Multilingual story supplementsBrowse our archive of Nal'ibali reading-for-enjoyment story supplements available in 10 language combinations.
Some children can sit still for a long bedtime story, while others get restless. Some children take to books immediately, and others need more encouragement. This is entirely normal. Each child is different, and what they enjoy changes vastly as they grow older.
Afrikaans/English: PDF
isiNdebele/English: PDF
Sepedi/English: PDF
Siswati/English: PDF
Sesotho/ English: PDF
Tshivenda/English: PDF
Xitsonga/English: PDF
Setswana/ English: PDF
isiXhosa/English: PDF
isiZulu/English: PDF
23 April is World Book Day! Reading lots of books helps to make children better readers. For your children to keep reading throughout their lives, they must want to read! If we want to get our children reading and then keep them reading, we need to understand what motivates them to read.
Afrikaans/English: PDF
isiNdebele/English: PDF
Sepedi/English: PDF
Siswati/English: PDF
Sesotho/ English: PDF
Tshivenda/English: PDF
Xitsonga/English: PDF
Setswana/ English: PDF
isiXhosa/English: PDF
isiZulu/English: PDF
It's storytelling time!! People have told stories for centuries to explore ideas and make sense of their experiences. Sharing stories is as natural to human beings as eating and sleeping! Some of the stories we tell today have been passed down from generation to generation, while others are new ones that we create ourselves.
Afrikaans/English: PDF
isiNdebele/English: PDF
Sepedi/English: PDF
Siswati/English: PDF
Sesotho/ English: PDF
Tshivenda/English: PDF
Xitsonga/English: PDF
Setswana/ English: PDF
isiXhosa/English: PDF
isiZulu/English: PDF
It's time to read aloud!
World Read Aloud Day is celebrated each year to encourage children, teenagers, and adults to share the power of words. It also reminds us that we all have the right to read, to write and to share our stories
Afrikaans/English: PDF
isiNdebele/English: PDF
Sepedi/English: PDF
Siswati/English: PDF
Sesotho/ English: PDF
Tshivenda/English: PDF
Xitsonga/English: PDF
Setswana/ English: PDF
isiXhosa/English: PDF
isiZulu/English: PDF
If you believe that your children will become successful readers and writers, and you let them know this, they will also believe that they can be successful readers and writers. This holiday season, take the time to tell them stories and to read and write with them, and they will experience the ways in which literacy can be satisfying and useful.
Afrikaans/English: PDF
isiNdebele/English: PDF
Sepedi/English: PDF
Siswati/English: PDF
Sesotho/ English: PDF
Tshivenda/English: PDF
Xitsonga/English: PDF
Setswana/ English: PDF
isiXhosa/English: PDF
isiZulu/English: PDF
In this October edition, we would like to say a special THANK YOU! to all the teachers in South Africa for their contributions in educating and mentoring our precious children to face their future with confidence and understanding.
Afrikaans/English: PDF
isiNdebele/English: PDF
Sepedi/English: PDF
Siswati/English: PDF
Sesotho/ English: PDF
Tshivenda/English: PDF
Xitsonga/English: PDF
Setswana/ English: PDF
isiXhosa/English: PDF
isiZulu/English: PDF
This is a very special edition of the Nal’ibali Supplement – it’s the 200th edition and we’re celebrating Literacy Month! Literacy Month is celebrated by people from all over the world who are passionate about reading and writing. Every year, during this month, Nal’ibali makes a special effort in our country to raise awareness of how reading to and writing with children supports their literacy development.
Afrikaans/English: PDF
isiNdebele/English: PDF
Sepedi/English: PDF
Siswati/English: PDF
Sesotho/ English: PDF
Tshivenda/English: PDF
Xitsonga/English: PDF
Setswana/ English: PDF
isiXhosa/English: PDF
isiZulu/English: PDF
We write to get things done and to communicate with one another. It is like cooking − the more you do it, the better you become at it and the easier it becomes for you! As parents and caregivers, we need to lead by example to show the power and purpose of writing in our daily lives with our children.
Afrikaans/English: PDF
isiNdebele/English: PDF
Sepedi/English: PDF
Siswati/English: PDF
Sesotho/ English: PDF
Tshivenda/English: PDF
Xitsonga/English: PDF
Setswana/ English: PDF
isiXhosa/English: PDF
isiZulu/English: PDF
Making time to read to the children in your life is an investment in their future, no matter how old they are. This time to bond shows children that you enjoy their company and care about them while building lifelong good memories of stories, books and reading!
Afrikaans/English: PDF
isiNdebele/English: PDF
Sepedi/English: PDF
Siswati/English: PDF
Sesotho/ English: PDF
Tshivenda/English: PDF
Xitsonga/English: PDF
Setswana/ English: PDF
isiXhosa/English: PDF
isiZulu/English: PDF
Fathers play an important role in the lives of their children. The father of a child is not necessarily the biological father but any person whom the child looks to and treats as a father. Children’s development is strengthened when their fathers are actively involved and interested in the wellbeing of their children and families. There is no “right” way for fathers to enrich to the lives of their children. They can still make a positive contribution even if they do not live with their children.
Afrikaans/English: PDF
isiNdebele/English: PDF
Sepedi/English: PDF
Siswati/English: PDF
Sesotho/ English: PDF
Tshivenda/English: PDF
Xitsonga/English: PDF
Setswana/ English: PDF
isiXhosa/English: PDF
isiZulu/English: PDF
Do you remember playing games with other children when you were a child? Did you love to sing songs or say rhymes? You likely had a lot of fun, and without realising it, you learnt new ideas and skills. All children need plenty of opportunities to play. Playing feeds their imaginations and develops their problem-solving, social and language skills. These skills help children become resilient, well-adjusted problem-solvers.
Afrikaans/English: PDF
isiNdebele/English: PDF
Sepedi/English: PDF
Siswati/English: PDF
Sesotho/ English: PDF
Tshivenda/English: PDF
Xitsonga/English: PDF
Setswana/ English: PDF
isiXhosa/English: PDF
isiZulu/English: PDF
Reading together is an effective way for parents and their babies to bond and get to know each other. Reading together also develops the baby’s or toddler’s brain and prepares their minds to have big thoughts and ideas to help them succeed in the world!
Afrikaans/English: PDF
Sepedi/English: PDF
Siswati/English: PDF
Sesotho/ English: PDF
Tshivenda/English: PDF
Xitsonga/English: PDF
Setswana/ English: PDF
isiXhosa/English: PDF
isiZulu/English: PDF
People tell stories to explore ideas and to make sense of the world around them. Some of the stories we tell today have been passed down over many generations, while others are new ones that we create ourselves. Telling stories to your children is fun and satisfying for everyone. It also shows your children that you value spending this happy time with them.
Afrikaans/English: PDF
Sepedi/English: PDF
Siswati/English: PDF
Sesotho/ English: PDF
Tshivenda/English: PDF
Xitsonga/English: PDF
Setswana/ English: PDF
isiXhosa/English: PDF
isiZulu/English: PDF
Every year, on the first Wednesday of February, World Read Aloud Day is celebrated by people from all over the world who are passionate about reading and stories. Every year, Nal’ibali joins in these celebrations to encourage all South Africans to exercise their right to read and share stories in a language that they choose.
Afrikaans/English: PDF
Sepedi/English: PDF
Siswati/English: PDF
Sesotho/ English: PDF
Tshivenda/English: PDF
Xitsonga/English: PDF
Setswana/ English: PDF
isiXhosa/English: PDF
isiZulu/English: PDF
When you next need to give a gift to a child, why not make it a book? When you give a book as a gift, you invest in the future of a child! Good books last for a long time and can be enjoyed over and over again by different people in the same family or home. Books for children can be found at book and stationery stores, supermarkets, second-hand goods stores, flea markets and in online stores. Organisations such as Book Dash, Wordworks and FunDza have books that you can read on your phone or computer or download and print.
Afrikaans/English: PDF
Sepedi/English: PDF
Siswati/English: PDF
Sesotho/ English: PDF
Tshivenda/English: PDF
Xitsonga/English: PDF
Setswana/ English: PDF
isiXhosa/English: PDF
isiZulu/English: PDF
Reading is one of the most important things that a parent or caregiver can teach their children to do. Stories feed our brains and build patience, self-control and empathy. Some stories can also teach us valuable lessons. But it’s also fun and something moms, dads and the whole family can enjoy doing together!
Afrikaans/English: PDF
Sepedi/English: PDF
Siswati/English: PDF
Sesotho/ English: PDF
Tshivenda/English: PDF
Xitsonga/English: PDF
Setswana/ English: PDF
isiXhosa/English: PDF
isiZulu/English: PDF
All children should have the opportunity to be literate. Being literate means being able to use reading and writing meaningfully in everyday life. A child’s literacy journey can begin with small steps as they experience the excitement of a story or the power of sharing their own ideas in writing.
Afrikaans/English: PDF
Sepedi/English: PDF
Siswati/English: PDF
Sesotho/ English: PDF
Tshivenda/English: PDF
Xitsonga/English: PDF
Setswana/ English: PDF
isiXhosa/English: PDF
isiZulu/English: PDF
Anyone can talk to children about books. Let the conversation flow naturally. Look for books that interest your child, and remember to start slowly, with a few pages at a time
Afrikaans/English: PDF
Sepedi/English: PDF
Siswati/English: PDF
Sesotho/ English: PDF
Tshivenda/English: PDF
Xitsonga/English: PDF
Setswana/ English: PDF
isiXhosa/English: PDF
isiZulu/English: PDF
Every family has stories to tell! Some of these stories might be ones that were told to you as a child. These could include stories about imaginary or mythical characters that have been passed down from generation to generation, stories about trickery or bravery, or stories that teach about the values of perseverance or forgiveness
Afrikaans/English: PDF
Sepedi/English: PDF
Siswati/English: PDF
Sesotho/ English: PDF
Tshivenda/English: PDF
Xitsonga/English: PDF
Setswana/ English: PDF
isiXhosa/English: PDF
isiZulu/English: PDF
The Nal’ibali reading-for-enjoyment campaign was officially launched in June 2012. Our aim was and still is to help build a South Africa where every child enjoys a story every day! Research shows that children who enjoy reading have a larger vocabulary, have more knowledge about more things, and can better understand how other people think and behave. Importantly, those who read for enjoyment are more likely to experience success in schooling regardless of whether they come from a wealthier or poorer home.
Afrikaans/English: PDF
Sepedi/English: PDF
Siswati/English: PDF
Sesotho/ English: PDF
Tshivenda/English: PDF
Xitsonga/English: PDF
Setswana/ English: PDF
isiXhosa/English: PDF
isiZulu/English: PDF