The Adventures of Mboza and her Rooster

Author: Upendo Maria

Illustrator: Matson Chagulilo

Translator: Alisha Berger

Mboza’s school holidays had begun. She traveled with her family to her grandma’s village.

Mboza was quite excited about the trip. During each visit, her grandma would give her a special gift. She wondered what gift her grandma would give her this time!

Mboza’s grandma was at the bus station to receive them. She welcomed them warmly.

“Grandma, what gift are you giving me this time?” Mboza asked eagerly.

Her grandma chuckled and said, “Be patient, Mboza. Wait until we get home.”

When they got home her grandma smiled and said, “This time, I’ve not prepared a gift for you myself. You’ll have to get it on your own. See that rooster?” She pointed to a large, colourful rooster.

“Mboza, if you catch it, it’s yours!" Grandma said.

So, Mboza started to chase the rooster. She dived this way and that way, but the rooster kept outsmarting her.

Mboza fell down with a CRASH!

Everyone laughed at Mboza.

Now, the rooster ran around even faster!

Mboza got up. She wouldn't give up the chase!

Next, the rooster ran straight into a thorny bush.

Mboza found a long stick. “Kho! Kho! Kho!” cried the rooster as it buried into the bush.

“Shiiih! Shiih! Shiiih!" called Mboza. "Here, little rooster! Come out!

"Clever rooster, come out. I’ll get you!”

The rooster saw that Mboza had a stick.

It came out of the bush and flew up a mango tree!

Mboza decided to climb up the mango tree. “Kho! Kho! Kho!” cried the rooster. Tiing Tiing!

Mangoes fell on Mboza’s head, as the rooster shook the branches. “Aaagh! My head! OUCH!”

The tree was too high for Mboza to climb. And she was afraid of the mangoes hitting her on the head!

“Kho! Kho! Kho!” called the rooster happily. It knew it was safe now.

Mboza looked up and wondered, How am I going to get that crafty rooster?

She thought of another plan. I’ll get two headscarves and then climb the tree, she told herself.

Mboza grabbed two of grandma's scarves.

Mboza tied the two scarves together and used them to climb the mango tree.

“Kho! Kho! Kho!” cried the rooster.

Mboza threw the scarf-rope towards the rooster. Now, the rooster was frightened.

“Kho! Kho! Kho!” cried the rooster. It leapt off the branch, down towards the ground.

But, Mboza wouldn't lose him now! She jumped and caught the rooster.

“Grandma!” called Mboza happily. “I’ve caught the rooster at last! What should I do with it now?”

“How wonderful! We could slaughter and eat it,” suggested Grandma.

Mboza considered. “Let’s not slaughter it today,” she said.

“I want to give the rooster another chance to run away," Mboza explained. "That way, I can chase him again tomorrow!"

The family laughed.

"Whatever you say, my dear," Grandma said. "After all, the rooster is your special gift!"

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Story Attribution:

This story:The Adventures of Mboza and her Roosteris translated byAlisha Berger. The © for this translation lies with Room to Read, 2014. Some rights reserved. Released under CC BY 4.0 license.Based on Original story:'Hadithi ya Mboza na Jogoo', byUpendo Maria. © Room to Read , 2014. Some rights reserved. Released under CC BY 4.0 license.

Other Credits:

This story 'The Adventures of Mboza and her Rooster' has been published on StoryWeaver by Room to Read.

Images Attributions:

Cover page:An African village, byMatson Chagulilo© Room to Read, 2014. Some rights reserved. Released under CC BY 4.0 license.Page 2:A group of people near a bus, byMatson Chagulilo© Room to Read, 2014. Some rights reserved. Released under CC BY 4.0 license.Page 3:A group of people near a bus, byMatson Chagulilo© Room to Read, 2014. Some rights reserved. Released under CC BY 4.0 license.Page 4:A woman and a girl look at a rooster, byMatson Chagulilo© Room to Read, 2014. Some rights reserved. Released under CC BY 4.0 license.Page 5:Two girls and a rooster, byMatson Chagulilo© Room to Read, 2014. Some rights reserved. Released under CC BY 4.0 license.Page 6:A girl falls down chasing a rooster, byMatson Chagulilo© Room to Read, 2014. Some rights reserved. Released under CC BY 4.0 license.Page 7:Three smiling people, byMatson Chagulilo© Room to Read, 2014. Some rights reserved. Released under CC BY 4.0 license.Page 8:A girl chases a rooster, byMatson Chagulilo© Room to Read, 2014. Some rights reserved. Released under CC BY 4.0 license.Page 9:A girl and a rooster, byMatson Chagulilo© Room to Read, 2014. Some rights reserved. Released under CC BY 4.0 license.Page 10:A rooster on a tree, byMatson Chagulilo© Room to Read, 2014. Some rights reserved. Released under CC BY 4.0 license.Disclaimer:https://www.storyweaver.org.in/terms_and_conditions

Some rights reserved. This book is CC-BY-4.0 licensed. You can copy, modify, distribute and perform the work, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. For full terms of use and attribution, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This book was made possible by Pratham Books' StoryWeaver platform. Content under Creative Commons licenses can be downloaded, translated and can even be used to create new stories provided you give appropriate credit, and indicate if changes were made. To know more about this, and the full terms of use and attribution, please visit the following link .

Images Attributions:

Page 11:A girl looks at a rooster on a tree, byMatson Chagulilo© Room to Read, 2014. Some rights reserved. Released under CC BY 4.0 license.Page 12:A girl talks to two women, byMatson Chagulilo© Room to Read, 2014. Some rights reserved. Released under CC BY 4.0 license.Page 13:A girl climbs a tree, byMatson Chagulilo© Room to Read, 2014. Some rights reserved. Released under CC BY 4.0 license.Page 14:A girl swings a rope at a rooster, byMatson Chagulilo© Room to Read, 2014. Some rights reserved. Released under CC BY 4.0 license.Page 15:A girl jumps on a rooster, byMatson Chagulilo© Room to Read, 2014. Some rights reserved. Released under CC BY 4.0 license.Page 16:A girl with a rooster in her hands, byMatson Chagulilo© Room to Read, 2014. Some rights reserved. Released under CC BY 4.0 license.Page 17:A group of women, byMatson Chagulilo© Room to Read, 2014. Some rights reserved. Released under CC BY 4.0 license.Page 18:A girl chasing a rooster, byMatson Chagulilo© Room to Read, 2014. Some rights reserved. Released under CC BY 4.0 license.Page 19:Four smiling people, byMatson Chagulilo© Room to Read, 2014. Some rights reserved. Released under CC BY 4.0 license.Disclaimer:https://www.storyweaver.org.in/terms_and_conditions

Some rights reserved. This book is CC-BY-4.0 licensed. You can copy, modify, distribute and perform the work, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. For full terms of use and attribution, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The Adventures of Mboza and her Rooster (English)

During her school holidays, Mboza and her parents go to visit her Grandma. When they arrive, Grandma offers Mboza a rooster as a gift, but she must chase and catch it first. Do you think Mboza will catch the rooster?

This is a Level 3 book for children who are ready to read on their own.

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