Omurumendu omutone worumbweze

A free picture book in Otjiherero by Magda Swartz

Omurumendu omutone worumbweze is a picture book in Otjiherero for ages 8–11 by Magda Swartz that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.

📖 Read it free →

Language

Otjiherero

Written by

Magda Swartz

Illustrated by

Petrus Amuthenu

Translated by

Asnath Mundjindjiri, Angelika Tjouṱuku

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

Omurumendu omutone worumbweze is a short illustrated picture book in Otjiherero by Magda Swartz, illustrated by Petrus Amuthenu and translated by Asnath Mundjindjiri, Angelika Tjouṱuku. 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 Otjiherero. 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

Ndino Oroviungura nu Rico ma i kotjihuro pu na ina. Eye wa suvera okuyenda kotjihuro. Kotjihuro ku kara nondjoroka. Oko ku na oviṋa ovingi okutara. Rico wa ṱiza eke ra ina oupame. Ovo mave pingasana novandu ovengi. Opo pe na…

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. “Omurumendu omutone worumbweze” is also available in:

• Afrikaans · Die fluitende man
• English · The Whistling Man
• Khoekhoegowab · ǂNam ra aob
• Oshikwanyama · Omulumenhu omushikimwilwa
• Oshindonga · Omulumentu Omuhikimwilwa

Reading together in Otjiherero

• 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 Otjiherero

• Zama omusemba!
• Ohunguriva nengororo
• Ongore yokazera kouitji
• Ozombanda zosikore
• Okambihi kandje ke ri pi?
• Omberero
• Anansi nOndjiviro
• Outi wongeyama womuriro

See all 40 free Otjiherero books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩‍🏫 Assign this book to a class

Frequently asked questions

Is “Omurumendu omutone worumbweze” free to read?

Yes. “Omurumendu omutone worumbweze” 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 “Omurumendu omutone worumbweze” in?

It is written in Otjiherero. Pagine has 40 free children’s books in Otjiherero.

What age is “Omurumendu omutone worumbweze” for?

It is best for ages 8–11 (Level 4 · Longer paragraphs). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.

Is “Omurumendu omutone worumbweze” available in other languages?

Yes — the same story is in English, Afrikaans, Oshindonga, Oshikwanyama, Khoekhoegowab.

Who wrote “Omurumendu omutone worumbweze”?

“Omurumendu omutone worumbweze” was written by Magda Swartz and illustrated by Petrus Amuthenu; the Otjiherero translation is by Asnath Mundjindjiri, Angelika Tjouṱuku.

Track reading with the free Pagine app

Log books, set goals and build a daily reading habit — free on iOS, Android and the web.

Get the free app →

Credits: Omurumendu omutone worumbweze — Written by Magda Swartz; Illustrated by Petrus Amuthenu; Translated by Asnath Mundjindjiri, Angelika Tjouṱuku; Read by Asnath Mundjindjiri. Otjiherero, 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