PagineUthimba Uyaphulukisa!
A free picture book in South Ndebele by Cornelius Gulere
Uthimba Uyaphulukisa! is a picture book in South Ndebele for ages 5–8 by Cornelius Gulere that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- South Ndebele · isiNdebele
- Written by
- Cornelius Gulere
- Illustrated by
- Catherine Groenewald
- Translated by
- Phephelaphi Mnguni
- Reading level
- ages 5–8 · kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 2 · First sentences
- From
- South Africa
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY 3.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Uthimba Uyaphulukisa! is a short illustrated picture book in South Ndebele by Cornelius Gulere, illustrated by Catherine Groenewald and translated by Phephelaphi Mnguni. It is written for ages 5–8 (Grades 1–2) and is graded as Level 2 · First sentences, so it works as a read-aloud for little ones and as practice for children learning to read in South Ndebele. 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 35 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
UGobani kwakuyindoda ede khulu. Abantu bendawo bebambiza ngokuthi nguGobani izimuzimu elilungileko, ngombana bekathulile begodu anomusa. Bekangafani nomhlobo wamazimuzimu ayingozi afana nalawa enifunda ngawo. UThimba obekahlala eduze noGobani bekumtlhuwisa ukubona uGobani ahlupheka ngokusebenzisa ilembe lakhe elifitjhani, nofana nakakhothamako lokha kufanele aphume…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. “Uthimba Uyaphulukisa!” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · ‘n Baie lang man
- Aringati · Ágóbí ázó mbílíkó rĩ
- Ateso · Etunganan Lo Awojan Noi
- Bemba · Umuntu umutali saana
- Dhopadhola · Jali Ma Bori Tektek Swa
- English · A very tall man
- Ga · Nuu Kakadaŋŋ Ko
- Gurene · Budaa n ba’am wɔgε
- Hausa · Wani Dogon Mutum
- Jamaican Creole · Wahn taal-taal man
- Kakwa · Ŋ Utu Laga a Lojo
- Kaonde · Muntu Walepa Bingi
- Khoekhoegowab · Gaxu aob
- Kiswahili · Mwanamume mrefu
- Luganda · Omusajja Omuwanvu ennyo
- Lugbarati (official orthography) · Ágʉ̀pɨ́ ɨ́zʉ̀ rɨ́
- Lukhonzo · Omulhume muli
- Lumasaaba · Umusaani umuleeyi naabi
- Lunda · Iyala wamulehi nankshi
- Lunyole · Omusinde omuleeŋi obugali
- Lusoga · Omusaadha omuleeyi einho
- Luvale · Lunga wamusuku chikuma
- Mauritian Creole · Enn misie bien long
- Nigerian Pidgin · Na longie man o
- Nyanja · Bambo wamutali kwambili
- Oshikwanyama · Omulumenhu omule unene
- Oshindonga · Omulumentu omule unene
- Otjiherero · Omurumendu omure tjinene
- Somali · Nin aad u dheer
- Spanish · Un hombre muy alto
- Tonga · Mwaalumi Mulamfwu Kapati
- Tsonga · Wanuna Wo Leha Swinene
- Tswana · Monna o motelele-telele
- Turkana · Ekile Lokooyan Noi
- Xhosa · Indoda Ende Kakhulu
Reading together in South Ndebele
- 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 South Ndebele
Indlu kaKhondlo
Mnu. Mbhobo ophethwe buthongo
UKguru uthola indlu yakhe
Ikosi uSogada nendodakazi yayo
UPalesa uthanda iintjalo
Ukukhubazeka akusikho ukubhalelwa
Ukuphi ukatsu wami?
Amahlumela Amancani
See all 69 free South Ndebele books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Uthimba Uyaphulukisa!” free to read?
Yes. “Uthimba Uyaphulukisa!” 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 “Uthimba Uyaphulukisa!” in?
It is written in South Ndebele (isiNdebele). Pagine has 69 free children’s books in South Ndebele.
What age is “Uthimba Uyaphulukisa!” for?
It is best for ages 5–8 (Level 2 · First sentences). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Uthimba Uyaphulukisa!” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Nigerian Pidgin, Hausa, Kiswahili, Turkana, Somali and more.
Who wrote “Uthimba Uyaphulukisa!”?
“Uthimba Uyaphulukisa!” was written by Cornelius Gulere and illustrated by Catherine Groenewald; the South Ndebele translation is by Phephelaphi Mnguni.
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Get the free app →Credits: Uthimba Uyaphulukisa! — Written by Cornelius Gulere; Illustrated by Catherine Groenewald; Translated by Phephelaphi Mnguni. isiNdebele, Level 2. From Global Storybooks (southafricareads.org), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=918). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026