For Middleton High School junior Tanvi Kulkarni, storytelling has always been more than just a creative outlet. It has been a way to help others understand difficult topics with courage and compassion.
Kulkarni recently wrote, illustrated and narrated “Battle of Bloodville,” a children’s book designed to help young readers better understand leukemia and other diseases through humor, adventure and science-based storytelling.
“I’ve always loved storytelling and had a strong interest in health and medicine,” Kulkarni said. “When my grandfather was diagnosed with cancer, I remember feeling overwhelmed because I didn’t fully understand what was happening. Many diseases can sound frightening, especially to children, simply because they’re so complex. I wanted to create a story that could make these topics feel less intimidating and more understandable, helping kids replace fear with curiosity and knowledge.”
The book follows a young boy named Andrew after he is diagnosed with leukemia, taking readers on an imaginative journey inside his body at “Bloodville Academy,” where cells become characters working together to protect the body from disease.
Kulkarni said it was important to create a resource that could help children process illness in an age-appropriate and approachable way.
“Children often become aware of illnesses through family members or friends, but they may not have explanations that are appropriate for their age,” she said. “That uncertainty can create fear and confusion. I wanted to present these diseases in a way that was approachable, engaging and even comforting. By using storytelling, I hoped to show children that learning about diseases doesn’t have to be scary. It can empower them to ask questions and better understand the people around them.”
The project combined several of Kulkarni’s passions, including science, art, writing and performance.
“I first came up with the idea last year and began drafting the storyline and characters,” Kulkarni said. “I wanted the book to balance real biology with humor and adventure, so I spent time researching leukemia and thinking about how to explain it in a kid-friendly way.”
She illustrated the book digitally using Procreate, focusing on “creating colorful, energetic scenes inside Bloodville Academy.” Kulkarni also recorded a narrated read-aloud version of the story to make the experience more interactive for children.
The book includes a QR code that allows readers to listen to Kulkarni’s narration. Recognized across Wisconsin for her public speaking and live storytelling through the Wisconsin State Forensics Tournament, she brings the story to life with expressive voices, energy and animated storytelling.
Kulkarni hopes the story leaves readers feeling informed and empowered.
“I hope readers feel informed, brave and curious rather than afraid,” she said. “Even though the story centers around leukemia, it’s ultimately about teamwork, resilience and understanding how the body is affected by disease. I want children to finish the book feeling empowered by knowledge and comforted by the idea that their bodies are constantly working hard to protect them.”
Kulkarni also used the project as a way to support families impacted by cancer. Proceeds from books purchased directly from Kulkarni will be donated to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
“I wanted the project to go beyond education and also contribute to helping patients and families affected by cancer,” she said. “Organizations like the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society support research, patient assistance and advocacy, which can make a real difference in people’s lives. Donating proceeds felt like a meaningful way to connect the book’s mission of awareness and understanding with direct support for the cancer community.”
She encourages other students to use their creativity to make a difference.
“I would advise other students not to limit themselves or their creative capabilities,” Kulkarni said. “If you have a wild or ambitious idea, embrace it instead of doubting whether it’s possible.”
Some of the book’s most memorable characters and concepts started as imaginative ideas that Kulkarni simply decided to pursue.
“I never thought platelets would become tiny plumbers fixing leaks in blood vessels, or that a cancer cell would turn into an obnoxious character wearing sunglasses and chewing bubble gum inside the ‘Battle of Bloodville,’” she said. “Those ideas existed only in my imagination at first, but they became real when I decided to fully embrace them.”
Kulkarni believes passion is what transforms creativity into something meaningful.
“For me, combining storytelling, art and science allowed me to turn a difficult topic like leukemia into something children could understand and connect with,” she said. “When you create something that genuinely excites you, people can feel that energy. Even ideas that seem silly, unusual or impossible at first can grow into projects that educate, inspire and help others.”
“Battle of Bloodville” is available through Amazon and can also be found in the Middleton High School Library, Middleton Public Library and Alicia Ashman Library.
To purchase from Tanvi directly, email tanvi21@gmail.com.