaa?
- Spanish · ¿Qué estás haciendo?
- Tonga · Ino Ucita Nzi?
- Tsonga · Xana u endla yini?
- Tswana · O dira eng?
- Turkana · Nyo Isubi Iyong?
- Xhosa · Wenza Ntoni?
- Zulu · Wenzani?
Reading together in Luvale
- 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 Luvale
Andiswa muyatwa wangunja yakumahinji
Kasumbi na Chiselele
Makonde akhaka
Kakahya
Songoyami walunga wauvwa
Tom mukakulanjisa makonde
Phembe, Kawa, na Ngombe
Nozibele najize jikhambu jitatu
See all 40 free Luvale books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Uli nakulinga ika?” free to read?
Yes. “Uli nakulinga ika?” 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 “Uli nakulinga ika?” in?
It is written in Luvale. Pagine has 40 free children’s books in Luvale.
What age is “Uli nakulinga ika?” for?
It is best for ages 2–8 (Level 1 · First words). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Uli nakulinga ika?” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in Kikuyu, Turkana, Somali, Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and more.
Who wrote “Uli nakulinga ika?”?
“Uli nakulinga ika?” was written by Nina Orange and illustrated by Wiehan de Jager; the Luvale translation is by Kaloza Masho.
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Get the free app →Credits: Uli nakulinga ika? — Written by Nina Orange; Illustrated by Wiehan de Jager; Translated by Kaloza Masho. Luvale, Level 1. From Global Storybooks (storybookszambia.net), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=7292). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026