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Each reading page records its creators, source and applicable license or public-domain declaration. Most books use CC BY; one catalogue entry carries a publisher Public Domain Mark declaration. Check the individual edition before sharing, adapting or reusing it. Site layouts and synthetic narration are described separately.

Books come from Book Dash, African Storybook / Storybooks Canada and Pratham Books. Source and language details vary by edition. Age, theme and reading prompts are editorial suggestions. Little Leaf is independent of these organizations.

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Play with me

All Jabu wants to do is play diketo. But everyone is busy. What is he going to do?

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

Play with me — 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.

All Jabu wants to do is play diketo. But everyone is busy. What is he going to do?

Read all 14 story pages
Play with me — original illustrated page 1, English text included
Play with me
Play with me — original illustrated page 2, English text included
All Jabu wants to do is play. What can he do?
Play with me — original illustrated page 3, English text included
Diketo! But who can play with him?
Play with me — original illustrated page 4, English text included
"Mama, come and play with me." But Mama is cooking pap and spinach.
Play with me — original illustrated page 5, English text included
"Baba, come and play with me." But Baba is busy digging a big hole.
Play with me — original illustrated page 6, English text included
"Zwe, come and play with me." But his brother is busy reading.
Play with me — original illustrated page 7, English text included
Jabu sits outside. He wants to play diketo! But there is no one to play with.
Play with me — original illustrated page 8, English text included
So he plays alone. It's not so bad! He digs a small hole in the earth. Then he puts ten small stones inside the hole.
Play with me — original illustrated page 9, English text included
So much fun! Dad sees Jabu and stops digging his big hole.
Play with me — original illustrated page 10, English text included
Mama comes out with some pap and spinach.
Play with me — original illustrated page 11, English text included
Zwe looks out the window and sees everyone. He doesn’t want to miss out on all the fun. So he goes to join them.
Play with me — original illustrated page 12, English text included
Play with me — original illustrated page 13, English text included
At last, Jabu has people to play with.
Play with me — original illustrated page 14, English text included

Creators and open license

Written by
Sabina Mutangadura Seldon
Illustrated by
Heleen Steyn van der Merwe
Created by
Sabina Mutangadura Seldon (Writer); Jamie Calf (Designer); Heleen Steyn van der Merwe (Illustrator); David Mann (Editor)

Source: Book Dash
Original: Play with me 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.