Educational novel for kids

The Body Talks

Tsveta Belcheva, author
Radostina Peneva, Illustrator
Mariela Vachkova, graphic designer

If you happen to like Nick Arnold’s humour, you will sure like Tsveta Belcheva’s book ‘The Body Talks’.

The book tells the story of a boy, called Michael through the funny conversations of his own organs. It helps children learn in an easy way how different organs are called and how is our body functioning. The stories are easy to read and make kids (and even grown-ups) laugh. The book itself is designed as the textbook in Biology of a boy who likes sketching while in class.

After each chapter there is a section, called: ‘Do you know that…?’. It contains brief encyclopaedic facts or explanations, that are considered relevant. There are also some jokes in between chapters.

The book is very well received both from kids and teachers. Because of its interactive nature, it’s often used by teacher as a basis on which to organise a class of mixed nature, inviting teachers on Biology, Literature, First Aid technicians and even doctors. Different quizzes are organised, as well as body part puzzles that are to be solved by the kids.

In 2018 the book was awarded the ‘Magic Pearl Award’ given by the children of Bulgaria (Detskiknigi Foundation).


Below you can find brief summary of each chapter, as well as full versions of two of the chapters. Please have in mind that the text below offers a literal translation of the Bulgarian version. As English is rich in idioms containing words as ‘Ears’, ‘Noise’, ‘Mouth’, ‘Thumbs’, ‘Guts’, etc. a professional translation and further adaptation of the text are strongly recommendable, as to give kids better experience.


Introduction

The book starts with a brief summary of how our body works, as to introduce the subject. We are inviting kids to take a ‘sightseeing’ journey into Michael’s body. They are warned about the existence of ‘scary’ words like: blood, liver, heart, etc. The tour starts through the MOUTH, where kids must beware of the 32 hammers (the TEETH) that fall down and smash with a power of 58 kg per square centimetre on their victims. Then kids should pass through the tunnel called THROAT where they will meet the two guards — Ping and Pong — the TONSILS. Then the cardio-vascular system is explained where the blood, or the sticky liquid is constantly being transferred thanks to ARTERIES, VEINS and CAPILLARIES. The importance of the HEART and its functions is briefly explained. Then the BRAIN is described as a huge computer connected to millions of other computers, each one of which is responsible for different things as our thoughts, feelings, memories, sensors, etc. through the power of its wires (the NEURONS). 

The conclusion at the end of the chapter is that the brain never stops developing, so people are capable of learning new things every day and keep becoming smarter and smarter. Kids are explained that even their grannies can learn to bike at the age of 80 instead of only watching TV.

Картинка на мозък от книга "Тялото говори"

I am the boss, explains Brain to the body organs, and we should all work as a Team!

I chapter

It all started here…

(First breath or Lungs are attacked by O2) 

Of course it all starts when the baby is ready to be born, still in the mother womb. The brain gathers the organs to present them to each other and to explain them who’s the boss. Most of the body systems are described briefly. The brain explains them that they all have one goal: to cry loudly if the body needs food or care. 

When the baby is born, lungs breathe deeply and mouth and vocal cords start to cry loudly so the doctor urges to give it to its mother. That is the first signal that the body of the baby reaches its first goal.

Years go by and one day the baby becomes a boy who goes to school.

II chapter

THE IMPATIENT BLADDER

(Hard time in school)

In brief:

Michael (Mike in short) was running late to school, so he rushed there. He got really thirsty and drank a lot of water. During the lecture he wants to go to the toilet, but he is ashamed to ask the teacher.

Kidneys are upset. Someone has ordered the body to drink tones of water and they want to know who’s responsible.

The whole text of chapter II is attached below

III chapter

I EAT

(WHAT IS THE VELOCITY OF FALLING OF THE FOOD WHEN GOING DOWN THE OESOPHAGUS OR OTHERWISE SAID, IS THERE SUCH THING AS ‘STOMACH GRAVITY (POWER OF ATTRACTION)’ 

Teeth are crunching sticks, thus impeding Brain to hear its own thoughts. A discussion follows, until Nose smells that something is being cooked in the kitchen. See how the body reacts to food in chapter ‘I eat’.

 

Section DID YOU KNOW THAT…?

STOMACH

HEART

IV chapter

OBSTINATE

(NEW SCARS TO SHOW OFF IN FRONT OF GIRLS OR GRADE ‘A’ FOR THE JOY OF THE RELATIVES/ HOW TO COMBINE PLEASURE WITH WORK FOR DUMMIES)

In brief:

BRAIN AND HEART argue if to study after school or to go outside to skate. After some discussion they agree to compromise and everybody’s happy.

Section DID YOU KNOW THAT…?

BRAIN

V chapter

ILL

(IS HEADACHE PROVOKED ONLY FROM BOOKS READING OR ANNOUNCING A FORCE MAJEUR)

In brief: 

Mike gets sick and the whole body starts arguing who’s fault is it. Different organs like tonsils, throat, nose, thyroid gland, muscles, brain take part in the conversation, thus explaining the reason to risen ones temperature when ill, the need to take medicine and to drink more liquids like tea and warm soup.

Section DID YOU KNOW THAT…?

What is the Thyroid gland?

What is the meaning of rising temperature when sick.

VI chapter

DEALING (FIGHTING) WITH FAT CELLS

In brief:

Brains pays attention to other body parts that Mike (the main character) has gained some weight and they all have to decide which sport to practice. They start discussing what is best for each of the body parts. Skin doesn’t like to get wet and to swim, feet like to ice-skate, hands — tennis, etc. Finally they decide not to choose jogging, but roller skating.

Section DID YOU KNOW THAT…?

Why we blush?

How many muscles do we need to smile…

VII chapter

DREAM

In brief:

In the morning BRAIN is feeling tired as he claims to not have slept because of the dream Michael had. Actually Mike had vivid dream on how he was playing ice hockey. Each body part starts to ask what was his role in the dream and they all got excited.

Section DID YOU KNOW THAT…?

Burning calories and doing sport

How many ours we can remain awake?

VIII chapter

FUNNY DAY

(OR NOT THAT FUNNY, BUT AT LEAST VERY EDUCATIONAL)

In brief:

One day Mike and his friends go to an amusement park. They want to ride the roller coaster, but first they stop to have some junk food. Once on the roller coaster things become drastic as all the food in the STOMACH decide to get out. Some of the body parts are scared and panic. The text gives vivid explanation of the emotional status of the body during the ride.

Section DID YOU KNOW THAT…?

LIVER – main functions

IX chapter

DANCE

(BODY MOVEMENTS/TENSIONS)

(MUM)

In brief:

Music. The body (of the mother) is dancing. Every part seems to be in trance, at least from the outside. It’s been hours they are dancing. Then joints, feet and toes ask Brain to stop what they are doing, but he doesn’t want to listen to their problems. So they start protesting and chanting ‘Down the boss’. They can’t stand no more the pain. Finally Brain and Heart agree to stop and rest.

Section DID YOU KNOW THAT…?

Number of bones in the body.

X chapter

THE BIG SUCCESS

(VOICE WALKS ON THE GRAND STAFF)

TASK OF INCREASED DIFFICULTY: WHAT IS THE VELOCITY OF A VOICE, GOING OUT OF A THROAT, PRODUCING SOUND FOR MORE THAN HOUR AND A HALF AND GONE THE DISTANCE EQUAL 500 TIMES THE DISTANCE FROM LOWER C TO UPPER C.

WHERE S=v.t

In brief:

The chapter tells how vocal cords, mouth, tongue and chick react when producing sound (singing). Eyes, Brain, Muscles and Heart do their roles while on the scene. The body is thrilled of excitement. After the performance they all discuss how well everything went. At the end the Mike’s father accepts congratulations from the public.

Section DID YOU KNOW THAT…?

EYES

XI chapter

A DAY OFF

(PREPARATION FOR BODY ADVENTURE)

(MUMMU, DADDY AND ME)

All of the body parts are excited because today the whole family is going on a mountain trip. They start discussing how beautiful is the view from the top of the mountain and what food and clothes do you need when going there.

SOME FINAL WORDS ON THE FURTHER LIFE OF MIKE AND HIS BODY PARTS

Interested in reading the whole book? Please, write to tsvetabook@gmail.com if you want to read an e-version of ‘The Body Talks’ by Tsveta Belcheva.

Tsveta Belcheva is a self-publishing author of children books.  She writes children stories (‘I want to be…/Stories of friendship and other stuff’), juvenile fiction novels (‘Tiny mouse in a big adventure’), detective stories (‘Inspector Boo series’) and educational novels (‘The Body Talks’).

In 2018 her book ‘The Body Talks’ is awarded 1st prize in category ‘The thing-searchers’, The Magic Pearl award’ (biserche.com; Detskiknigi Foundation), given by the children of Bulgaria.

Mother of three boys she wants to help children love books and thrive for adventure.

If interested in publishing our books, represent Tsveta Belcheva internationally or just want to get more information, please feel free to contact us on e-mail: tsvetabook@gmail.com

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