PagineDonkie-kind
A free picture book in Afrikaans by Lindiwe Matshikiza
Donkie-kind is a picture book in Afrikaans for ages 5–11 by Lindiwe Matshikiza that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Afrikaans
- Written by
- Lindiwe Matshikiza
- Illustrated by
- Meghan Judge
- Translated by
- Fanie Viljoen, Helena Vilonel
- Reading level
- ages 5–11 · kindergarten to 2nd grade, 3rd to 5th grade · Level 3 · First paragraphs
- From
- South Africa, Namibia
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY 4.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Donkie-kind is a short illustrated picture book in Afrikaans by Lindiwe Matshikiza, illustrated by Meghan Judge and translated by Fanie Viljoen, Helena Vilonel. It is written for ages 5–11 (Grades 2–3) and is graded as Level 3 · First 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 4.0 licence, which is why it is free to read. The same story is available in 22 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Dit was ‘n meisie wat eerste die vreemde vorm in die verte gesien het. Soos die vorm nadergekom het, het die meisie gesien dat dit ‘n swanger vrou was. Skaam, maar dapper, het die meisie nader aan die vrou gestap.…Opening lines quoted from the openly licensed book (CC BY 4.0).
This story in other languages
Reading the same story in two languages helps bilingual children connect words they already know. “Donkie-kind” is also available in:
- Bemba · Umwana Punda
- Dhopadhola · Nyathi Ma Nyakare
- English · Donkey child
- Jamaican Creole · Dangki Pikni
- Kaonde · Mbongolo Mwana
- Khoekhoegowab · Donki ǀgôab xa
- Kiswahili · Mtoto Punda
- Lukhonzo · Akana K’epunda
- Lunda · Mwana wa Donki
- Luvale · Mwana Chimbulu
- Mauritian Creole · Zanfan-Bourik
- Nyanja · Mwana wa Bulu
- Oshikwanyama · Okaana okandongwina
- Oshindonga · Okanona okandôongi
- Otjiherero · Okasinona
- Somali · Ilmo dameer ah
- Spanish · El Niño Burro
- Tonga · Kana Kambongolo
- Tswana · Ngwana wa setshwano sa tonki
- Turkana · Ikoku sikiria
- Xhosa · Umbhongolo, Usana Olusisimanga
- Zulu · Umntwana ongajwayelekile
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
My liggaam
Khalai praat met plante
Hen en Arend
Ouma se piesangs
Samoesas!
Fifi en Teddie
Kom ons ruim die rommel op
Baba Geselsies
See all 143 free Afrikaans books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Donkie-kind” free to read?
Yes. “Donkie-kind” 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 4.0).
What language is “Donkie-kind” in?
It is written in Afrikaans. Pagine has 143 free children’s books in Afrikaans.
What age is “Donkie-kind” for?
It is best for ages 5–11 (Level 3 · First paragraphs). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Donkie-kind” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Turkana, Somali, Zulu, Xhosa, Tswana and more.
Who wrote “Donkie-kind”?
“Donkie-kind” was written by Lindiwe Matshikiza and illustrated by Meghan Judge; the Afrikaans translation is by Fanie Viljoen, Helena Vilonel.
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Get the free app →Credits: Donkie-kind — Written by Lindiwe Matshikiza; Illustrated by Meghan Judge; Translated by Fanie Viljoen, Helena Vilonel; Read by Willemien Wannberg. Afrikaans, Level 3. From Global Storybooks (southafricareads.org), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=15028). CC BY 4.0. · Page updated October 2026