Readers in African languages
These readers in several African languages, mainly from the north-eastern part of the continent, are designed to support language maintenance and early literacy. They provide children and their families with reading materials in their mother tongue.
Readers in African languages
Early literacy readers in African languages
With the support of the Victorian Department of Education and Training (DET), the Research Unit for Multilingualism and Cross-Cultural Communication (RUMACCC) has prepared a range of graded early literacy resources. These are available in some of the languages spoken in the African communities of Melbourne/Victoria and suitable for preschool to Year 4 students.
The little books are free and can easily be downloaded from the links on this page. In addition, hardcopies printed by RUMACCC have also been distributed to a number of libraries in Melbourne including the Languages and Multicultural Education Resource Centre (LMERC).
More free readers in a wide range of African languages are available on the African Storybook website. A selection of readers in Arabic can be downloaded from the RUMACCC Arabic resources web page.
Readers in Acholi
Acholi (also known as Acoli) is a Nilotic language spoken in South Sudan and Uganda. It has approximately 1.5 million speakers. According to the 2016 census, 1,091 Acholi speakers live in Australia.
These readers were produced by African Storybook and are made available here for download and printing with the support of the Victorian Department of Education and Training. Please note that these books are pre-paginated for hardcopy booklet printing.
| Title | Level | Download |
|---|---|---|
| My body (Kuma) | 1 | b and w (590kb pdf) |
| Who wet the bed? (Nga Ma Olayo I Ot?) | 1 | colour (870kb pdf) |
| Wind (Yamo) | 2 | colour (1.2Mb pdf) |
Readers in Dinka
Dinka is a Western Nilotic language, divided into five major varieties or dialect clusters. It is spoken in South Sudan, Sudan and in the diaspora, for example in Australia, where about 12,700 people speak Dinka at home (2016 census).
Apart from our readers which can be downloaded from the table below, we are very happy to make available Blue Sky, Yellow Sun (5.26Mb pdf), the 2020 Dinka book developed by students and their teachers at Mother of God School in Ardeer.
| Title | Level | Black and white edition | Colour edition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animals can do this (Laai aa lëu bïk kënë looi) | 1 | b and w (680kb pdf) | colour (1.0Mb pdf) |
| Come and see (Bäär tïŋ) | 1 | b and w (610kb pdf) | colour (1.2Mb pdf) |
| Fruit and vegetables (Wältɔ̈c) | 1 | b and w (580kb pdf) | colour (850kb pdf) |
| I like animals (Yɛɛn anhiar lääi) | 1 | b and w (505kb pdf) | colour (950kb pdf) |
| Jobs (Luɔi) | 1 | b and w (680kb pdf) | colour (1.0Mb pdf) |
| This is a house (Kënë ee baai) | 1 | b and w (650kb pdf) | colour (1.4Mb pdf) |
| Very big! (Adït apɛi!) | 1 | b and w (490kb pdf) | colour (610kb pdf) |
| What can you see? (Ye ŋɔ̈ ca tïŋ?) | 1 | b and w (860kb pdf) | colour (1.2Mb pdf) |
| Where do we go? (Ɣook lok da?) | 1 | b and w (710kb pdf) | colour (1.0Mb pdf) |
| Up and down (La nhial ku piny) | 2 | b and w (850kb pdf) | colour (1.3Mb pdf) |
|
Hyena and tortoise (Aŋui kek ara) This reader is pre-paginated for hardcopy booklet printing. | 3 | colour (1.1Mb pdf) |
Readers in Moro
Moro (also known as Nuba Moro) is a Heibanic language within the Niger-Congo language family. It is an endangered language, spoken by approximately 30,000 people in the Nuba Hills region of Sudan.
Please note that the Level 2 and 3 readers are pre-paginated for hardcopy booklet printing.
| Title | Level | Download |
|---|---|---|
| Look at me (Sacu ñe) | 1 | b and w (610kb pdf) colour (960kb pdf) |
| This is a house (Era ŋigi) | 1 | b and w (650kb pdf) colour (1.4Mb pdf) |
| Cow with one horn (Dia Rerṯo Đǝl nenda Đonto) | 2 | colour (4.9Mb pdf) |
| Goat, dog and cow (Rǝldo, Ŋina na Di) | 3 | colour (4.4Mb pdf) |
| Hyena and tortoise (Ŋwëlia na Ođǝɽal) | 3 | colour (1.1Mb pdf) |
Readers in Oromo
Oromo (also known as Afaan Oromo) is part of the Cushitic language family and consists of several varieties. It is spoken in Ethiopia (34 million speakers), Kenya (0.5 million) and Somalia and recognised as minority language in Ethiopia and Kenya. In Australia, 3,045 people state that they speak Oromo at home (Census 2016).
These readers in Oromo were produced by African Storybook and are made available here for download and printing with the support of the Victorian Department of Education and Training. Please note that these books are pre-paginated for hardcopy booklet printing.
| Title | Level | Download |
|---|---|---|
| Seven colours in a rainbow (Halluu Sabbata Waaqayyo 7) | 1 | colour (790kb pdf) |
| This is me (Kuni Ana) | 1 | b and w (750kb pdf) |
| Where is my cat? (Adurreen Koo Eessa Jirtii?) | 1 | b and w (1.4Mb pdf) |
| A very tall man (Alle alasaga) | 2 | colour (3.4Mb pdf) |
| Caalaa’s cats (Adurroota Caalaa) | 2 | colour (760kb pdf) |
| Mice and cats (Hantuutaf Adurre) | 2 | colour (900kb pdf) |
| Beloved daughter (Jaallatamtu Intalaa) | 3 | colour (1.1Mb pdf) |
| Father’s inheritance (Dhaala Abbaa) | 3 | colour (1.0Mb pdf) |
| Monkey and the drought (Jaldeesafi Hongee) | 3 | colour (1.3Mb pdf) |
| Mother in law (Haadha Warraa Hamtuu) | 4 | colour (670kb pdf) |
| Ox and donkey (Sangaa fi Harree) | 4 | colour (890kb pdf) |
| Qaxalefi and his brothers (Qaxalefi Obboleewwan Isaa) | 4 | colour (1.3Mb pdf) |
| Grateful animals (Bineensota Galateefatan) | 5 | colour (1.2Mb pdf) |
| Jackal and rabbit (Jeedalaaf Illeetii) | 5 | colour (1.4Mb pdf) |
| Unwise judge (Abbaa Seeraa Abbiidhoo) | 5 | colour (1.7Mb pdf) |
Readers in Otuho
Otuho is an Eastern Nilotic language (also known as Lotuko) spoken in South Sudan.
The readers were translated in cooperation with the Otuho Community of Australia Language School in Melbourne. Please note that the Level 3 books are pre-paginated for hardcopy booklet printing.
| Title | Level | Black and white edition | Colour edition |
|---|---|---|---|
| After school (Ninyia Atuho Asukul) | 1 | b and w (880kb pdf) | colour (1.5Mb pdf) |
| All kinds of tails (Afacanî Lisara Daŋ) | 1 | b and w (700kb pdf) | colour (1.7Mb pdf) |
| Come and see (Wa Îmîja) | 1 | b and w (770kb pdf) | colour (1.6Mb pdf) |
| Dog (Eŋok) | 1 | b and w (610kb pdf) | colour (2.0Mb pdf) |
| Fruit and vegetables (Angak iko ajasio) | 1 | b and w (770kb pdf) | colour (1.3Mb pdf) |
| How many animals? (Araî aciaŋi hûnîa baya?) | 1 | colour (310kb pdf) | |
| I can (Aremik Nî) | 1 | b and w (670kb pdf) | colour (1.0Mb pdf) |
| I like animals (Awak Nî Aciaŋi) | 1 | b and w (640kb pdf) | colour (1.3Mb pdf) |
| Jobs (Egemita) | 1 | b and w (920kb pdf) | colour (2.0Mb pdf) |
| Look at me (Imijie jihoŋ) | 1 | b and w (820kb pdf) | colour (1.8Mb pdf) |
| On the move (Aduloro Idaha) | 1 | b and w (870kb pdf) | colour (1.3Mb pdf) |
| This is a house (Aaji Ana) | 1 | b and w (880kb pdf) | colour (3.1Mb pdf) |
| Very big! (Obôlô Bêbê!) | 1 | b and w (660kb pdf) | colour (1.2Mb pdf) |
| What is hiding? (Nanyio Îdîma?) | 1 | b and w (1.2Mb pdf) | colour (1.6Mb pdf) |
| What is Starfish doing? (Ihanio Ahamî-ilelef Anyio?) | 1 | colour (220kb pdf) | |
| Where do we go? (Efwo hohoi ajia?) | 1 | b and w (1.0Mb pdf) | colour (2.3Mb pdf) |
| At the market (Imaji Etinyaŋi) | 2 | b and w (780kb pdf) | colour (1.6Mb pdf) |
| Crossing the road (Alangio Ikidimi) | 2 | b and w (1.1Mb pdf) | colour (2.3Mb pdf) |
| Gecko is hungry (Oniama Okudefek) | 2 | b and w (660kb pdf) | colour (1.7Mb pdf) |
| Homes (Ahaŋitek) | 2 | b and w (870kb pdf) | colour (2.4Mb pdf) |
| Like this (Ihuana) | 2 | b and w (670kb pdf) | colour (1.5Mb pdf) |
| The box (Asennuk) | 2 | b and w (700kb pdf) | colour (1.8Mb pdf) |
| The rock pool (Nahôtôŋ Bûllût) | 2 | b and w (890kb pdf) | colour (1.6Mb pdf) |
| Up and down (Ihide Iko Ifau) | 2 | b and w (830kb pdf) | colour (2.1Mb pdf) |
| Where are they? (Owoni Isi Ajia?) | 2 | b and w (760kb pdf) | colour (1.7Mb pdf) |
| A very tall man (Alle alasaga) | 3 | colour (3.4Mb pdf) | |
| Hyena and tortoise (Ebou iko Etobok) | 3 | colour (1.1Mb pdf) | |
| Chicken Little goes for a walk (Ababalarû Okiyek Elaû) | 5 | b and w (1.4Mb pdf) | colour (1.6Mb pdf) |
Readers in Somali
Somali is an East Cushitic language, part of the Afro-Asiatic language family. It is spoken by approximately 15 million people, mainly in Somalia, but also in Djibouti, Ethiopia and in the diaspora. According to the 2016 census, there are 14,176 people in Australia who speak Somali at home.
Additional readers in Somali are available from the Storybooks Canada website.
Level 1 readers
| Title | Language | Black and white edition | Colour edition |
|---|---|---|---|
|
After School (Iskoolka-ka-dib) | Somali | b and w (600kb pdf) | colour (1.0Mb pdf) |
| Somali and English | b and w (250kb pdf) | colour (280kb pdf) | |
|
All kinds of tails (Sheekooyin nuuc walba) | Somali | b and w (440kb pdf) | colour (700kb pdf) |
| Somali and English | b and w (830kb pdf) | colour (1.68Mb pdf) | |
|
Come and see (Kaalay oo arag) | Somali | b and w (590kb pdf) | colour (1.2Mb pdf) |
| Somali and English | b and w (1.05Mb pdf) | colour (2.09Mb pdf) | |
|
Fruit and vegetables (Qudaar iyo barduuro) | Somali | b and w (560kb pdf) | colour (810kb pdf) |
| Somali and English | b and w (1.07Mb pdf) | colour (1.60Mb pdf) | |
|
How many animals? (Imisa xayawaan?) | Somali | b and w (460kb pdf) | colour (580kb pdf) |
| Somali and English | b and w (468kb pdf) | ||
|
I can (Aniga waan karaa) | Somali | b and w (480kb pdf) | colour (680kb pdf) |
| Somali and English | b and w (935kb pdf) | colour (1.21Mb pdf) | |
|
I like animals (Aniga waan jeclahay xayawaan) | Somali | b and w (380kb pdf) | colour (700kb pdf) |
| Somali and English | b and w (710kb pdf) | colour (1.60mb pdf) | |
|
Jobs (Shaqooyin) | Somali | b and w (620kb pdf) | colour (890kb pdf) |
| Somali and English | b and w (1.05Mb pdf) | colour (1.54Mb pdf) | |
|
Look at me (I soo eeg) | Somali | b and w (600kb pdf) | colour (940kb pdf) |
| Somali and English | b and w (1.06Mb pdf) | colour (2.20Mb pdf) | |
|
On the move (Waan dhaqaaqnay) | Somali | b and w (670kb pdf) | colour (980kb pdf) |
| Somali and English | b and w (1.15Mb pdf) | colour (1.65Mb pdf) | |
|
This is a house (Kan waa guri) | Somali | b and w (630kb pdf) | colour (1.4Mb pdf) |
| Somali and English | b and w (1.11Mb pdf) | colour (2.29Mb pdf) | |
|
Very big! (Aad u weyn!) | Somali | b and w (480kb pdf) | colour (590kb pdf) |
| Somali and English | b and w (940kb pdf) | colour (1.44Mb pdf) | |
|
What is hiding? (Maxaa is qarinaya?) | Somali | b and w (840kb pdf) | colour (1.1Mb pdf) |
| Somali and English | b and w (1.33Mb pdf) | colour (3.08Mb pdf) | |
|
What is starfish doing? (Muxuu Xiddig-badeedku samaynayaa?) | Somali | colour (98kb pdf) | |
| Somali and English | colour (98kb pdf) | ||
|
Where do we go? (Xaggee baan aadnaa?) | Somali | b and w (690kb pdf) | colour (1.0Mb pdf) |
| Somali and English | b and w (1.15Mb pdf) | colour (1.67Mb pdf) |
Level 2 readers
| Title | Language | Black and white edition | Colour edition |
|---|---|---|---|
|
At the market (Suuqa) | Somali | b and w (560kb pdf) | colour (720kb pdf) |
| Somali and English | b and w (812kb pdf) | ||
|
Crossing the road (Gudubka waddada) | Somali | b and w (820kb pdf) | colour (1.1Mb pdf) |
| Somali and English | b and w (1.15Mb pdf) | ||
|
Gecko is hungry (Qorrato wuu gaajoonayaa) | Somali | b and w (510kb pdf) | colour (790kb pdf) |
| Somali and English | b and w (787kb pdf) | ||
|
Homes (Hooy) | Somali | b and w (630kb pdf) | colour (1.1Mb pdf) |
| Somali and English | b and w (920Mb pdf) | ||
|
Like this (Sidaan oo kale) | Somali | b and w (510kb pdf) | colour (710kb pdf) |
| Somali and English | b and w (755kb pdf) | ||
|
The box (Sanduuqa) | Somali | b and w (530kb pdf) | colour (880kb pdf) |
| Somali and English | b and w (860kb pdf) | ||
|
The rock pool (Balli-dixeed) | Somali | b and w (660kb pdf) | colour (1.2Mb pdf) |
| Somali and English | b and w (956kb pdf) |
Level 5 reader
| Title | Language | Black and white edition | Colour edition |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Chicken little (Diiq-Yare wuu socdaalay) | Somali | b and w (3.30Mb pdf) | colour (980kb pdf) |
| Somali and English | b and w (3.31Mb pdf) | colour (985kb pdf) |