ǀGam
A free picture book in Khoekhoegowab by Carole Bloch

ǀGam is a picture book in Khoekhoegowab for ages 2–8 by Carole Bloch that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Khoekhoegowab
- Written by
- Carole Bloch
- Illustrated by
- Richard MacIntosh
- Translated by
- Ivan Petrus Josob
- Reading level
- ages 2–8 · preschool, kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 1 · First words
- From
- Namibia
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY-NC 3.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
ǀGam is a short illustrated picture book in Khoekhoegowab by Carole Bloch, illustrated by Richard MacIntosh and translated by Ivan Petrus Josob. It is written for ages 2–8 (Nursery–Year 1) and is graded as Level 1 · First words, so it works as a read-aloud for little ones and as practice for children learning to read in Khoekhoegowab. The book comes from Global Storybooks and is shared under an open CC BY-NC 3.0 licence, which is why it is free to read. The same story is available in 26 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
ǀGam ǂkhari ǃomrora ǃkhōs ǃaroma. ǀGam ǂkhari ǂairora ǂnās ǃaroma. ǀGam ǂkhari mûrora mûs ǃaroma. ǀGam ǂkhari ǂgaerora ǁnâus ǃaroma. Tsî ǀgam ǀnamǀnamsa ǁôarokha ǁnamǂgās ǃaroma! ǀGam — Written by Carole Bloch; Illustrated by Richard MacIntosh; Translated by Ivan Petrus…Opening lines quoted from the openly licensed book (CC BY-NC 3.0).
This story in other languages
Reading the same story in two languages helps bilingual children connect words they already know. “ǀGam” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Twee
- Bemba · Tubili
- Dagbani · ayi
- English · Two
- Jamaican Creole · Tuu
- Kaonde · Tubiji
- Kigogo · Nyejete
- Kikuyu · Igĩrĩ
- Kiswahili · Mbili
- Krio · Tu
- Lukhonzo · Ibiri
- Lunda · Ayedi
- Luvale · Avali
- Mauritian Creole · De
- Nyanja · Awili
- Oshikwanyama · Mbali
- Oshindonga · Mbali
- Otjiherero · Uvari
- Sepedi · Pedi
- Sesotho · Pedi
- Somali · Labo
- Spanish · Dos
- Tonga · Tobilo
- Tswana · Pedi
- Turkana · Ng’arei
- Zulu · Ezimbili
Reading together in Khoekhoegowab
- 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 Khoekhoegowab
Anis tsî ǃAriǃkhās hâra xa
ǂNam ra aob
ǃÂsa ǁnâseb xa
Tare-ets ra dī?
Mîǁguib
ǀGirib tsî sores
Nozibeles tsî ǃnona ǀûgu xa
Tita ge khomais xa a ǃgâibahe!
See all 40 free Khoekhoegowab books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “ǀGam” free to read?
Yes. “ǀGam” 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 3.0).
What language is “ǀGam” in?
It is written in Khoekhoegowab. Pagine has 40 free children’s books in Khoekhoegowab.
What age is “ǀGam” for?
It is best for ages 2–8 (Level 1 · First words). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “ǀGam” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Kiswahili, Kikuyu, Turkana, Somali, Zulu and more.
Who wrote “ǀGam”?
“ǀGam” was written by Carole Bloch and illustrated by Richard MacIntosh; the Khoekhoegowab translation is by Ivan Petrus Josob.
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Get the free app →Credits: ǀGam — Written by Carole Bloch; Illustrated by Richard MacIntosh; Translated by Ivan Petrus Josob. Khoekhoegowab, Level 1. From Global Storybooks (storybooksnamibia.net), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=3072). CC BY-NC 3.0. · Page updated October 2026