PagineǂNam ra aob
A free picture book in Khoekhoegowab by Magda Swartz
ǂNam ra aob is a picture book in Khoekhoegowab for ages 8–11 by Magda Swartz that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Khoekhoegowab
- Written by
- Magda Swartz
- Illustrated by
- Petrus Amuthenu
- Translated by
- Ngeve Shangombe
- Reading level
- ages 8–11 · 3rd to 5th grade · Level 4 · Longer paragraphs
- From
- Namibia
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
ǂNam ra aob is a short illustrated picture book in Khoekhoegowab by Magda Swartz, illustrated by Petrus Amuthenu and translated by Ngeve Shangombe. 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 Khoekhoegowab. 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
Satertaxtsēs ge tsîb ge Ricoba ǁîb mamasas ǀkha ǂharuguǃkhaib ǁga ra ī. ǁÎb ge ǂharuguǃkhaib ǁga ǃgûs xa ǃgâibahe. ǂHaruguǃkhaib ge a ǁkhoaxa! ǂGui xūnats ge ra mû. Ricob ge mamasas di ǃomsa ǀgaisase ra ǃkhō. ǀHaes di khoen ge…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. “ǂNam ra aob” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Die fluitende man
- English · The Whistling Man
- Oshikwanyama · Omulumenhu omushikimwilwa
- Oshindonga · Omulumentu Omuhikimwilwa
- Otjiherero · Omurumendu omutone worumbweze
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
Skol saran
Ti ǀhôasa mâpa hâ?
ǁKharab
Donki ǀgôab xa
Sakimab di ams
Tsâsigu
ǂOaǀnanumâsib ǂKhanis
ǂNuruǁnui ǀgôan xa
See all 40 free Khoekhoegowab books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “ǂNam ra aob” free to read?
Yes. “ǂNam ra aob” 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 “ǂNam ra aob” in?
It is written in Khoekhoegowab. Pagine has 40 free children’s books in Khoekhoegowab.
What age is “ǂNam ra aob” for?
It is best for ages 8–11 (Level 4 · Longer paragraphs). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “ǂNam ra aob” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Afrikaans, Oshindonga, Oshikwanyama, Otjiherero.
Who wrote “ǂNam ra aob”?
“ǂNam ra aob” was written by Magda Swartz and illustrated by Petrus Amuthenu; the Khoekhoegowab translation is by Ngeve Shangombe.
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Get the free app →Credits: ǂNam ra aob — Written by Magda Swartz; Illustrated by Petrus Amuthenu; Translated by Ngeve Shangombe. Khoekhoegowab, 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