Solomin’s Heart

SOLOMIN’S HEART Samuel Gil Soldevilla

Illustrated

by

Lore Obrejea

SOLOMIN’S HEART Samuel Gil Soldevilla Illustrated

by

Lore Obrejea

Title: Solomin’s Heart Author: Samuel Gil Soldevilla Illustrations: Lore Obrejea

Project coordination: Editorial Safeliz, S. L. Design and development: Editorial Safeliz, S. L. Copyright by © Editorial Safeliz, S. L. Pradillo, 6 · Pol. Ind. La Mina E-28770 · Colmenar Viejo, Madrid (Spain) Tel.: [+34] 91 845 98 77 · Fax: [+34] 91 845 98 65 admin@safeliz.com · www.safeliz.com March 2019: 1st edition ISBN: 978-84-7208-638-8 PRINTED IN THAILAND IMP01

Total or partial reproduction of this book is not allowed (text, images or design) in any language, nor its digital treatment, or transmission in any way or by any means, whether electronic, mechanical, by photocopy, by registration, or other methods, without prior permission and in writing from the copyright holders.

SOLOMIN’S HEART also wants to be a tool that helps you talk and share moments and thoughts with your children or students on relevant topics. This section consists of a guide with additional questions and activities for each chapter that go deeper into the ideas of the book, and that offer opportunities to reflect together and to search for practical applications.

INDEX Note to parents and grown-up readers................... 8

Chapter one................................................ 9

An Extra Strange World................................... 9 1 With extra of extras........................................ 9 2 SOLOMiN: eyes and ears....................................... 12 3 Like a kite......................................................... 15 4 His dreams........................................................ 17 5 His tears........................................................... 19 6 With extra of cons.......................................... 22 To explore more.................................................. 24

Chapter two............................................... 27 In the Heart...................................................... 27 1 On your mark, get set, go!................................. 27 2 From blame to blame........................................ 28 3 Without answers and with “but”........................ 31 4 Pumpampum tuctuc............................................. 33 5 Like a pebble ................................................... 35 6 Let the journey begin!...................................... 37 To explore more.................................................. 40 Chapter three............................................ 42

The Mirrors Neighborhood............................ 42 1 Stores, lights, and looks...................................... 42 2 Screened pedestrians............................................. 45 3 Thingy............................................................ 48 To explore more.................................................. 53 4

Chapter four............................................. 55

The Test Tubes Neighborhood........................ 55 1 The laboratory.................................................. 55 2 Whitecoat....................................................... 58 3 Data, data, and data........................................... 60 To explore more.................................................. 65

Chapter five................................................ 67

The Smoke Neighborhood............................. 67 1 A shiny announcer............................................... 67 2 Thinbelly ....................................................... 71 3 Secrets and mysteries......................................... 73 To explore more.................................................. 76

Chapter six.................................................. 79 The Smiling Teacher.......................................... 79 1 The side of the mountain.................................. 79 2 Beyond looks.................................................... 80 3 Hi, SOLOMiN!...................................................... 83 4 To be closer and to be more human................... 85 5 To love.............................................................. 87 6 Follow me . . .................................................... 90 To explore more.................................................. 91 Chapter seven ........................................... 93

A New Heart.................................................... 93 1 The Creator of hearts . . .................................... 93 2 . . . and his enemy......................................... 97 3 Protect and take care of it................................. 99 4 To hear, see, and share ....................................... 102 5 Tell it!............................................................... 104 6 See you soon . . ................................................ 108 To explore more.................................................. 110 5

SOLOmiN

Thingy

Whitecoat

6

Doubty

Dally

Smiling Teacher

Thinbelly

7

Note to parents and grown-up readers When I was a kid, I dreamed of being older. Now that I am (although only a little), I try every day to dream like a child. I hope that the words of SOLOmiN will come alive in your heart and in those around you.

Although some parts deal with profound issues, which demand that you put your whole mind to work, and even require you to help the little ones, I have tried to make SOLOMIN’S HEART a challenge for the imagination. I have tried to provide some useful material to help us reflect on the world in which we live, to create an analytical spirit in the reader, and, especially, to make us better persons. I’m relieved to know that this does not depend on me, but on the Character of the last two chapters . . . Come on! Let’s fill the Earth with new hearts!

I take this opportunity to salute my parents: Thanks for reading with me, scratching my back, and giving me goodnight kisses.

Loyda, my continuous inspiration, you are extraordinary.

Adults, be like children! This book is also for you.

Mothers and fathers of planet Earth, professors, teachers and readers, thanks on behalf of SOLOmiN . . .

From the heart,

8

Chapter one

An Extra Strange World 1 With extra of extras Earth is an odd planet. Weird, to say the least.

Or strange.

Yes, and also amazing.

Even extraordinarily peculiar.

In other words, with extra of extras!

And that is why, sometimes, you can imagine that no aliens from outer space could be stranger than human beings themselves!

Something similar is what SOLOMiN thought . . .

9

SOLOMIN’s Neighborhood

Mirrors Neighborhood

ORBiT 10

The side of the Mountain

Garden of Senses

Smoke Neighborhood

The Test Tubes Neighborhood

11

No wars, or fights, or unpleasant words . . .

When SOLOMiN heard and saw all those things, his heart would hurt. He didn’t like to be sad, or feel tears running down his cheeks, but he could not avoid it.

He was aware that people he knew also suffered because of all these things. On occasions he had seen them cry . . .

21

“I don’t know why these bad things happen,” he would sadly tell himself. Would anyone know what is wrong with this unscrewed Earth?

And he was right. Something was out of control in the world. Like a clock that doesn’t tell the time, or a compass that can’t find the north.

6 With extra of cons SOLOMiN came to the conclusion that the Earth was a place of too many absurdities and nonsense.

And contradictory.

Yes, also contradictions.

“Too many contrasts, with extra of cons!” said SOLOMiN surprised. “What a world! It seems that common sense is the least common of senses!”

SOLOMiN could not stop dreaming, but, at the same time, could not stop thinking about all the mountains of things that 22

To explore more 1. Do you like to daydream and create adventures for yourself? Imagine you are in ORBiT. What is the name of the neighborhood where you live? How would you like your school to be?

What pet lives in your bedroom with you?

2. Think of your city and the persons around you: What three things make you happy? Is there something that makes you sad? Why? 3. Sometimes our planet Earth has extra cons and we have to face difficulties, complications, or doubts. SOLOMiN does not surrender in front of cons. What can you learn from that? And you, have you encountered any problem today? What have you done to overcome it?

Activity 1: Peek out of your window and look at the sky: What shapes and figures do you see in the clouds? If it’s nighttime, connect the stars and draw in space!

Activity 2: One of the good things in this story is that SOLOMiN does not travel alone; you will

go with him! Write down five things that you cannot forget to take and consider essential for your exploration of our extra strange world . . .

24

Notes

25

26

Chapter two

In the Heart 1 On your mark, get set, go!

SOLOMiN adjusted his cap and put on his yellow boots. He sharpened his gaze so he could see like a lynx and got ready to explore our extra strange world from all possible angles: I will have a look at everything in front of my eyes until I find a solution, he told himself with much enthusiasm, like someone who is wearing new shoes. I’ll start by researching the persons closest to me!

27

2 From blame to blame He started with his older brother, who was in the room next to his. SOLOMiN called him Tito, and rarely listened to him because he always had loud music going in the headphones covering his ears.

“Tito!” said SOLOMiN, “why do bad things happen? What’s wrong with people?” His brother did not even look at him, but said, yelling louder than the music in his headphones: “What kind of questions you ask little brother! I don’t know and right now I don’t really care!

Ask mom or dad!”

SOLOMiN went to the living room and said: “Mom! Dad! I am looking for the 28

SOLOMiN tried to breathe easy, he reflected, reconsidered and rethought.

He had looked around at all that was right there in front of his eyes and had not found the answers he was looking for.

Now he had discovered what was not in sight. Something that until that moment had been invisible for him . . .

What if the source of the problems was found inside of himself? Of course, only to think of that gave him a headache: Accept that there is something broken inside of me? thought SOLOMiN. Well . . . maybe that was why my heart was disturbed!

Because it is not OK and needs help!

At that moment, SOLOMiN realized that the problem was in the heart. Then it started to rain in ORBiT . . .

36

6 Let the journey begin!

When SOLOMiN recovered his courage, the sun started shining again and the explorer inside him woke up once more: I cannot keep my arms crossed.

I have to fix my heart, so I can also help everybody else.

SOLOMiN was convinced that the same was happening to the rest of the people of the Earth, but they did not know because they could not see it, or because they did not want to see it.

He called his twin friends Doubty and Dally, and told them about his plan of finding the solution for his heart.

“I don’t know, SOLOMiN, I don’t know, I don’t know,” responded Doubty.

“It’s not that I do not trust myself, it’s that I’m not sure,” added Dally.

But SOLOMiN already knew that the twins always doubted and distrusted every idea, so he committed himself to return 37

SOLOMiN, while walking down from the side of the mountain heading towards ORBiT. “Thank you, Smiling Teacher! Thank you, Teacher of hearts!”

106

107

6 See you soon . . .

Even that he did not like farewells, SOLOMiN felt full of energy, happiness, and courage. He now knew that he was not walking alone. Butterflies were playfully flying around him, reminding him that he could count on the Teacher of hearts at all times and all places.

108

At a distance, the Teacher said: “I know that we will meet again. See you soon, SOLOMiN!” Then SOLOMiN started his journey back home. Now he had extra answers and the confidence that his heart was not the same.

It was new. Bigger. Purer. More sensitive.

More alert.

Pumpum, Pumpum, Pumpum . . .

And it is said that since then, SOLOMiN guides all with broken hearts he finds to the Smiling Teacher, asking them: “Do you want a new heart?”

109

To explore more 1. Have you ever flown on an airplane? Think of its engines, flaps, lights, windows, rudder, and landing gear . . . Do you think that airplane has been put together by chance or because someone has designed it? How? 2. Think of a bird: his wings, beak, aerodynamic shape, colorful plumage, acute vision, strong little legs . . . They are extraordinary, don’t you think? Now look at yourself in the mirror and review every detail of your body: move your eyes, open your mouth, stick out your tongue, jump, clap . . . it seems you are pretty well made! How do you feel knowing that your value is so huge that cannot be calculated?

3. What care does a plant need to grow? What does your heart need? How can you connect that to the love that never runs out?

Activity 1: Get some putty or clay and create a fig-

ure as realistic as possible. Try to mold your relatives or friends. Then give them their figure and tell them the story of SOLOMIN’s HEART!

110

Activity 2: The Smiling Teacher is waiting for you

to share with him your ideas and doubts. Do you want a new heart? Write to: smilingteacher@mysalomin.com

SOLOMiN is also wishing to receive your letter after

this thrilling journey. Tell him how you feel, what you have learned, what you have loved, and how would you like your next adventure to be. Tell him all you want! Write to: solomin@mysalomin.com

Notes

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