Unkukhu Noshongololo

Name: Unkukhu Noshongololo
Availability: InStock
Author: Winny Asara

A free picture book in Zulu by Winny Asara

Cover of Unkukhu Noshongololo, a Zulu picture book

Unkukhu Noshongololo is a picture book in Zulu for ages 5–11 by Winny Asara that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.

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Language: Zulu
Written by: Winny Asara
Illustrated by: Magriet Brink
Translated by: Margaret Nokuthula Zondi
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 3.0
Price: Free — read online, nothing to download

About this book

Unkukhu Noshongololo is a short illustrated picture book in Zulu by Winny Asara, illustrated by Magriet Brink and translated by Margaret Nokuthula Zondi. 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 3.0 licence, which is why it is free to read. The same story is available in 26 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).

How it begins

UNkukhu noShongololo babengabangani. Kodwa babehlala bencintisana. Ngelinye ilanga banquma ukudlala ibhola lezinyawo befuna ukubona ukuthi ubani owayengumpetha. Baya enkundleni yebhola lezinyawo basebeqala umdlalo wabo. UNkukhu wayeshesha, kodwa uShongololo wayeshesha kakhulu. UNkukhu wayelikhahlela liye kude, kodwa elikaShongololo laliya kude kakhulu, uNkukhu…

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. “Unkukhu Noshongololo” is also available in:

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

See all 145 free Zulu books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩‍🏫 Assign this book to a class

Frequently asked questions

Is “Unkukhu Noshongololo” free to read?

Yes. “Unkukhu Noshongololo” 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 “Unkukhu Noshongololo” in?

It is written in Zulu. Pagine has 145 free children’s books in Zulu.

What age is “Unkukhu Noshongololo” for?

It is best for ages 5–11 (Level 3 · First paragraphs). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.

Is “Unkukhu Noshongololo” available in other languages?

Yes — the same story is in Somali, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Tswana, Sesotho, Tsonga and more.

Who wrote “Unkukhu Noshongololo”?

“Unkukhu Noshongololo” was written by Winny Asara and illustrated by Magriet Brink; the Zulu translation is by Margaret Nokuthula Zondi.

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Credits: Unkukhu Noshongololo — Written by Winny Asara; Illustrated by Magriet Brink; Translated by Margaret Nokuthula Zondi; Read by Beauty Ngwenya. Zulu, Level 3. From Global Storybooks (southafricareads.org), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=9094). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026