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A woman sitting between a boy and a girl each holding luggage.

Holidays with grandmother Holidays with grandmother

Written by Violet Otieno

Illustrated by Catherine Groenewald

Read by Darshan Soni

Language English

Level Level 4

Narrate full story

Reading speed

Autoplay story


A man walking between a boy and girl all smiling.

Odongo and Apiyo 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 fishing village near a large lake.

Odongo and Apiyo 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 fishing village near a large lake.


A boy in a bed chatting with a girl in a bed next to him, with luggage at the bottom of their beds.

Odongo and Apiyo 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.

Odongo and Apiyo 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.


A car driving past mountains and wild animals.

Early the next morning, they left for the village in their father’s car. They drove past mountains, wild animals and tea plantations. They counted cars and sang songs.

Early the next morning, they left for the village in their father’s car. They drove past mountains, wild animals and tea plantations. They counted cars and sang songs.


A boy and girl sleeping in a car.

After a while, the children were tired and fell asleep.

After a while, the children were tired and fell asleep.


A woman sitting between a boy and a girl each holding luggage.

Father woke up Odongo and Apiyo as they arrived in the village. They found Nyar-Kanyada, their grandmother, resting on a mat under a tree. Nyar-Kanyada in Luo, means ‘daughter of the people of Kanyada’. She was a strong and beautiful woman.

Father woke up Odongo and Apiyo as they arrived in the village. They found Nyar-Kanyada, their grandmother, resting on a mat under a tree. Nyar-Kanyada in Luo, means ‘daughter of the people of Kanyada’. She was a strong and beautiful woman.


A happy-looking boy and girl holding out gifts to give to a woman.

Nyar-Kanyada welcomed them into the 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 Odongo. “No, my gift first!” said Apiyo.

Nyar-Kanyada welcomed them into the 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 Odongo. “No, my gift first!” said Apiyo.


A boy and girl bowing their heads and a woman touching the boy's head.

After she opened the presents, Nyar-Kanyada blessed her grandchildren in a traditional way.

After she opened the presents, Nyar-Kanyada blessed her grandchildren in a traditional way.


A boy and girl outside chasing butterflies and birds.

Then Odongo and Apiyo went outside. They chased butterflies and birds.

Then Odongo and Apiyo went outside. They chased butterflies and birds.


A boy hanging upside down from a tree and a girl splashing in a lake.

They climbed trees and splashed in the water of the lake.

They climbed trees and splashed in the water of the lake.


A boy and girl falling asleep eating dinner.

When it was dark they returned to the house for dinner. Before they could finish eating, they were falling asleep!

When it was dark they returned to the house for dinner. Before they could finish eating, they were falling asleep!


A boy, a girl and a woman waving goodbye to a man driving off in a car.

The next day, the children’s father drove back to the city leaving them with Nyar-Kanyada.

The next day, the children’s father drove back to the city leaving them with Nyar-Kanyada.


A boy fetching water and firewood and a girl carrying eggs and a basket of vegetables.

Odongo and Apiyo helped their grandmother with household chores. They fetched water and firewood. They collected eggs from the chickens and picked greens from the garden.

Odongo and Apiyo helped their grandmother with household chores. They fetched water and firewood. They collected eggs from the chickens and picked greens from the garden.


A woman with her arms around a boy and girl sitting at a table eating dinner.

Nyar-Kanyada taught her grandchildren to make soft ugali to eat with stew. She showed them how to make coconut rice to eat with roast fish.

Nyar-Kanyada taught her grandchildren to make soft ugali to eat with stew. She showed them how to make coconut rice to eat with roast fish.


Two cows eating crops and a farmer and a boy shouting at the cows.

One morning, Odongo took his grandmother’s cows to graze. They ran onto a neighbour’s farm. The farmer was angry with Odongo. He threatened to keep the cows for eating his crops. After that day, the boy made sure that the cows did not get into trouble again.

One morning, Odongo took his grandmother’s cows to graze. They ran onto a neighbour’s farm. The farmer was angry with Odongo. He threatened to keep the cows for eating his crops. After that day, the boy made sure that the cows did not get into trouble again.


A boy and a girl helping a woman sell vegetables to customers at a marketplace.

On another day, the children went to the marketplace with Nyar-Kanyada. She had a stall selling vegetables, sugar and soap. Apiyo liked to tell customers the price of items. Odongo would pack the items that customers bought.

On another day, the children went to the marketplace with Nyar-Kanyada. She had a stall selling vegetables, sugar and soap. Apiyo liked to tell customers the price of items. Odongo would pack the items that customers bought.


A boy, a girl and a woman drinking tea together.

At the end of the day they drank chai tea together. They helped grandmother to count the money she earned.

At the end of the day they drank chai tea together. They helped grandmother to count the money she earned.


A girl wearing a new sweater and a boy wearing a new cap next to a woman holding lots of luggage.

But too soon the holidays were over and the children had to go back to the city. Nyar-Kanyada gave Odongo a cap and Apiyo a sweater. She packed food for their journey.

But too soon the holidays were over and the children had to go back to the city. Nyar-Kanyada gave Odongo a cap and Apiyo a sweater. She packed food for their journey.


A boy and girl hugging a man standing next to a woman with her arms open wide.

When their father came to fetch them, they did not want to leave. The children begged Nyar-Kanyada to go with them to the city. She smiled and said, “I am too old for the city. I will be waiting for you to come to my village again.”

When their father came to fetch them, they did not want to leave. The children begged Nyar-Kanyada to go with them to the city. She smiled and said, “I am too old for the city. I will be waiting for you to come to my village again.”


A boy and girl hugging a woman tightly.

Odongo and Apiyo both hugged her tightly and said goodbye.

Odongo and Apiyo both hugged her tightly and said goodbye.


A boy and girl talking with school friends.

When Odongo and Apiyo went back to school they told their friends about life in the village. Some children felt that life in the city was good. Others felt that the village was better. But most of all, everyone agreed that Odongo and Apiyo had a wonderful grandmother!

When Odongo and Apiyo went back to school they told their friends about life in the village. Some children felt that life in the city was good. Others felt that the village was better. But most of all, everyone agreed that Odongo and Apiyo had a wonderful grandmother!


Written by: Violet Otieno
Illustrated by: Catherine Groenewald
Read by: Darshan Soni
Language: English
Level: Level 4
Source: Holidays with grandmother from African Storybook
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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