“What do you want to be when you grow up?” asks Teacher Langa.
Khutso shouts, “I want to be a cook!”
I love helping my mom bake and cook at home.”
Nandi says, “No! That’s a girl’s job. My mom does all the cooking at home.”
“Yes he can, Nandi. You can be anything you want to be,” says Teacher Langa.
The class chants, “Yes you can!”
Milani says, “I want to build houses like my dad.”
“No, you can’t, that’s dangerous!” yells Phathu.
“Yes she can, Phathu, as long as she loves it,” replies Teacher Langa.
The class chants, “Yes she can!”
Sthelo says, “I want to be a nurse.”
The class bursts out laughing.
“What is so funny?” asks Teacher Langa.
Nandi replies, “Nurses are girls.”
“There are male nurses too,” says Teacher Langa. “So class, can Sthelo be a nurse?”
The class booms, “Yes, he can!”
“I want to be an artist and draw pretty pictures,” says Liyana.
“That’s not a real job,” says Khutso and rolls his eyes.
“That sounds lovely, Liyana!” replies teacher Langa. “Can Liyana be an artist?”
“Yes, she can!” shouts the class!
“I want to be an alarm clock,” says Phathu.
Huh?”
“What do you think, class?” asks Teacher Langa.
The class booms, “Yes, you can! Yes, you can!”
Nandi hasn’t shared what she wants to be when she grows up.
What do you think she could be?
Credits
Originally published by Book Dash under a Creative Commons Licensed BY 4.0. This book can be read for free on https://bookdash.org/books/yes-you-can! and was created by: Xolile Sepuru (Writer), Georgia Demertzis (Designer), Subi Bosa (Illustrator), Margot Bertelsmann (Editor)
