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Hen and Eagle Hen and Eagle En an Iigl

Written by Ann Nduku

Illustrated by Wiehan de Jager

Read by Darshan Soni

Language English

Level Level 3

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Reading speed

Autoplay story


Once upon a time, Hen and Eagle were friends. They lived in peace with all the other birds. None of them could fly.

Once upon a time, Hen and Eagle were friends. They lived in peace with all the other birds. None of them could fly.

Wan taim, En an Iigl a did fren. Dem yuuz tu liv piisful wid aal a di ada bod dem. Non a dem kudn flai.


One day, there was famine in the land. Eagle had to walk very far to find food. She came back very tired. “There must be an easier way to travel!” said Eagle.

One day, there was famine in the land. Eagle had to walk very far to find food. She came back very tired. “There must be an easier way to travel!” said Eagle.

Wan die, famin did de pan di lan. Iigl did afi waak faar-faar fi fain fuud. Shi kom bak wel taiyad. “Wahn iiziya wie mos de bot fi chravl!” Iigl se.


After a good night’s sleep, Hen had a brilliant idea. She began collecting the fallen feathers from all their bird friends. “Let’s sew them together on top of our own feathers,” she said. “Perhaps that will make it easier to travel.”

After a good night’s sleep, Hen had a brilliant idea. She began collecting the fallen feathers from all their bird friends. “Let’s sew them together on top of our own feathers,” she said. “Perhaps that will make it easier to travel.”

Afta a gud nait sliip, En kom op wid a brait aidiya. Shi staat kalek op aal a di feda dem we jrap aaf a aal a dem bod fren dem. “Mek wi suo dem op tugeda pan tap a fiwi feda dem,” shi se. “Miebi dat wi mek it iiziya fi chravl.”


Eagle was the only one in the village with a needle, so she started sewing first. She made herself a pair of beautiful wings and flew high above Hen. Hen borrowed the needle but she soon got tired of sewing. She left the needle on the cupboard and went into the kitchen to prepare food for her children.

Eagle was the only one in the village with a needle, so she started sewing first. She made herself a pair of beautiful wings and flew high above Hen. Hen borrowed the needle but she soon got tired of sewing. She left the needle on the cupboard and went into the kitchen to prepare food for her children.

A Iigl aluon inna di uol vilij did av wahn niigl, so shi staat suo fos. Shi mek wahn priti pier a wing fi arself an did a flai wie uova En ed. En did baro di niigl bot shaatli afta dat shi get taiyad fi suo. Shi lef di niigl pan di kobad an go inna di kichin fi kuk fuud fi ar pikni dem.


But the other birds had seen Eagle flying away. They asked Hen to lend them the needle to make wings for themselves too. Soon there were birds flying all over the sky.

But the other birds had seen Eagle flying away. They asked Hen to lend them the needle to make wings for themselves too. Soon there were birds flying all over the sky.

Bot di ada bod dem did si Iigl a flai we. Dem aks En fi len dem di niigl fi mek wing fi demself. Likl afta dat a pie bod a flai aal uova di skai.


When the last bird returned the borrowed needle, Hen was not there. So her children took the needle and started playing with it. When they got tired of the game, they left the needle in the sand.

When the last bird returned the borrowed needle, Hen was not there. So her children took the needle and started playing with it. When they got tired of the game, they left the needle in the sand.

Wen di laas bod kyari bak di niigl we im baro, En neva de de. So ar pikni dem tek di niigl an staat plie wid it. Wen dem get taiyad a di giem, dem lef di niigl inna di san.


Later that afternoon, Eagle returned. She asked for the needle to fix some feathers that had loosened on her journey. Hen looked on the cupboard. She looked in the kitchen. She looked in the yard. But the needle was nowhere to be found.

Later that afternoon, Eagle returned. She asked for the needle to fix some feathers that had loosened on her journey. Hen looked on the cupboard. She looked in the kitchen. She looked in the yard. But the needle was nowhere to be found.

Lieta inna di aftanuun, Iigl kom bak. Shi aks fi di niigl fi fiks bak som feda we get slak wen shi did a chravl. En luk pan di kobad. Shi luk inna di kichin. Shi luk inna di yaad. Bot di niigl kudn fain no we.


“Just give me a day,” Hen begged Eagle. “Then you can fix your wing and fly away to get food again.” “Just one more day,” said Eagle. “If you can’t find the needle, you’ll have to give me one of your chicks as payment.”

“Just give me a day,” Hen begged Eagle. “Then you can fix your wing and fly away to get food again.” “Just one more day,” said Eagle. “If you can’t find the needle, you’ll have to give me one of your chicks as payment.”

“Jos gi mi a die,” En beg Iigl se. “Da taim de yu kyan fiks yu wing an flai go get fuud agen.” “Jos wan muor die,” Iigl se. “Ef yu kyaahn fain di niigl, yu wi afi gi mi wan a yu pikni dem az piement.”


When Eagle came the next day, she found Hen scratching in the sand, but no needle. So Eagle flew down very fast and caught one of the chicks. She carried it away. Forever after that, whenever Eagle appears, she finds Hen scratching in the sand for the needle.

When Eagle came the next day, she found Hen scratching in the sand, but no needle. So Eagle flew down very fast and caught one of the chicks. She carried it away. Forever after that, whenever Eagle appears, she finds Hen scratching in the sand for the needle.

Wen Iigl kom di neks die, shi si En a skrach out di san, bot no niigl. So Iigl flai dong an kech wan a di biebi chikin dem. Shi kyari it we. Evri taim afta dat, weneva Iigl kom roun, shi si En a skrach out di san fi niigl.


As the shadow of Eagle’s wing falls on the ground, Hen warns her chicks. “Get out of the bare and dry land.” And they respond: “We are not fools. We will run.”

As the shadow of Eagle’s wing falls on the ground, Hen warns her chicks. “Get out of the bare and dry land.” And they respond: “We are not fools. We will run.”

Az di shado aafa Iigl wing toch di grong so, En waan ar pikni dem. “Kom out a di uopn jrai lan.” An dem ansa ar se: “Afta wi a no fuul. Wi ago ron.”


Written by: Ann Nduku
Illustrated by: Wiehan de Jager
Read by: Darshan Soni
Language: English
Level: Level 3
Source: Hen and Eagle from African Storybook
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 International License.
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