Waandaaye umukyeekhe umutoro

A free picture book in Lumasaaba by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi

Waandaaye umukyeekhe umutoro is a picture book in Lumasaaba for ages 2–8 by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.

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Language

Lumasaaba

Written by

Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi

Illustrated by

Mlungisi Dlamini, Ingrid Schechter

Translated by

Milton Eridad Shissa

Reading level

ages 2–8 · preschool, kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 1 · First words

From

Uganda

Source

Global Storybooks

Licence

CC BY-NC 3.0

Price

Free — read online, nothing to download

About this book

Waandaaye umukyeekhe umutoro is a short illustrated picture book in Lumasaaba by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi, illustrated by Mlungisi Dlamini, Ingrid Schechter and translated by Milton Eridad Shissa. 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 Lumasaaba. 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 33 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).

How it begins

Isiisimukha mwiilo nabwaana kumulilo. Naatutubisa kameetsi. Naasaaka tsiikhu. Naakulula mu saatsi. Neeya amukhe. Isiinga tsisowaani. Lwashiina inaamba naabi indyo.... … nga wandaayase ali khukhwinyaha busa. Waandaaye umukyeekhe umutoro — 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. “Waandaaye umukyeekhe umutoro” is also available in:

• Afrikaans · Lui klein boetie
• Aringati · Álụ́ ma ꞌbã á dríp ̣ ị ĩmbírá ŋá ũ vú rĩ
• Bemba · Kandume yandi akanaŋani
• English · Lazy little brother (Colour-in)
• Jamaican Creole · Liezi likl breda
• Kaonde · Nkasami Wamulume Nkope
• Khoekhoegowab · ǀOpesa ǂkhari ǃgâsarob
• Kichaga · Maneru namroko
• Kikamba · Kamwanayia kaanu
• Kimaasai · Olotí aláshe túrúáí
• Kisukuma · Nzunaone ngokolo.
• Kiswahili · Mdogo wangu mvivu
• Lubukusu · Wandayase omutiti omukara
• Luganda · Muto wange munafu
• Lugbarati (official orthography) · Ma adrigaaovuoruri
• Lukhonzo · Mughala Wethu Omughatha
• Lunda · Mwanyikami wamunyanya wakatala
• Lunyole · Muto yange omudoto
• Lusoga · Lwaki nkola zenka?
• Luvale · Songoyami walunga wauvwa
• Mauritian Creole · Enn ti frer pares
• Nyanja · Mphwanga Waulesi
• Oshikwanyama · Okamwameme mati okananyalo
• Oshindonga · Okamwamememati okananyalo
• Otjiherero · Okangu kotjirweyo
• Sesotho · Abuti ya monyenyane ya botswa
• Somali · Walal yar oo caajislow ah
• Spanish · El hermanito perezoso
• Tonga · Kasyoonto Kangu kasankwa Katolo
• Tswana · Kgantsadiake yo monnye wa sekopa
• Turkana · Lokaito Loochi Lokalany
• Xhosa · Umnakwethu Omncinci Olivila
• Zulu · Ubhuti omncane ovilaphayo

Reading together in Lumasaaba

• 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 Lumasaaba

• Umusaani umuleeyi naabi
• Kamarofu ka Kuukhu
• Babaana be buwuula
• Intsilihaasa iy’omwoolesi we bubuukhi
• Lwasiina tsifubu tsitamba bubwoya
• Namutosi ni butsuune butaru
• Khuuteekha
• Ingokho ni Likongolyo

See all 16 free Lumasaaba books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩‍🏫 Assign this book to a class

Frequently asked questions

Is “Waandaaye umukyeekhe umutoro” free to read?

Yes. “Waandaaye umukyeekhe umutoro” 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 “Waandaaye umukyeekhe umutoro” in?

It is written in Lumasaaba. Pagine has 16 free children’s books in Lumasaaba.

What age is “Waandaaye umukyeekhe umutoro” for?

It is best for ages 2–8 (Level 1 · First words). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.

Is “Waandaaye umukyeekhe umutoro” available in other languages?

Yes — the same story is in English, Kiswahili, Kikamba, Kimaasai, Turkana, Somali and more.

Who wrote “Waandaaye umukyeekhe umutoro”?

“Waandaaye umukyeekhe umutoro” was written by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi and illustrated by Mlungisi Dlamini, Ingrid Schechter; the Lumasaaba translation is by Milton Eridad Shissa.

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Credits: Waandaaye umukyeekhe umutoro — Written by Clare Verbeek, Thembani Dladla, Zanele Buthelezi; Illustrated by Mlungisi Dlamini, Ingrid Schechter; Translated by Milton Eridad Shissa. Lumasaaba, Level 1. From Global Storybooks (global-asp.github.io/storybooks-uganda), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=2896). CC BY-NC 3.0. · Page updated October 2026