PagineDie fluitende man
A free picture book in Afrikaans by Magda Swartz
Die fluitende man is a picture book in Afrikaans for ages 8–11 by Magda Swartz that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Afrikaans
- Written by
- Magda Swartz
- Illustrated by
- Petrus Amuthenu
- Translated by
- Helena Vilonel
- Reading level
- ages 8–11 · 3rd to 5th grade · Level 4 · Longer paragraphs
- From
- Namibia, South Africa
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Die fluitende man is a short illustrated picture book in Afrikaans by Magda Swartz, illustrated by Petrus Amuthenu and translated by Helena Vilonel. It is written for ages 8–11 (Grades 3–4) and is graded as Level 4 · Longer paragraphs, 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-NC-SA 4.0 licence, which is why it is free to read. The same story is available in 5 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Dis Saterdag en Rico gaan saam met sy ma dorp toe. Hy hou daarvan om dorp toe te gaan. Die dorp is opwindend! Daar is baie om te sien. Rico hou sy ma se hand baie styf vas. Baie mense…Opening lines quoted from the openly licensed book (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0).
This story in other languages
Reading the same story in two languages helps bilingual children connect words they already know. “Die fluitende man” is also available in:
- English · The Whistling Man
- Khoekhoegowab · ǂNam ra aob
- Oshikwanyama · Omulumenhu omushikimwilwa
- Oshindonga · Omulumentu Omuhikimwilwa
- Otjiherero · Omurumendu omutone worumbweze
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
Skilpad Soek Sy Huis
Koning van die Voëls
Die Wildwagter en sy Spesiale Reservaat
Hamisi se Gelukkige Dag
My Juffrou
Gevoelens
Boek oor die weer
Kinders van was
See all 143 free Afrikaans books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Die fluitende man” free to read?
Yes. “Die fluitende man” 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-NC-SA 4.0).
What language is “Die fluitende man” in?
It is written in Afrikaans. Pagine has 143 free children’s books in Afrikaans.
What age is “Die fluitende man” for?
It is best for ages 8–11 (Level 4 · Longer paragraphs). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Die fluitende man” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Oshindonga, Oshikwanyama, Otjiherero, Khoekhoegowab.
Who wrote “Die fluitende man”?
“Die fluitende man” was written by Magda Swartz and illustrated by Petrus Amuthenu; the Afrikaans translation is by Helena Vilonel.
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Get the free app →Credits: Die fluitende man — Written by Magda Swartz; Illustrated by Petrus Amuthenu; Translated by Helena Vilonel; Read by Helena Vilonel. Afrikaans, Level 4. From Global Storybooks (storybooksnamibia.net), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=40388). CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. · Page updated October 2026