In Kalamba, a young boy crawls across the bamboo floor. Something shiny catches his eye.
He tugs a small brown book from under a basket. It lands against his chest with a soft rattle.
He holds the book up and turns the pages. A fly buzzes, and he blows it away gently.
In the garden, Jose tells the book stories about the pictures. The wind flips the pages fast, and he laughs.
His older sister takes the book. Jose follows, reaching again and again, but she keeps it just out of reach.
Jose stops. His hands hang at his sides. He watches her walk away with the book.
A man on a horse rides into town with a crate of books. Jose runs over and touches the spines.
He touches warm wood and rough paper. The man smiles and hands him a small blue book.
Jose holds the blue book close. He thinks it is the most precious thing in the whole world.
Under the big acacia tree, Jose opens his blue book. The sun lights up the pages.
He traces each letter with his finger. His lips move quietly as he tries to read.
Jose turns the page. The story goes on.