PagineZama is oulik!
A free picture book in Afrikaans by Michael Oguttu
Zama is oulik! is a picture book in Afrikaans for ages 5–8 by Michael Oguttu that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Afrikaans
- Written by
- Michael Oguttu
- Illustrated by
- Vusi Malindi
- Translated by
- Willemien Wannberg
- Reading level
- ages 5–8 · kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 2 · First sentences
- From
- South Africa, Namibia
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY 3.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Zama is oulik! is a short illustrated picture book in Afrikaans by Michael Oguttu, illustrated by Vusi Malindi and translated by Willemien Wannberg. It is written for ages 5–8 (Grades 1–2) and is graded as Level 2 · First sentences, 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 21 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
My boetie slaap baie laat. Ek word vroeg wakker, want ek is oulik. Ek is die een wat die son inlaat. “Jy is my oggendster,” sê Mamma. Ek was myself, ek het nie hulp nodig nie. Ek kan regkom met…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. “Zama is oulik!” is also available in:
- Bemba · Zama Alicenjela!
- English · Zama is great!
- Irish · Tá Zama thar barr!
- Jamaican Creole · Zama a di bes!
- Kaonde · Zama Wakosa
- Khoekhoegowab · Zamas ge a ǂoaǂamsa
- Kiswahili · Zama ni mkubwa!
- Lukhonzo · Zama Niw’amani
- Lunda · Zama wang’ovu
- Luvale · Zama lyatwila!
- Mauritian Creole · Zama enn top!
- Nigerian Pidgin · Zana dey great!
- Nyanja · Zama ndi wamkulu
- Oshikwanyama · Zama omunandjungu
- Oshindonga · Zama ependafule!
- Otjiherero · Zama omusemba!
- Sesotho · Zama ya moholo
- Somali · Zama waa mid aad u wanaagsan!
- Spanish · ¡Zama es genial!
- Tonga · Zama Mukali!
- Tswana · Zama o godile.
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
Die verlore lag
Die Grootste Gawe
Daar moet ’n reënboog wees
Lawwe Luidier
Ongelooflike Daisy!
Skilpad Soek Sy Huis
Koning van die Voëls
Die Wildwagter en sy Spesiale Reservaat
See all 143 free Afrikaans books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Zama is oulik!” free to read?
Yes. “Zama is oulik!” 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 “Zama is oulik!” in?
It is written in Afrikaans. Pagine has 143 free children’s books in Afrikaans.
What age is “Zama is oulik!” for?
It is best for ages 5–8 (Level 2 · First sentences). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Zama is oulik!” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Nigerian Pidgin, Kiswahili, Somali, Tswana, Sesotho and more.
Who wrote “Zama is oulik!”?
“Zama is oulik!” was written by Michael Oguttu and illustrated by Vusi Malindi; the Afrikaans translation is by Willemien Wannberg.
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Get the free app →Credits: Zama is oulik! — Written by Michael Oguttu; Illustrated by Vusi Malindi; Translated by Willemien Wannberg; Read by Willemien Wannberg. Afrikaans, Level 2. From Global Storybooks (southafricareads.org), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=9984). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026