African Storybook
Menu
Mondli and Mbali visit grandmother
African Storybook
Catherine Groenewald
English
Mondli and Mbali lived in the city with their father. They looked forward to the holidays.

Not just because school was closed, but because they went to visit their grandmother. She lived in a village near a large lake.
Mondli and Mbali were excited because it was time to visit their grandmother again. The night before, they packed their bags and got ready for the long journey to her village.

They could not sleep and talked the whole night about the holiday.
Early the next morning, they left for the village in their father's car. They drove past mountains, animals and farms.

They counted cars and sang songs. After a while, the children were tired and fell asleep.
Father woke up Mondli and Mbali as they arrived in the village.

They found Nobuntu, their grandmother, resting on a mat under a tree.
Nobuntu welcomed them into her house and danced around the room singing with joy.

Her grandchildren were excited to give her the presents they brought from the city. "First open my gift," said Mondli. "No, my gift first!" said Mbali.
After she opened the presents, Nobuntu blessed her grandchildren. Then Mondli and Mbali went outside to play.

Nobuntu and her son talked about the family and caught up with news.
When it was dark Mondli and Mbali returned to the house for dinner. Before they could finish eating, they were falling asleep!

The next day, the children's father drove back to the city leaving them with Nobuntu.
Mondli and Mbali helped their grandmother with household chores. They fetched water and firewood.

They collected eggs from the chickens and picked greens from the garden.
One morning, Mondli took his grandmother's cows to graze. They ran onto a neighbour's farm.

The farmer was angry. He threatened to keep the cows for eating his crops. After that day, Mondli made sure that the cows did not get into trouble again.
On another day, the children went to the market place with Nobuntu. She had a stall selling vegetables, sugar and soap.

Mbali liked to tell customers the price of items. Mondli would pack the items that customers bought.
But the holidays were over too soon. The children had to go back to school in the city.

Nobuntu gave Mondli a cap and Mbali a sweater. She packed food for their journey home.
When their father came to fetch them, they did not want to leave. The children begged Nobuntu to go with them to the city.

She smiled and said, "I am too old for the city. But I will be waiting here for you to visit again next holiday."
You are free to download, copy, translate or adapt this story and use the illustrations as long as you attribute in the following way:
Mondli and Mbali visit grandmother
Author - Violet Otieno
Adaptation - African Storybook
Illustration - Catherine Groenewald
Language - English
Level - First paragraphs
© African Storybook Initiative 2015
Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0
Source www.africanstorybook.org
Menu
  • Navigate

    Navigate through the story by swiping right or left or clicking when the cursors changes to an arrow on the right or the left edge of the screen.

    Tap or click on the centre of the page to see, or remove the menu bars at the top and the bottom of the screen. You can also use the ESC key.

    You can use the slider at the bottom as a way to move quickly through the story. On a mobile device tap on the slider before you drag the slider button.

    Click or tap to return to African Storybook.

  • Share
    If you have a Twitter or Facebook account, you can share this story on your page or a page you manage. You can also copy the web link (URL) for this story.
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Url
  • Rate
    Other visitors rated this story

    Tell us how much you liked the story – drag the scroller to highlight one or more stars
    • Submit
  • Comment
    Read other people’s comments on the story, or add your own.
    • Enter your comment
    • Name
    • E-mail
    • Post
  • Translations and adaptations
    • Vakansie by Ouma
      Afrikaans (Adaptation)
    • Vakansies by ouma
      Afrikaans (Translation)
    • في عطلة مع الجدة
      Arabic (Translation)
    • Mondli Ne Mbali Kɔsra Wɔn Nanabaa
      Asante Twi (Translation)
    • Mupumuno Abankaaka
      ChiTonga (Translation)
    • Cuti kwa Ambuya
      CiNyanja (Translation)
    • Ywomirok bothi Adhadha
      Dhopadhola (Translation)
    • Holidays with grandmother
      English (Original)
    • Visiting grandmother
      English (Adaptation)
    • Holidays with grandmother (Colour-in)
      English (Adaptation)
    • Rendre visite à mamie
      French (Translation)
    • Siwtaare bee maama
      Fulfulde Mbororoore (Translation)
    • Cuuti Kuli Banakulu
      IciBemba (Translation)
    • Amalanga wokuphumula nogogo
      isiNdebele (Translation)
    • ULilitha noLuniko batyelela umakhulu wabo
      isiXhosa (Translation)
    • UMondli noMbali bavakashela ugogo wabo
      isiZulu (Translation)
    • Abana mu biruhuko
      Kinyarwanda (Translation)
    • Likizo kwa Bibi
      Kiswahili (Translation)
    • Kumtembelea Bibi
      Kiswahili (Translation)
    • Meemè yee wùn à yaàyá
      Lámnsoʼ (Translation)
    • Ohuŋuumulira Ewa Nguhwa
      Lunyole (Adaptation)
    • Ohuŋumulira Ewa Nguhwa
      Lunyole (Translation)
    • Ekiwuumulo ni dhaadha omukazi
      Lusoga (Translation)
    • Okucaalira dhaadha omukazi
      Lusoga (Translation)
    • Akilakin Ata Egolitoe Esukul
      Ng’aturkana (Translation)
    • Amaulukho Wa Kukhu
      Oluwanga (Translation)
    • Re etela koko
      Sepedi (Translation)
    • Matsatsi a phomolo le nkgono
      Sesotho (South Africa) (Translation)
    • Morwesi le Pule ba etela nkoko
      Setswana (Translation)
    • Kwapumulo Ni Bokuku
      SiLozi (Translation)
    • Ngesikhatsi semaholide nagogo
      Siswati (Translation)
    • Mondli Ne Mbali N Kaa Ba Makpeem
      Talen (Translation)
    • Gui̱l Mandɔɔŋ
      Thok Nath (Nuer) (Translation)
    • Holodeyi na makhulu
      Tshivenḓa (Translation)
    • Ku endzela kokwana wa xisati hi tiholideyi
      Xitsonga (Translation)
  • Download to read
    Landscape version
  • Download to print
    Portrait (booklet) version
  • Download EPUB