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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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Teju’s Shadow

Teju is worried. Something keeps following him! What could it be?

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

Teju’s Shadow — 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.

Teju is worried. Something keeps following him! What could it be?

Read all 14 story pages
Teju’s Shadow — original illustrated page 1, English text included
Teju’s Shadow
Teju’s Shadow — original illustrated page 2, English text included
"What's that?"
Teju’s Shadow — original illustrated page 3, English text included
Teju hides. "It won’t find me here!"
Teju’s Shadow — original illustrated page 4, English text included
He runs. "why are you following me?"
Teju’s Shadow — original illustrated page 5, English text included
Leave me alone!
Teju’s Shadow — original illustrated page 6, English text included
Go away. Go away. Go away! "Teju! What are you doing?" "It won’t go away!" "Your shadow?"
Teju’s Shadow — original illustrated page 7, English text included
"It follows me everywhere! It's like a super secret spy!"
Teju’s Shadow — original illustrated page 8, English text included
"Well, there’s one way to make a shadow disappear..." "Mama!"
Teju’s Shadow — original illustrated page 9, English text included
Later that night in Teju’s bedroom, the light goes off... Click! ...and then on. Click! And off... Click! ...and on. Click! Teju can’t sleep.
Teju’s Shadow — original illustrated page 10, English text included
"What's wrong Teju? "It only goes away in the dark, but I'm scared of the dark! Mum gives Teju a big hug. "Do you want to see something amazing?"
Teju’s Shadow — original illustrated page 11, English text included
Ooooohhhh! Aaaahhhh! Mum and Teju make shadow puppets until he falls asleep.
Teju’s Shadow — original illustrated page 12, English text included
After school, Teju waits for Mum. "I'm bored." Teju stands up, he jumps, he dances. His shadow does the same. "Cool!"
Teju’s Shadow — original illustrated page 13, English text included
When he goes to bed that night, Teju leaves his night light on. "Goodnight Shadow!"
Teju’s Shadow — original illustrated page 14, English text included

Creators and open license

Written by
Sope Martins
Illustrated by
Ndumiso Nyoni
Created by
Sope Martins (Writer); Alison Ziki (Editor); Aisha O’Reilly (Designer); Ndumiso Nyoni (Illustrator)

Source: Book Dash
Original: Teju’s Shadow 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.