PagineBok, Hond en Koei
A free picture book in Afrikaans by Fabian Wakholi
Bok, Hond en Koei is a picture book in Afrikaans for ages 5–8 by Fabian Wakholi that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Afrikaans
- Written by
- Fabian Wakholi
- Illustrated by
- Marleen Visser, Ingrid Schechter
- Translated by
- Tristan Mark Ilsley, Helena Vilonel
- Reading level
- ages 5–8 · kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 2 · First sentences
- From
- South Africa, Namibia
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY 3.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Bok, Hond en Koei is a short illustrated picture book in Afrikaans by Fabian Wakholi, illustrated by Marleen Visser, Ingrid Schechter and translated by Tristan Mark Ilsley, Helena Vilonel. It is written for ages 5–8 (Grades 1–2) and is graded as Level 2 · First sentences, so it works as a read-aloud for little ones and as practice for children learning to read in Afrikaans. The book comes from Global Storybooks and is shared under an open CC BY 3.0 licence, which is why it is free to read. The same story is available in 32 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Bok, Hond en Koei was groot vriende. Hulle het eendag in ‘n huurmotor op reis gegaan. Toe hulle die einde van die reis bereik, het die bestuurder hulle gevra om hulle reisgeld te betaal. Koei het haar fooi betaal. Hond…Opening lines quoted from the openly licensed book (CC BY 3.0).
This story in other languages
Reading the same story in two languages helps bilingual children connect words they already know. “Bok, Hond en Koei” is also available in:
- Bemba · Imbushi, Imbwa ne ŋombe
- Dhopadhola · Dyel, Gwok Kodi Dhyaŋ
- English · Goat, Dog and Cow (Colour-in)
- Jamaican Creole · Guot, Daag an Kou
- Kaonde · Mbuzhi, Kabwa ne Ñombe
- Khoekhoegowab · Piris, Arib, tsî Gomas xa
- Kikamba · Mbui, Ngiti na Ng’ombe
- Kimaasai · Enkíné, Oldía ó Enkíténg
- Kiswahili · Mbuzi, Mbwa na Ng’ombe
- Luganda · Wambuzi, Wambwa ne Wante
- Lugbarati (official orthography) · Ndrí ‘ɨ, Òcó ‘ɨ àzɨ́nɨ Tí ‘ɨ
- Lukhonzo · Embene, Embwa, n’Ende
- Lumasaaba · Imbusi, Imbwa ni Ngaafu
- Lunda · Impembi, Kawa na Ng’ombi
- Lunyole · Embusi, Embwa n’Eῃombe
- Luvale · Phembe, Kawa, na Ngombe
- Mauritian Creole · Kabri, Lisien, ek Vas
- Nigerian Pidgin · Goat, dog, and Malu
- Nyanja · Mbuzi, Galu ndi Ng’ombe
- Oshikwanyama · Shikombo, Mbwa nOngobe
- Oshindonga · Oshikombo, ombwa nongombe
- Otjiherero · Ongombo, ombwa nongombe
- Rutooro · Embuzi, Embwa, N’Ente
- Sesotho · Podi, Ntja le kgomo
- Somali · Ri, Eey iyo Sac
- South Ndebele · Imbuzi, Inja Nekomo
- Spanish · La Cabra, el Perro y la Vaca
- Tonga · Mpongo, Mubwa a ŋombe
- Tswana · Podi,Ntsa le Kgomo
- Turkana · Akine, Ing’ok Ka Aite
- Xhosa · UBhokhwe, uNja, noNkomo
- Zulu · Imbuzi, Inja Nenkomo
Reading together in Afrikaans
- Read it aloud first, pointing at the pictures; then let your child “read” the pictures back to you.
- Ask open questions: what happened, how did the character feel, what would you do?
- Growing up with two languages? Talk about the story in whichever language feels easiest — the understanding carries over.
More free books in Afrikaans
Lui klein boetie
Tingi en die koeie
Zama is oulik!
Nozibele en die drie hare
Leeu se vuurstokkies
Ek haat die winter
Zenande se helpende hande
Sirkels
See all 143 free Afrikaans books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Bok, Hond en Koei” free to read?
Yes. “Bok, Hond en Koei” is free to read online in Pagine on any phone, tablet or computer — no payment and nothing to download. It is openly licensed (CC BY 3.0).
What language is “Bok, Hond en Koei” in?
It is written in Afrikaans. Pagine has 143 free children’s books in Afrikaans.
What age is “Bok, Hond en Koei” for?
It is best for ages 5–8 (Level 2 · First sentences). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Bok, Hond en Koei” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Nigerian Pidgin, Kiswahili, Kikamba, Kimaasai, Turkana and more.
Who wrote “Bok, Hond en Koei”?
“Bok, Hond en Koei” was written by Fabian Wakholi and illustrated by Marleen Visser, Ingrid Schechter; the Afrikaans translation is by Tristan Mark Ilsley, Helena Vilonel.
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Get the free app →Credits: Bok, Hond en Koei — Written by Fabian Wakholi; Illustrated by Marleen Visser, Ingrid Schechter; Translated by Tristan Mark Ilsley, Helena Vilonel; Read by Helena Vilonel. Afrikaans, Level 2. From Global Storybooks (southafricareads.org), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=6380). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026