Back to stories list

Children of wax Children of wax Pikni dem we mek outa waks

Written by Southern African Folktale

Illustrated by Wiehan de Jager

Read by Darshan Soni

Language English

Level Level 2

Narrate full story

Reading speed

Autoplay story


Once upon a time, there lived a happy family.

Once upon a time, there lived a happy family.

Wan taim, yu did av wahn api fambili.


They never fought with each other. They helped their parents at home and in the fields.

They never fought with each other. They helped their parents at home and in the fields.

Dem neva fait wananeda. Dem elp dem pierens a dem yaad an a grong.


But they were not allowed to go near a fire.

But they were not allowed to go near a fire.

Bot dem no mek dem go nier faiya.


They had to do all their work during the night. Because they were made of wax!

They had to do all their work during the night. Because they were made of wax!

Dem afi du aal a dem wok ina di nait. Kaaz dem mek outa waks.


But one of the boys longed to go out in the sunlight.

But one of the boys longed to go out in the sunlight.

Bot wan a di bwaai dem did wel waahn gout ina di dielait.


One day the longing was too strong. His brothers warned him…

One day the longing was too strong. His brothers warned him…

Wan die di fiilin fi gout did tuu chrang. Im breda dem waan im…


But it was too late! He melted in the hot sun.

But it was too late! He melted in the hot sun.

Bot it did tuu liet! Im melt out ina di son at.


The wax children were so sad to see their brother melting away.

The wax children were so sad to see their brother melting away.

Di waks pikni dem did fiil sad-sad fi si dem breda jos a melt out so.


But they made a plan. They shaped the lump of melted wax into a bird.

But they made a plan. They shaped the lump of melted wax into a bird.

Bot dem mek a plan. Dem shiep out di lomp a saaf waks ina a bod.


They took their bird brother up to a high mountain.

They took their bird brother up to a high mountain.

Dem kyari dem bod breda go op ina wahn ai mouhn.


And as the sun rose, he flew away singing into the morning light.

And as the sun rose, he flew away singing into the morning light.

Az di son kom op, im flai we an a sing ina di maanin lait.


Written by: Southern African Folktale
Illustrated by: Wiehan de Jager
Read by: Darshan Soni
Language: English
Level: Level 2
Source: Children of wax from African Storybook
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 International License.
Options
Back to stories list Download PDF