Multilingual story supplementsBrowse our archive of Nal'ibali reading-for-enjoyment story supplements available in 10 language combinations.
The month of May is filled with special opportunities for children to use reading and writing in meaningful and fun ways! Here are some ideas for the different celebrations this month. Rather than trying to do all of them, choose one or two that you think will most interest your children.
IsiXhosa/English: PDF
Xitsonga/English: PDF
Afrikaans/English: PDF
Sesotho/English: PDF
Sepedi/English: PDF
Setswana/English: PDF
IsiZulu/English: PDF
Have you ever wondered why people say that it is important to read to children who are not yet at school? Well, because it will expand their minds and make their hearts sing! Read with your 3 to 6 year olds regularly and you will witness just how much they learn and what they can do with books! Here are some ideas for sharing books with them. Each year on World Read Aloud Day, Nal’ibali reminds everyone who lives in South Africa about the benefits of reading aloud to children.
IsiXhosa/English: PDF
Xitsonga/English: PDF
Afrikaans/English: PDF
Sesotho/English: PDF
Sepedi/English: PDF
Setswana/English: PDF
IsiZulu/English: PDF
On 6 October 2018, Nal’ibali won third prize at the African Union’s Innovating Education in Africa Expo held in Dakar, Senegal. And guess what? Nal’ibali received this recognition for its bilingual reading-for-enjoyment supplement! Many people know that 14 February is Valentine’s Day, but did you know that Library Lovers’ Day and International Book Giving Day are also celebrated on this date each year? So, this year on 14 February, combine these three days into one celebration of love and reading by doing these things.
IsiXhosa/English: PDF
Xitsonga/English: PDF
Afrikaans/English: PDF
Sesotho/English: PDF
Sepedi/English: PDF
Setswana/English: PDF
IsiZulu/English: PDF
This year, children’s author and activist, Lebohang Masango, was Nal’ibali’s World Read Aloud Day ambassador. We chatted to her to find out more about her passion for literacy. "Reading and storytelling can teach people so many things, such as how to use your imagination, how to develop the confidence to speak out and how to be more compassionate to others. Exposing children to these lessons is important because readers become leaders, as we know."
IsiXhosa/English: PDF
Xitsonga/English: PDF
Afrikaans/English: PDF
Sesotho/English: PDF
Sepedi/English: PDF
Setswana/English: PDF
IsiZulu/English: PDF
This is a special edition! It’s World Read Aloud Day as well as the 150th edition of the Nal’ibali Supplement. Read about our journey from the beginning of Nal’ibali and get ideas for how to celebrate World Read Aloud Day at home and at your school, library or reading club. Enjoy our special World Read Aloud Day story, ‘Where are you?’ as well as ‘That’s not Thabi’ (Book Dash) and ‘Feleng learns to read’.
IsiXhosa/English: PDF
Xitsonga/English: PDF
Afrikaans/English: PDF
Sesotho/English: PDF
Sepedi/English: PDF
Setswana/English: PDF
IsiZulu/English: PDF
It’s a new year and we have tips and ideas on how to make 2019 a story-filled year! Play our special story-building board game to get you in the mood. Our three stories to start the year are: ‘Peggy’s smile’ (David Philip/New Africa Books); ‘The fish that couldn’t swim’ (Book Dash) and ‘Ginger’.
IsiXhosa/English: PDF
Xitsonga/English: PDF
Afrikaans/English: PDF
Sesotho/English: PDF
Sepedi/English: PDF
Setswana/English: PDF
IsiZulu/English: PDF
It’s International Picture Book Month and this edition is a celebration of the picture book – from reasons to use picture books to ideas for celebrating them this month. The stories that we feature are picture books, ‘Frederick’ (Jacana with the Little Hands Trust/PRAESA) and ‘Can you?’ (David Philip/New Africa Books), as well as ‘The lion and the monkey’.
IsiXhosa/English: PDF
Xitsonga/English: PDF
Afrikaans/English: PDF
Sesotho/English: PDF
Sepedi/English: PDF
Setswana/English: PDF
IsiZulu/English: PDF
This edition is a celebration of South Africa’s world famous storyteller and author, Gcina Mhlophe. It includes an interview with her and information about some of her published storybooks. One of the cut-out-and-keep books, ‘The journey of the mother of books’ (Ezabantsundu Writers Network), is an illustrated biography of Gcina, and we also have a story by Gcina – ‘Sun and Moon’ (from ‘Our Story Magic’ published by UKZN Press). Then there is another story that features some of the Nal’ibali characters, ‘Skycatcher’.
IsiXhosa/English: PDF
Xitsonga/English: PDF
Afrikaans/English: PDF
Sesotho/English: PDF
Sepedi/English: PDF
Setswana/English: PDF
IsiZulu/English: PDF
In this edition we focus on Make-a-Difference Day and how, by being a reading role model, you can change children’s lives! One of the cut-out-and-keep books, ‘Heroes for change’ (UNICEF) is linked to this theme. We also have two stories for you: ‘Little Hat’, which is a South African retelling of the well-known story of Little Red Riding Hood, and ‘Dirty Dassie’.
IsiXhosa/English: PDF
Xitsonga/English: PDF
Afrikaans/English: PDF
Sesotho/English: PDF
Sepedi/English: PDF
Setswana/English: PDF
IsiZulu/English: PDF
In this edition we’re discussing how languages are such an important part of our heritage and we’ve included a poster on this theme too: ‘11 South African ways to become a better reader’. Our three new stories are: ‘Modjadji, the Rain Queen’ (David Phillip/ New Africa Books) ; ‘The lazy ant’ (Book Dash) and ‘The rainmaker’.
IsiXhosa/English: PDF
Xitsonga/English: PDF
Afrikaans/English: PDF
Sesotho/English: PDF
Sepedi/English: PDF
Setswana/English: PDF
IsiZulu/English: PDF
It’s International Literacy Day and we’re talking about the progress of South African literacy! We’ve also got a fun poster with tips for growing readers! Find out how to use stories to help children with their different school subjects and then share our three new stories with them: ‘The missing ball’ (Jacana); ‘When it rains’ (PRAESA) and a special International Literacy Day story, ‘Message in a bottle’.
IsiXhosa/English: PDF
Xitsonga/English: PDF
Afrikaans/English: PDF
Sesotho/English: PDF
Sepedi/English: PDF
Setswana/English: PDF
IsiZulu/English: PDF
In this edition we’re talking about how to help young children learn to read and write. We’ve also included a bilingual poster featuring the rights of readers and some ideas about how to use stories to teach language. The three stories we’ve got for you are: ‘Lindiwe, our hero!’ (David Phillip/ New Africa Books); ‘The lion who wouldn’t try’ (Book Dash) and ‘Why the bat flies at night’.
IsiXhosa/English: PDF
Xitsonga/English: PDF
Afrikaans/English: PDF
Sesotho/English: PDF
Sepedi/English: PDF
Setswana/English: PDF
IsiZulu/English: PDF
This edition celebrates Women’s Month! The stories we read our children have an influence on how they see women and girls. We give you some tips on how to spot the stories that do not empower women. We’ve also included a second bilingual poster! Our three new stories are: ‘Her story. Daughters of Modjadji’ (Khaloza Books); ‘My dream in the drawer’ (Book Dash) and ‘The giraffe and the fox’.
IsiXhosa/English: PDF
Xitsonga/English: PDF
Afrikaans/English: PDF
Sesotho/English: PDF
Sepedi/English: PDF
Setswana/English: PDF
IsiZulu/English: PDF
In this edition we talk about the importance of children being surrounded by print and help you to create a print-rich environment for them! To help you do this we have included a fun bilingual poster! The stories that we feature this time are: ‘The boys’ (Collaborate); ‘Unathi and the dirty, smelly beast’ (Book Dash) and ‘Flying a kite’.
IsiXhosa/English: PDF
Xitsonga/English: PDF
Afrikaans/English: PDF
Sesotho/English: PDF
Sepedi/English: PDF
Setswana/English: PDF
IsiZulu/English: PDF
It’s time for the holidays! In this edition, we’re talking about holiday programmes and giving you some fun ideas and tips on how to plan one! We’ve also got three new stories: ‘Thuli, Special and the secret’ (Book Dash); ‘I am the man’ (Heartlines) and ‘Crocodile’s funeral’.
IsiXhosa/English: PDF
Xitsonga/English: PDF
Afrikaans/English: PDF
Sesotho/English: PDF
Sepedi/English: PDF
Setswana/English: PDF
IsiZulu/English: PDF
In this edition we look back on our World Read Aloud Day 2018 celebrations! We encourage you all to keep reading to the children in your lives. The three new stories we have for you are: ‘Mrs Penguin’s Perfect Palace’ (Book Dash); ‘Titilope’s silly game’ (PRAESA) and ‘Busi’s gift’.
IsiXhosa/English: PDF
Afrikaans/English: PDF
Sesotho/English: PDF
Sepedi/English: PDF
Setswana/English: PDF
IsiZulu/English: PDF
It’s Get-Caught-Reading Month and, in this edition, we give you some ideas on how to communicate the message that “reading is part of our lives.” We also help you to celebrate Mother’s Day with a card, and our three new stories are: ‘Thoko and a dog called Hope’ (Jacana Media); ‘The lost laugh’ (Book Dash) and ‘Mom’s best vase’.
IsiXhosa/English: PDF
Xitsonga/English: PDF
Afrikaans/English: PDF
Sesotho/English: PDF
Sepedi/English: PDF
Setswana/English: PDF
IsiZulu/English: PDF
In this edition we focus on sharing books and stories. As well as strengthening bonds, sharing stories and books with your children helps them to develop the literacy skills that are so important for success. We have tips for reading with children of every age, plus three new stories: ‘Three friends and a taxi’ (Jacana Media); ‘Foxy Joxy plays a trick’ (Book Dash) and ‘The dog walker’.
IsiZulu/English: PDF
IsiXhosa/English: PDF
Sesotho/English: PDF
Sepedi/English: PDF
Afrikaans/English: PDF
Xitsonga/English: PDF
Setswana/English: PDF
This edition celebrates International Mother Language Day! Our “mother tongue” is the language we think and feel in, the one in which it is easiest for us to express ourselves and communicate with others. We have three new stories for you and the children in your life: ‘Lyle the crocodile’ (Jacana Media); ‘How many?’ (PRAESA) and ‘A pouch of gold’.
Sepedi/English: PDF
Afrikaans/English: PDF
IsiXhosa/English: PDF
IsiZulu/English: PDF
Sesotho/English: PDF
This edition is all about World Read Aloud Day, which is celebrated by more than one million people in over 100 countries! Reading aloud on this special day is a symbol of our commitment to the power of literacy, and also a practical way of showing everyone that reading matters. We feature three new stories for you: ‘The final minute’ (Nal’ibali); ‘Mogau’s gift’ (Book Dash) and ‘The three wishes’.
Afrikaans/English: PDF
Sesotho/English: PDF
isiXhosa/English: PDF
isiZulu/English: PDF
Sepedi/English: PDF