Mandela Day

Nal’ibali is about creating conditions that support learning. Children have to experience reading in the same way that adults do. They have to be able to choose books they like, read in the languages they want to read in, write what they like and find comfortable spaces to read in and feel nurtured. In reading club spaces, children have to feel the excitement we...

Lucky escape

Olwethu, the octopus, rested under the ledge of rock in a large pool near the beach. She was afraid. She had never been this far from her own pool out on the reef. She always felt safe on the reef, tucked away far from the shore and humans. But a ...

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Athletics day at Insect Primary

The morning sun shone brightly as Lulu sat on a blade of grass on her school’s sports field. Today was athletics day at Insect Primary. Lulu felt very excited. She was taking part in the high jump. “Fleas can jump very high!” she shouted as ...

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The friendship bracelets

Palesa and Gracie had been best friends since they were three years old. They lived next door to each other, and their mothers were friends too. They were born a month apart and were raised like sisters. They did everything together. They went to ...

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The mosquito and the cockroach

One hot summer night, a cockroach walked slowly across the kitchen table. He ate the breadcrumbs strewn across the table by the family, who were now fast asleep in their beds. Then he heard a sound. Bzzzz, bzzzz! “What’s that?” asked the ...

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Little Buffalo and the rumble-grumble

Little Buffalo woke up on the wrong side of the grassy patch that morning. He had not slept well last night. All night long he had heard the most frightful sounds in the bushveld. At first the sounds were far away, but then they came closer and ...

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The animals have a secret

Once upon a time there was a young boy named Tshego. He was very curious and also a bit mischievous. Tshego loved to explore new places. He asked questions about everything. “Mom, can animals hear? Mom, do animals understand what we say? Mom, can ...

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The cat and the cockroach

A silly little brown cockroach once shared a house with a family and their cat. The silly little brown cockroach, like his whole cockroach family, loved eating. Cockroaches don’t have to eat every day, but in this house the yummiest bits and ...

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Why Crocodile lives in the river

One day, long ago, Lion was chosen to be the king of the forest. That day, Zebra gathered all the animals and said, “Let’s have a party to celebrate our new king.” “What a good idea,” said Leopard. “I think Crocodile should be the one to ...

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What is that?

Today is the first day of the school holiday! It is also market day, and Mme wa Afrika is taking Afrika and Dintle to the market to buy a toy or treat. “There is only one condition before you can get your toy or treat,” Mme wa Afrika says, ...

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Matty and the magical apple tree

There was once a young woman named Matty. She lived on a small farm, where the soil was hard and the work was tough. But Matty was no ordinary farmer. With determination she toiled under the hot sun to grow enough vegetables to sell at the bustling ...