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Khaya Wants to Row

When Khaya sees rowers on TV, he starts dreaming of being a rower one day. Mkhulu plans a special surprise – what will it be?

Suggested age: 4–6岁 · Reading level L2 · 14 illustrated pages

Khaya Wants to Row — original illustrated page 1, English text included

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This book can be read page by page, heard with synthetic Voice 7 narration, downloaded and printed. Enable JavaScript for the interactive reader, or open the story pages below.

When Khaya sees rowers on TV, he starts dreaming of being a rower one day. Mkhulu plans a special surprise – what will it be?

Read all 14 story pages
Khaya Wants to Row — original illustrated page 1, English text included
Khaya Wants to Row
Khaya Wants to Row — original illustrated page 2, English text included
Khaya lives in Joza township with Gogo Lucy and Mkhulu Majozi. His mother works far away in Cape Town.
Khaya Wants to Row — original illustrated page 3, English text included
Every morning, Khaya eats porridge with Gogo on the stoep. The kettle whistles on the paraffin stove. The sun peeks over Joza. "Gogo, tell me a story!" Khaya says.
Khaya Wants to Row — original illustrated page 4, English text included
Gogo smiles. She tells him stories of rivers and dreams. "Khaya," she says, "when you are big and strong, you can be anything you want." Khaya smiles and nods.
Khaya Wants to Row — original illustrated page 5, English text included
One Saturday, Mkhulu switches on the TV. Rowers are gliding across the water. "Mkhulu! What are they doing?" Khaya asks. "They are rowing with oars, my boy," says Mkhulu.
Khaya Wants to Row — original illustrated page 6, English text included
Khaya claps his hands. "Oh wow! I want to row too!" He sings, "I want to row a boat, I want to row a boat!"
Khaya Wants to Row — original illustrated page 7, English text included
Mkhulu sings with him, "Khaya wants to row, Khaya wants to row. Row a boat with an oar, row a boat with an oar." Gogo laughs and joins in.
Khaya Wants to Row — original illustrated page 8, English text included
From that day, Khaya plays in puddles, draws boats in the sand, and builds toy boats from scraps.
Khaya Wants to Row — original illustrated page 9, English text included
One morning, Mkhulu wakes Khaya early. "Come, Mzukulu, I have a surprise." Khaya gets ready. Today feels special.
Khaya Wants to Row — original illustrated page 10, English text included
They take a taxi to Port Alfred. At the Kowie River, boats are lined up.
Khaya Wants to Row — original illustrated page 11, English text included
Rowers are ready with their oars. "Wow, Mkhulu! This is where people row!" Khaya shouts. He watches boats racing fast across the water. He waves at rowers and takes a photo with one.
Khaya Wants to Row — original illustrated page 12, English text included
At the end of the day, Khaya hugs Mkhulu. "Thank you, Mkhulu. You are the best!" "One day, Khaya," Mkhulu says, "you will row a boat like a champion."
Khaya Wants to Row — original illustrated page 13, English text included
Khaya smiles and whispers, "Khaya wants to row, Khaya wants to row. Row a boat with an oar, row a boat with an oar."
Khaya Wants to Row — original illustrated page 14, English text included

Creators and open license

Written by
Zandile Mnisi LaMvuleni
Illustrated by
Maria Lebedeva
Created by
Maria Lebedeva (Illustrator); Zandile Mnisi LaMvuleni (Writer); Tania Kliphuis (Editor); Wilna Combrinck (Designer)

Source: Book Dash
Original: Khaya Wants to Row from Book Dash
License: CC BY 4.0

Original illustrated spreads and embedded English story text preserved; website layout and printable PDF assembled by Little Leaf. Age, level, theme and recommendation are editorial suggestions. Web and printable layout adapted by Little Leaf. Age and reading-level suggestions are editorial. Original stories and artwork belong to their credited creators. Website narration uses the selected synthetic Voice 7.