PagineUmnakwethu Omncinci Olivila
A free picture book in Xhosa by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi
Umnakwethu Omncinci Olivila is a picture book in Xhosa 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
- Xhosa
- Written by
- Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi
- Illustrated by
- Mlungisi Dlamini, Ingrid Schechter
- Translated by
- Lunathi Ntunzi
- 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
Umnakwethu Omncinci Olivila is a short illustrated picture book in Xhosa by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi, illustrated by Mlungisi Dlamini, Ingrid Schechter and translated by Lunathi Ntunzi. 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-NC 3.0 licence, which is why it is free to read. The same story is available in 33 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Ndiyavuko ndibase umlilo. Ndibilisi amanzi. Ndikhethe inkuni zokubasa umlilo. Ndizamise imbiza. Ndishayele phantsi. Ndihlambe izitya. Kutheni mna ndisebenza nzima… … elo xesha yena umnakwethu uyadlala? Umnakwethu Omncinci Olivila — Written by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi; Illustrated by Mlungisi…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. “Umnakwethu Omncinci Olivila” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Lui klein boetie
- Aringati · Álụ́ ma ꞌbã á dríp ̣ ị ĩmbírá ŋá ũ vú rĩ
- Bemba · Kandume yandi akanaŋani
- English · Lazy little brother (Colour-in)
- Jamaican Creole · Liezi likl breda
- Kaonde · Nkasami Wamulume Nkope
- Khoekhoegowab · ǀOpesa ǂkhari ǃgâsarob
- Kichaga · Maneru namroko
- Kikamba · Kamwanayia kaanu
- Kimaasai · Olotí aláshe túrúáí
- Kisukuma · Nzunaone ngokolo.
- Kiswahili · Mdogo wangu mvivu
- Lubukusu · Wandayase omutiti omukara
- Luganda · Muto wange munafu
- Lugbarati (official orthography) · Ma adrigaaovuoruri
- Lukhonzo · Mughala Wethu Omughatha
- Lumasaaba · Waandaaye umukyeekhe umutoro
- Lunda · Mwanyikami wamunyanya wakatala
- Lunyole · Muto yange omudoto
- Lusoga · Lwaki nkola zenka?
- Luvale · Songoyami walunga wauvwa
- Mauritian Creole · Enn ti frer pares
- Nyanja · Mphwanga Waulesi
- Oshikwanyama · Okamwameme mati okananyalo
- Oshindonga · Okamwamememati okananyalo
- Otjiherero · Okangu kotjirweyo
- Sesotho · Abuti ya monyenyane ya botswa
- Somali · Walal yar oo caajislow ah
- Spanish · El hermanito perezoso
- Tonga · Kasyoonto Kangu kasankwa Katolo
- Tswana · Kgantsadiake yo monnye wa sekopa
- Turkana · Lokaito Loochi Lokalany
- Zulu · Ubhuti omncane ovilaphayo
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
Lelikabani eli qhosha?
Isitiya sikaTatomkhulu uFarouk
Ndiyathanda Ukufunda
Incwadi yemozulu
UTingi kunye Nenkomo
Umbhongolo, Usana Olusisimanga
Ulilitha Noluniko Batyelela Umakhulu Wabo
Iinyosi zikaBanzi eziBhuzayo
See all 145 free Xhosa books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Umnakwethu Omncinci Olivila” free to read?
Yes. “Umnakwethu Omncinci Olivila” 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 “Umnakwethu Omncinci Olivila” in?
It is written in Xhosa. Pagine has 145 free children’s books in Xhosa.
What age is “Umnakwethu Omncinci Olivila” for?
It is best for ages 2–8 (Level 1 · First words). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Umnakwethu Omncinci Olivila” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Kiswahili, Kikamba, Kimaasai, Turkana, Somali and more.
Who wrote “Umnakwethu Omncinci Olivila”?
“Umnakwethu Omncinci Olivila” was written by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi and illustrated by Mlungisi Dlamini, Ingrid Schechter; the Xhosa translation is by Lunathi Ntunzi.
Log books, set goals and build a daily reading habit — free on iOS, Android and the web.
Get the free app →Credits: Umnakwethu Omncinci Olivila — Written by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi; Illustrated by Mlungisi Dlamini, Ingrid Schechter; Translated by Lunathi Ntunzi. Xhosa, Level 1. From Global Storybooks (southafricareads.org), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=2896). CC BY-NC 3.0. · Page updated October 2026