Uvwalo wakushikola
A free picture book in Luvale by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi

Uvwalo wakushikola is a picture book in Luvale for ages 2–8 by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Luvale
- Written by
- Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi
- Illustrated by
- Mlungisi Dlamini, Ingrid Schechter
- Translated by
- Masho Kaloza
- Reading level
- ages 2–8 · preschool, kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 1 · First words
- From
- Zambia
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY-NC 3.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Uvwalo wakushikola is a short illustrated picture book in Luvale by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi, illustrated by Mlungisi Dlamini, Ingrid Schechter and translated by Masho Kaloza. It is written for ages 2–8 (Nursery–Year 1) and is graded as Level 1 · First words, so it works as a read-aloud for little ones and as practice for children learning to read in Luvale. The book comes from Global Storybooks and is shared under an open CC BY-NC 3.0 licence, which is why it is free to read. The same story is available in 30 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Eyi khanji yayisuku. Eyi sweta yayinene. Eyi ngonga yayinene. Ou muhya wamumbunda wa… Eli litepa lyalindende. Eji jimenya jajihi. Oloze eji jisapato jajihya. … jinate kanawa. Uvwalo wakushikola — Written by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi; Illustrated by Mlungisi…Opening lines quoted from the openly licensed book (CC BY-NC 3.0).
This story in other languages
Reading the same story in two languages helps bilingual children connect words they already know. “Uvwalo wakushikola” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Skoolklere
- Aringati · Ujaku ꞌbã bõ ngó sụ̃ kụ́ lụ̃ drị̂ kî
- Bemba · Ifyakufwala fya kusukulu
- English · School clothes
- Irish · Éadaí scoile
- Jamaican Creole · Skuul kluoz
- Kaonde · Bivwalo bya Sukuulu
- Khoekhoegowab · Skol saran
- Kikamba · Ngua sya sukulu
- Kikuyu · Nguo cia thukuru
- Kimaasai · Inkiláni e sukúul
- Kiswahili · Sare za shule
- Lukhonzo · Ebyambalho eby’erithendekero
- Lunda · Yakuvwala yakushikola
- Lunyole · Engoye j’esomero
- Lusoga · Byambalo bya isomero
- Mauritian Creole · Iniform lekol
- Nyanja · Zovala za kusukulu
- Oshikwanyama · Omidjalo dofikola
- Oshindonga · Omuzalo gwosikola
- Otjiherero · Ozombanda zosikore
- Sesotho · Diaparo tsa sekolo
- Somali · Dharka iskuulka
- Spanish · Ropa de escuela
- Tonga · Zyisani Zyakucikolo
- Tsonga · Swiambalo swa xikolo
- Tswana · Diaparo tsa sekolo
- Turkana · Ng’Iworui a Esukul
- Xhosa · Iimpahla zesikolo
- Zulu · Izingubo zesikole
Reading together in Luvale
- 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 Luvale
Magozwe
Jikhambu
Mujimba wami
Khalai eji kuhanjika navimbuto
Mbuto yayindende: Mujimbu wa Wangari Maathai
Linga mwalinga mukwenu yakatotaphako
Kwivwa
Songoyami walunga wauvwa
See all 40 free Luvale books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Uvwalo wakushikola” free to read?
Yes. “Uvwalo wakushikola” 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-NC 3.0).
What language is “Uvwalo wakushikola” in?
It is written in Luvale. Pagine has 40 free children’s books in Luvale.
What age is “Uvwalo wakushikola” for?
It is best for ages 2–8 (Level 1 · First words). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Uvwalo wakushikola” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Kiswahili, Kikuyu, Kikamba, Kimaasai, Turkana and more.
Who wrote “Uvwalo wakushikola”?
“Uvwalo wakushikola” was written by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi and illustrated by Mlungisi Dlamini, Ingrid Schechter; the Luvale translation is by Masho Kaloza.
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Get the free app →Credits: Uvwalo wakushikola — Written by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi; Illustrated by Mlungisi Dlamini, Ingrid Schechter; Translated by Masho Kaloza. Luvale, Level 1. From Global Storybooks (storybookszambia.net), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=1794). CC BY-NC 3.0. · Page updated October 2026