PagineUSikhukhukazi noKhozi
A free picture book in Xhosa by Ann Nduku
USikhukhukazi noKhozi is a picture book in Xhosa for ages 5–11 by Ann Nduku that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Xhosa
- Written by
- Ann Nduku
- Illustrated by
- Wiehan de Jager
- 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
USikhukhukazi noKhozi is a short illustrated picture book in Xhosa by Ann Nduku, illustrated by Wiehan de Jager 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 27 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Kudaladala, uSikhukhukazi noKhozi babengabahlobo. Babephila ngoxolo nazo zonke ezinye iintaka. Akukho namnye owayekwazi ukubhabha kubo. Ngenye imini, kwakukho indlala emhlabeni. UKhozi kwafuneka ahambe umgama omde ukuze afumane ukutya. Wabuya edinwe kakhulu. “Kumele kubekho indlela elula yokuhambahamba!” watsho uKhozi. Emva kokulala…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. “USikhukhukazi noKhozi” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Hen en Arend
- Aringati · Áũ kí Yúkú be
- Bemba · Inkoko na Pungwa
- EkeGusii · Engoko Ne’Kebaki
- English · Hen and Eagle
- Jamaican Creole · En an Iigl
- Kakwa · Sukuri seku Yugu
- Kaonde · Kyaje ne Mpungu
- Khoekhoegowab · Anis tsî ǃAriǃkhās hâra xa
- Kiswahili · Kuku na Tai
- Luganda · Wankoko ne Wakamunye
- Lugbarati (official orthography) · A’ú pi yúkú be
- Lukhonzo · wa’Ngoko oko na W’Isamba
- Lumasaaba · Ingokho ni Ikhosi
- Lunda · Kasumbi na Kambembi
- Lunyole · Engoho ni Haŋungu
- Luvale · Kasumbi na Chiselele
- Mauritian Creole · Poul ek Leg
- Nyanja · Nkhuku ndi Nkhwazi
- Oshikwanyama · Oxuxwa nonhwa
- Oshindonga · Ondjuhwa nOntsa
- Otjiherero · Ohunguriva norukoze
- Rutooro · Enkoko N’Ekihungu
- Somali · Digaagad iyo Galayr
- Spanish · La Gallina y el Águila
- Tonga · Nkuku a Musyika
- Tswana · Koko le Matsianye
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
Uhambo oluya etephini
Umthi weeNkumbulo
Jonga Phezulu!
Ndiza kukunceda
Indlu kaMpukwana
Uphi uThabo?
Indebe yemiqhathane mayiwe
Amalungiselelo Amakhulu Embovane Encinane
See all 145 free Xhosa books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “USikhukhukazi noKhozi” free to read?
Yes. “USikhukhukazi noKhozi” 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 “USikhukhukazi noKhozi” in?
It is written in Xhosa. Pagine has 145 free children’s books in Xhosa.
What age is “USikhukhukazi noKhozi” for?
It is best for ages 5–11 (Level 3 · First paragraphs). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “USikhukhukazi noKhozi” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Kiswahili, EkeGusii, Somali, Afrikaans, Tswana and more.
Who wrote “USikhukhukazi noKhozi”?
“USikhukhukazi noKhozi” was written by Ann Nduku and illustrated by Wiehan de Jager; the Xhosa translation is by Bukiwe Tiyane.
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Get the free app →Credits: USikhukhukazi noKhozi — Written by Ann Nduku; Illustrated by Wiehan de Jager; Translated by Bukiwe Tiyane. Xhosa, Level 3. From Global Storybooks (southafricareads.org), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=2084). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026