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African tale 1-2 years Reading 2 min.

Kofi and the River Song

Old man Kofi walks through his village, sharing songs, bread, and warm stories with a river, a small goat, and curious children as they gather beneath an ancient tree.

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An old smiling, calm dark-skinned man with short gray hair and a thin beard, wearing orange-and-blue wax cloth, sits under a large ancient tree tapping a small wooden drum; to his right a dark-skinned boy of about six with short braided hair in a short yellow tunic listens with wide-eyed wonder, a dark-skinned four-year-old girl with pigtails in a green patterned dress sleeps against the man's knees with a peaceful smile, and a small white goat with a crescent-shaped flank mark nibbles bread to his left; behind them a shiny river with clear water reflects the blue sky and tall grasses with small fish and colorful pebbles on the bank, the thick cracked-trunk tree with dark round leaves and exposed roots forms a natural cushion, the scene is a warm, tranquil dusk with soft orange light, intimate composition, happy faces, pronounced fabric and wood textures, and a comforting African folktale atmosphere. report a problem with this image

Old man Kofi walks by the red sand. He walks with a soft drum step. He hums a song. The song goes up and down. Children clap. Birds fly low.

Kofi meets a small river. The river sings. Kofi hears the song. He smiles. He takes off his hat. He dips his hand. The water is cool. He says, "Hello, river." The river says, "Hello, Kofi." They laugh.

Kofi sees a small goat. The goat has a mark like a moon. The goat walks slow. Kofi walks slow. He shares his bread. The goat nibbles and hums. Kofi taps his drum. The drum answers. The sky listens.

That day Kofi walks to a big tree. The tree is old and wide. He sits. He tells a short tale. The tale is from the land. The tale is simple and warm. The children hear. They sleep a little. The goat sleeps too. Kofi covers them with a soft cloth. All is safe.

Kofi wakes them with a smile. They all walk home with light feet.

Moral: Share your song and bread, and the day will be bright.

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The quiz: did you understand the story well?

Red sand
Tiny red pieces on the ground that feel rough to touch.
Soft drum step
A gentle sound like a drum made by quick, light feet.
Hums
Makes a low, quiet tune with the voice and no words.
Children
Young boys and girls who play and listen to stories.
Birds
Animals with wings that fly and make chirping sounds.
Dips his hand
Puts his hand quickly into water for a short time.
Nibbles
Eats small bites slowly and gently.
Answers
Gives a sound or reply back after someone makes a noise.
Wide
Very big from one side to the other, not thin.
Soft cloth
A gentle piece of fabric used to cover and keep warm.
Sleep a little
Close the eyes and rest for a short, calm time.

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