PagineUNkukhu noSongololo
A free picture book in Xhosa by Winny Asara
UNkukhu noSongololo is a picture book in Xhosa for ages 5–11 by Winny Asara that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Xhosa
- Written by
- Winny Asara
- Illustrated by
- Magriet Brink
- Translated by
- Bukiwe Tiyane
- 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 noSongololo is a short illustrated picture book in Xhosa by Winny Asara, illustrated by Magriet Brink and translated by Bukiwe Tiyane. 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 Xhosa. 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 noSongololo babengabahlobo. Kodwa babesoloko bekhuphisana. Ngenye imini bagqiba ekubeni badlale ibhola ukuze babone ukuba ngubani umdlali ogqwesileyo. Baya ebaleni lebhola baqalisa umdlalo. UNkukhu wayekhawuleza kodwa uSongololo wayekhawuleza kakhulu. UNkukhu wayekhabela kude, kodwa uSongololo wayekhabela kude kakhulu. UNkukhu waqalisa ukubanengcwangu.…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 noSongololo” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Hennetjie en Duisendpoot
- Bemba · Inkoko ne Ciyongoli
- Dhopadhola · Gweno Kodi Ongongolo
- Gurene · Nͻbila La Katagune
- Jamaican Creole · Chikin an Milipiid
- Kaonde · Nzolo ne Munyongolo
- Khoekhoegowab · ǁGâu-anib tsî Tūsôab hâkha
- Kiswahili · Kuku na Jongoo
- Lukhonzo · Enkoko nawa Kinyangongolho
- Lumasaaba · Ingokho ni Likongolyo
- Lunda · Kasumbi na munzhon’olu
- Luvale · Kasumbi na Chingolongochi
- Mauritian Creole · Poul ek Milpat
- Nyanja · Nkhuku ndi Bongololo
- Oshikwanyama · Xuxwa naMbalangadja
- Oshindonga · Ondjuxwa Nongoongololo
- Otjiherero · Ohunguriva nengororo
- Rutooro · Enkoko N’ Ekikongoro
- Sesotho · Kgoho le Lefokolodi
- Somali · Digaag iyo hangaraarac
- Spanish · El Pollo y el Milpiés
- Tonga · Nkuku a Joongolo
- Tsonga · Huku Na Khongoloti
- Tswana · Koko le Sebokolodi
- Venda · Khuhu Na Dongololo
- Zulu · Unkukhu Noshongololo
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
uLonwabo
Istayile sika Rafiki
USindiwe kunye neenkanyezi
Ibhotwe eliFezekileyo likaNksk Nombombiya
Ingoma kaKatiiti
Ingaba ukhona na umntu ofana nam nqwa?
Izihlangu zikaSongololo
Izangqa
See all 145 free Xhosa books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “UNkukhu noSongololo” free to read?
Yes. “UNkukhu noSongololo” 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 noSongololo” in?
It is written in Xhosa. Pagine has 145 free children’s books in Xhosa.
What age is “UNkukhu noSongololo” for?
It is best for ages 5–11 (Level 3 · First paragraphs). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “UNkukhu noSongololo” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in Somali, Zulu, Afrikaans, Tswana, Sesotho, Tsonga and more.
Who wrote “UNkukhu noSongololo”?
“UNkukhu noSongololo” was written by Winny Asara and illustrated by Magriet Brink; the Xhosa translation is by Bukiwe Tiyane.
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Get the free app →Credits: UNkukhu noSongololo — Written by Winny Asara; Illustrated by Magriet Brink; Translated by Bukiwe Tiyane. Xhosa, 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