PagineLeeu se vuurstokkies
A free picture book in Afrikaans by Traditional San story
Leeu se vuurstokkies is a picture book in Afrikaans for ages 8–11 by Traditional San story that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Afrikaans
- Written by
- Traditional San story
- Illustrated by
- Manyeka Arts Trust
- Translated by
- Stephan Coetzee
- Reading level
- ages 8–11 · 3rd to 5th grade · Level 4 · Longer paragraphs
- From
- Namibia, South Africa
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY 3.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Leeu se vuurstokkies is a short illustrated picture book in Afrikaans by Traditional San story, illustrated by Manyeka Arts Trust and translated by Stephan Coetzee. 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 3.0 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
Hierdie storie begin in die ou tye toe mense en diere saam met mekaar geleef het. In daardie dae het die mense nie die reg tot vuur gehad nie. Hulle het hul kos rou geëet. Slegs leeu het die krag…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. “Leeu se vuurstokkies” is also available in:
- English · Lion's fire sticks (Level 5)
- Khoekhoegowab · Xammi di ǀae haigu
- Oshikwanyama · Oiti yaNghoshi yokutaka omundilo
- Oshindonga · Iiti yaNkoshi yokudhiga omulilo
- Otjiherero · Outi wongeyama womuriro
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
Tingi en die koeie
Zama is oulik!
Hennetjie en Duisendpoot
Jakkals en die son
Ek haat die winter
Zenande se helpende hande
Sirkels
Hallo
See all 143 free Afrikaans books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Leeu se vuurstokkies” free to read?
Yes. “Leeu se vuurstokkies” 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 “Leeu se vuurstokkies” in?
It is written in Afrikaans. Pagine has 143 free children’s books in Afrikaans.
What age is “Leeu se vuurstokkies” for?
It is best for ages 8–11 (Level 4 · Longer paragraphs). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Leeu se vuurstokkies” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Oshindonga, Oshikwanyama, Otjiherero, Khoekhoegowab.
Who wrote “Leeu se vuurstokkies”?
“Leeu se vuurstokkies” was written by Traditional San story and illustrated by Manyeka Arts Trust; the Afrikaans translation is by Stephan Coetzee.
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Get the free app →Credits: Leeu se vuurstokkies — Written by Traditional San story; Illustrated by Manyeka Arts Trust; Translated by Stephan Coetzee; Read by Helena Vilonel. Afrikaans, Level 4. From Global Storybooks (storybooksnamibia.net), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=5413). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026