PagineUmntwana ongajwayelekile
A free picture book in Zulu by Lindiwe Matshikiza
Umntwana ongajwayelekile is a picture book in Zulu for ages 5–11 by Lindiwe Matshikiza that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Zulu
- Written by
- Lindiwe Matshikiza
- Illustrated by
- Meghan Judge
- Translated by
- Zimbili Dlamini
- Reading level
- ages 5–11 · kindergarten to 2nd grade, 3rd to 5th grade · Level 3 · First paragraphs
- From
- South Africa
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY 4.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Umntwana ongajwayelekile is a short illustrated picture book in Zulu by Lindiwe Matshikiza, illustrated by Meghan Judge and translated by Zimbili Dlamini. It is written for ages 5–11 (Grades 2–3) and is graded as Level 3 · First paragraphs, 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 4.0 licence, which is why it is free to read. The same story is available in 22 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Ngibonani ngamehlo ami. Owesifazane okhulelwe ebambelele Umphakathi wamamukela ukuthi Ngabo lobo busuku wezwakala Wabeletha umntwana oyimbongolo. Sizokwenzenjani? Abantu besho bemangala. Babaleka bonke abantu. “Ngizokwenzenjani ngalomntwana oyimbongolo?” Kucabanga lo wesifazane. Ekugcineni wazibophezela ukumthanda Umntwana oyimbongolo wakhula Umama wakhe waphatheka Umntwana umbongolo…Opening lines quoted from the openly licensed book (CC BY 4.0).
This story in other languages
Reading the same story in two languages helps bilingual children connect words they already know. “Umntwana ongajwayelekile” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Donkie-kind
- Bemba · Umwana Punda
- Dhopadhola · Nyathi Ma Nyakare
- English · Donkey child
- Jamaican Creole · Dangki Pikni
- Kaonde · Mbongolo Mwana
- Khoekhoegowab · Donki ǀgôab xa
- Kiswahili · Mtoto Punda
- Lukhonzo · Akana K’epunda
- Lunda · Mwana wa Donki
- Luvale · Mwana Chimbulu
- Mauritian Creole · Zanfan-Bourik
- Nyanja · Mwana wa Bulu
- Oshikwanyama · Okaana okandongwina
- Oshindonga · Okanona okandôongi
- Otjiherero · Okasinona
- Somali · Ilmo dameer ah
- Spanish · El Niño Burro
- Tonga · Kana Kambongolo
- Tswana · Ngwana wa setshwano sa tonki
- Turkana · Ikoku sikiria
- Xhosa · Umbhongolo, Usana Olusisimanga
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
Ukubala izilwane
Ezimbili
Abantwana abenziwe ngamakhandlela
uNozibele kanye nezinwele ezintathu
Ithishu kaThuli
Amahlumela Amancane
Kungani kunembobo obondeni?
Iphathi Letiye likaTlotlego
See all 145 free Zulu books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Umntwana ongajwayelekile” free to read?
Yes. “Umntwana ongajwayelekile” 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 4.0).
What language is “Umntwana ongajwayelekile” in?
It is written in Zulu. Pagine has 145 free children’s books in Zulu.
What age is “Umntwana ongajwayelekile” for?
It is best for ages 5–11 (Level 3 · First paragraphs). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Umntwana ongajwayelekile” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Turkana, Somali, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Tswana and more.
Who wrote “Umntwana ongajwayelekile”?
“Umntwana ongajwayelekile” was written by Lindiwe Matshikiza and illustrated by Meghan Judge; the Zulu translation is by Zimbili Dlamini.
Log books, set goals and build a daily reading habit — free on iOS, Android and the web.
Get the free app →Credits: Umntwana ongajwayelekile — Written by Lindiwe Matshikiza; Illustrated by Meghan Judge; Translated by Zimbili Dlamini; Read by Beauty Ngwenya. Zulu, Level 3. From Global Storybooks (southafricareads.org), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=15028). CC BY 4.0. · Page updated October 2026