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Children of wax Children of wax Les enfants de cire

Written by Southern African Folktale

Illustrated by Wiehan de Jager

Read by Darshan Soni

Language English

Level Level 2

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Once upon a time, there lived a happy family.

Once upon a time, there lived a happy family.

Il était une fois une famille bien heureuse.


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.

Ils ne se disputaient jamais. Ils aidaient leurs parents à la maison et dans les champs.


But they were not allowed to go near a fire.

But they were not allowed to go near a fire.

Mais ils n’avaient pas le droit de s’approcher d’un feu.


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!

Ils devaient faire tout leur travail pendant la nuit. Puisqu’ils étaient faits de cire !


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

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

Mais un des garçons désirait se promener au soleil.


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

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

Un jour son désir était trop puissant. Ses frères l’avertirent…


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

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

Mais c’était trop tard ! Il fondit au soleil brûlant.


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

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

Les enfants de cire étaient si tristes de voir leur frère fondre.


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.

Mais ils firent un plan. Ils façonnèrent le morceau de cire fondue en oiseau.


They took their bird brother up to a high mountain.

They took their bird brother up to a high mountain.

Ils apportèrent leur frère l’oiseau jusqu’au sommet d’une montagne haute.


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.

Et lorsque le soleil se leva, il s’envola vers la lumière du matin en chantant.


Written by: Southern African Folktale
Illustrated by: Wiehan de Jager
Read by: Darshan Soni
Language: English
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.
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