City-Region-Academia_Living in the Valley of Happiness
Joanna Foryś
Jerzy Jarosz
Łukasz Chajec
Living in the Valley of Happiness
Illustrations
Lesław Budzelewski
Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego • Katowice 2024
City – Region – Academia presents
The event is co-funded by the Silesian Voivodeship –the co-organiser of the European City of Science Katowice 2024
Co-financing
The colouring book that you are holding in your hands provides incentive for learning, development, reflection, and good fun. Unibot and the University of Silesia for Children – two educational units of the University of Silesia in Katowice – have developed a project in which children drew imaginary animals. These drawings became an inspiration to create characters that inhabit a fairytale-like Valley of Happiness.
Two biologists and a physicist from the University of Silesia used the animal images to work out the habitat of each animal, their diet and even their character and preferences. The animals did not remain nameless: they were given their own names. In this way, the colouring book is a great lesson in nature and especially in biology: each imaginary creature, which is most often a hybrid of real creatures, can be used as an excellent opportunity to discuss characteristics of the animals and their adaptation to the environment. The book invites us to talk about paws, wings, body coverings, number of legs, or the size of snouts. To stimulate children’s imagination even more, each character has unique characteristics: typical habitat and food, outstanding abilities and skills, special features, and favourite activities. Hopefully, the names of the inhabitants of the valley – all of which are modelled on biological names – will provide pleasant brain-teasing for the youngest children. Hopefully, these associations and drawings of fantastic creatures will inspire children to smile and ask questions.
The characters created were reproduced by a professional cartoonist-animator and since then they have started living their own life. The result is the first of the planned booklets about animals which, as a consequence of climate change and environmental pollution, must embark on a great journey to save the Valley of Happiness, which has long been their home. Socially treasured values and attitudes will be presented throughout the series, such as helping and cooperating with each other or caring for the environment, as well as exemplary ecological solutions to everyday problems.
The book is intended for children aged 4–6 years. Parents and teachers are encouraged to:
– find characteristics of the creatures in the drawings and identify from which existing animal the characteristic originates;
– give each character in the colouring book different names, according to the animals’ appearance; actually, there is a lot of room for imagination here;
– draw more imaginary animals so as to create the children’s own collection;
– imagine where else the creature might live (e.g. in a tree, in a cave, on a coral reef, etc.); against all appearances, this activity requires a lot of knowledge about animals in order to link the different body parts as adaptations to a specific habitat;
– inventing their own treats suitable for each of the characters in the colouring book;
– discussing which animals any single creature might be friends with, given its appearance, and whether it lives in a herd or alone;
– identifying further powers or special abilities of animals, depending on their physiological characteristics (i.e. identifying what they can do with, for example, long and twisted paws, large wings and a long tail, double hooves or grassy fur).
The Valley of Happiness is a beautiful place surrounded by hills. Throughout most of the year it basks in warmth, with the sun shining for a long time. A wide river runs through the middle of the valley, flowing into a small lake. Amidst lofty rocks adorned with delightful vistas, the river leaves the valley. In the rocks, you can find spacious dry caves.
On one side of the lake the terrain gets marshy. In the bends of the river lie sandbanks; a little further flowery meadows and scrubland unfold, and behind them rise hills with cozy hollows. On the other side of the river – which can be reached via a stone bridge – behind a strip of less fertile land grow shady forests teeming with berries and mushrooms.
The valley is home to diverse and somewhat strange inhabitants. Some dwell in burrows, others prefer to live in the forest. Some live near water or even in the marshes, while others inhabit caves or perch atop the rocky heights. Many animals have peculiar characteristics and behaviours. Despite this diversity, life in the valley goes on peacefully, in harmony and friendship.
BUTTERFLY-EARED WEIRDIE
HABITAT: savannah
FAVOURITE FOOD: small rodents
FEATURE: joyful
SPECIAL ABILITIES: moves swiftly on hind hooves and strikes forcefully with its front feet
FAVOURITE ACTIVITY: dancing among butterflies, which it attracts with its characteristic ears
LONGNECK SHARPIE
HABITAT: desert
FAVOURITE FOOD: desert insects
FEATURE: perceptive
SPECIAL ABILITIES: with one blow, it can cause a sandstorm
FAVOURITE ACTIVITY: burying its head in sand
FIRE MANE
HABITAT: caves
FAVOURITE FOOD: insects
FEATURE: hardy
SPECIAL ABILITIES: illuminates caves with fire from its back
FAVOURITE ACTIVITY: jumping from great heights
UNICORN CAVALETTA
HABITAT: lake
FAVOURITE FOOD: underwater
vegetation
FEATURE: lives in a herd
SPECIAL ABILITIES: flies up to two metres above the surface of the water
FAVOURITE ACTIVITY: basking on the rocks
RIDGE-HORN CORDONNET
HABITAT: mountain streams
FAVOURITE FOOD: water insects and crustaceans
FEATURE: fast and very quiet
SPECIAL ABILITIES: strikes hard with its elongated tail, defending itself against enemies, and easily clears stream beds with the spikes at the end of its tail
FAVOURITE ACTIVITY: swimming belly up and rolling into a figure 8
CLAWED CORRIDER
HABITAT: meadows
FAVOURITE FOOD: earthworms
FEATURE: agile
SPECIAL ABILITIES: runs fast
FAVOURITE ACTIVITY: climbing trees
SCALY LAGOONER
HABITAT: lakes
FAVOURITE FOOD: bark of coastal trees
FEATURE: cheerful and playful
SPECIAL ABILITIES: howls at the moon when it is full
FAVOURITE ACTIVITY: slapping the water with his tail and splashing it on other animals
SPOTTED LAMANTINA
HABITAT: rivers
FAVOURITE FOOD: reeds
FEATURE: patient
SPECIAL ABILITIES: leap flights
FAVOURITE ACTIVITY: long sleep
DRAGON BEACON
HABITAT: caves
FAVOURITE FOOD: lizards and snakes
FEATURE: resistant to bad weather
SPECIAL ABILITIES: with the powerful flapping of its wings it evokes strong gusts of wind; it has skin that glows in the dark
FAVOURITE ACTIVITY: flying in the rain and at night to light the way for other animals
FOXY CHARMER
HABITAT: lakes
FAVOURITE FOOD: shrimps
FEATURE: empathic
SPECIAL ABILITIES: it can free fish from nets
FAVOURITE ACTIVITY: chasing cavalettas
LUMAKA PETITE
HABITAT: mountains
FAVOURITE FOOD: diatoms and lichens
FEATURE: very bold
SPECIAL ABILITIES: it makes a sound that can be heard from two kilometres away
FAVOURITE ACTIVITY: hiding in a shell and rolling down a hill
SPINY CLAMCAPTOR
HABITAT: ponds and stagnant waters
FAVOURITE FOOD: fish and benthic crustaceans
FEATURE: patient
SPECIAL ABILITIES: filters water; defends itself with sharp spines
FAVOURITE ACTIVITY: burrowing in the bottom sediment
BRINDLE SWEETIE
HABITAT: savannah
FAVOURITE FOOD: plant roots
FEATURE: fast and very agile
SPECIAL ABILITIES: can turn bad emotions into good ones; it can make somersaults
FAVOURITE ACTIVITY: spending time with friends
FRUITY HONEYDEWER
HABITAT: meadows
FAVOURITE FOOD: wild strawberries
FEATURE: agile and caring
SPECIAL ABILITIES: secretes fruit juices, which is a delicacy for butterflies
FAVOURITE ACTIVITY: running in the morning dew
FIERY ZEBROFLY
HABITAT: swamps and wetlands
FAVOURITE FOOD: spiders
FEATURE: ferocious
SPECIAL ABILITIES: when frightened, it breathes fire
FAVOURITE ACTIVITY: drilling holes in the ground with its tail
OCTOVISING CUTIE
HABITAT: rivers
FAVOURITE FOOD: snails and mussels
FEATURE: observant and imaginative
SPECIAL ABILITIES: swims quickly and its eyes glow underwater
FAVOURITE ACTIVITY: building stone houses and other shelters
TOOTHED OCULLUS
HABITAT: forests
FAVOURITE FOOD: beetles
FEATURE: fast
SPECIAL ABILITIES: breathes fire
FAVOURITE ACTIVITY: climbing trees and jumping from branch to branch
MISTLETOE CROWER
HABITAT: the edge of a forest
FAVOURITE FOOD: mistletoe fruit
FEATURE: noisy
SPECIAL ABILITIES: crows in the morning and at the full moon
FAVOURITE ACTIVITY: being scratched under its beak
ANTLERA MAGNIFICA
HABITAT: forests
FAVOURITE FOOD: beetle larvae
FEATURE: considerate
SPECIAL ABILITIES: shakes cones with its antlers and can strongly strike with them; its glands secrete paralysing substances
FAVOURITE ACTIVITY: protecting its territory
HORNED CAVETROLL
HABITAT: caves
FAVOURITE FOOD: bats
FEATURE: slow
SPECIAL ABILITIES: stamps and chirps at the same time
FAVOURITE ACTIVITY: squinting with all its eyes
WEBFOOT SNOUTER
HABITAT: swamps and wetlands
FAVOURITE FOOD: poplar roots
FEATURE: strong
SPECIAL ABILITIES: knocks down trees with its hard skull
FAVOURITE ACTIVITY: basking in the sun when there is a rainbow in the sky
SUNCREST HAWKER
HABITAT: lakes
FAVOURITE FOOD: white amur
FEATURE: distrustful
SPECIAL ABILITIES: splits rocks with its beak and uses echolocation
FAVOURITE ACTIVITY: diving
WINGED ROCKCRUSHER
HABITAT: mountains
FAVOURITE FOOD: trout
FEATURE: brave and courageous
SPECIAL ABILITIES: lures opponents with feathers and stuns with them with a mace in defence of the herd and territory
FAVOURITE ACTIVITY: gliding high above the valley
FEATHERED JUMPER
HABITAT: coastal forests
FAVOURITE FOOD: insects
FEATURE: fast
SPECIAL ABILITIES: can jump high and glide in the wind; it can also blend in with the background by changing its body colour
FAVOURITE ACTIVITY: hanging from branches by its tail
SPOTTED TRUNKER
HABITAT: flowery meadows
FAVOURITE FOOD: clover with morning dew
FEATURE: strong
SPECIAL ABILITIES: changes the colours of the spots on its body
FAVOURITE ACTIVITY: rolling around
AQUAZZURE SNOUT
HABITAT: swamps and wetlands
FAVOURITE FOOD: butterfly larvae
FEATURE: slow
SPECIAL ABILITIES: when swimming it keeps its body upright
FAVOURITE ACTIVITY: rubbing against the bark of trees
HORNED GRASSPAW
HABITAT: savannah
FAVOURITE FOOD: grass and bush twigs
FEATURE: hardy
SPECIAL ABILITIES: hides in the grass
FAVOURITE ACTIVITY: tail combing with its claws
MINTFUR VAGABOND
HABITAT: meadows and hills
FAVOURITE FOOD: wild flowers
FEATURE: curious and clever
SPECIAL ABILITIES: grazes butterflies on its mint-coloured fur, which secretes euphorising essential oils
FAVOURITE ACTIVITY: travelling and lounging among flowers
HORNED BIG-BOG
HABITAT: meadows
FAVOURITE FOOD: bird eggs and succulent caterpillars
FEATURE: proud and narcissistic
SPECIAL ABILITIES: can hypnotise other animals, by waving its tail and antennae
FAVOURITE ACTIVITY: delighting others with its tail
DOTFIN CHASER
HABITAT: lake
FAVOURITE FOOD: aquatic plants and insect larvae
FEATURE: playful and cheerful
SPECIAL ABILITIES: tunnels through the bottom of the lake
FAVOURITE ACTIVITY: chasing schools of fish
Animals invented by children and their creators
Butterfly-eared weirdie — Julia Mika
Longneck sharpie — Jakub Lis
Fire mane — Kacper Hożek
Unicorn cavaletta — Magdalena Sarnek
Ridge-horn cordonnet — Antoni Paruch
Clawed corrider — Daniel Mateńka
Scaly lagooner — Alicja Dwornicka
Spotted lamantina — Zuzanna Skupień
Dragon beacon — Marlena Sapok
Foxy charmer — Zuzanna Preis
Lumaka petite — Amelia Małyj
Spiny clamcaptor — Kaja Mrugacz
Brindle sweetie — Aleksandra Koc
Fruity honeydewer — Maja Ziętara
Fiery zebrofly — Marcel Hożek
Octovising cutie — Oliwia Chrobok
Toothed ocullus — Dawid Herich
Mistletoe crower — Nikola Złotnik
Antlera magnifica — Amelia Fojcik
Horned cavetroll — Filip Dwornicki
Webfoot snouter — Paweł Rychel
Suncrest hawker — Lena Radko
Winged rockcrusher — Marcin Śliwa
Feathered jumper — Sonia Krykowska
Spotted trunker — Oliwia Prusek
Aquazzure snout — Mateusz Tyl
Horned grasspaw — Antoni Sojka
Mintfur vagabond — Laura Mrugacz
Horned big-bog — Zofia Niesyto
Dotfin chaser — Szymon Woźnica
Authors:
Dr. Joanna Foryś is a biologist and the founder of Unibot, an educational unit for children associated with the Open University at the University of Silesia in Katowice. She is an advocate for education through inspiration and the initiator and coordinator of the annual “Biorobotics” lecture series for students and teachers. She also launched the “Children Can Patent” initiative, which highlights the importance of children’s creativity. Additionally, she co-created Fenek, the first virtual assistant for high school biology students in Poland. Dr. Foryś is dedicated to supporting the innovation ecosystem and actively participates in efforts to reform the educational system in Poland.
Dr. Jerzy Jarosz, Professor at the University of Silesia in Katowice, is a physicist employed in the Faculty of Science and Technology. He is deeply engaged in science and natural sciences education. A popularizer of science, he specializes in didactic experiments and experiential learning. Dr. Jarosz created the lecture series “Peculiarities of the World of Physics,” which brings physics closer to schools. He acts as President of the Polish Club of Physics Demonstrators and collaborates with various universities and scientific centers both in Poland and abroad. Additionally, he is the founder and Dean of the Children’s University of Silesia.
Dr. Łukasz Chajec is a biologist and educator affiliated with the Faculty of Natural Sciences at the University of Silesia and the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice. He serves as the coordinator of Unibot, a division of the Open University. Dr. Chajec advocates for experiential learning, aiming to impart knowledge in a straightforward, enjoyable, and engaging manner. He has authored numerous scientific publications and educational courses, and actively participates as a presenter and co-organizer in conferences and events such as Biologists’ Night, University Science Village, and the Silesian Science Festival. Additionally, he co-created the first virtual assistant for biology high school graduates.
Illustrator:
Lesław Budzelewski – former animator at the Animated Film Studio in Bielsko-Biała.
We care about our planet!
My single decision won’t change anything… – said 8 billion people
We are together –we will build a better world! – said Mintfur Vagabond
