Editor: Our
Western Washington University librarian has compiled this list of classroom
book suggestions to help young people understand and process the current events in Ukraine.
A special thank you to Sylvia Gabrielle Tag, WWU Librarian & Associate
Professor, for her contribution to our understanding.
Ukraine: An Annotated
Bibliography for Educators
The war in
Ukraine is devasting on so many levels. Considering the daily news images, how
can educators help young people understand and process these current events? “We’d
like to warn you that the following images are disturbing…” How do we give
a sense of a people’s humanity? One way is to tell their stories.
We think we can shelter young people from pain and suffering but children are
biologically predisposed to soak up their surroundings. Even if the TV and
radio are turned off, kids sense anxiety and frustration in caretakers. For the
Littles, stories can provide comfort. For older children, who hear about events
at school or from friends, it is essential to provide facts along with
compassion. Teenagers need action, inspiration and understanding that honor the
complexities of world politics. Consider this selected list as a starting
point. Young people are counting on us.
The
Experience of War
Start here with
one outstanding book and several websites.
Romanyshyn, Romana, Lesiv, Andriĭ, and
Lushchevska, Oksana. How War Changed Rondo. Enchanted Lion, 2021.
Provocative for all ages, this powerful
book uses metaphor and allegory to describe the experience of war. Originally
published in 2015 under the title Viĭna, shcho zminyla Rondo by
Vydavnytstvo Staroho Leva (The Old Lion Publishing House), Lviv, Ukraine.
Danko, Zirka, and Fabian live peacefully in the small town of
Rondo, a magical and joyful place… until the fateful day that War arrives.
They try to talk to it and fight it, but nothing seems to stop the spread of
War's destruction and darkness. Harnessing the power of light, community, and
song, Danko, Zirka, and Fabian, along with all their neighbors, must rally
together to lead Rondo to victory. How War Changed Rondo reflects
the darkness and pain that conflict bring and the wounds that linger long after
it's over. This picture book serves as a tribute to peace, resistance, and
hope, and was written and illustrated by Romana Romanyshyn and Andriy
Lesiv, a husband-and-wife duo from Ukraine.
Winter Light Books is an independent book publisher specializing in children’s
stories, primarily from traditional Ukrainian Sources. http://winterlightbooks.com/
The International Board on Books for Young People
(IBBY) is a non-profit organization
which represents an international network of people from all over the world who
are committed to bringing books and children together in order to promote
international understanding through children's books https://www.ibby.org/
Hello, Dear Enemy :
Picture Books for Peace is a traveling exhibit from
the International Youth Library in Munich, Germany. The exhibit
is divided into four themes: Experiences of War, Destruction, and Displacement;
Power Struggles and the Origin and Escalation of Violence; Prejudice,
Ostracism, and Imagined Enemies; Utopias of Peace and Anti-War Books. List of exhibit books here: https://libguides.wwu.edu/clic/hello-dear-enemy
Not If
But When: Books for Young People About Death and Loss is a website of book
titles. The impacts of war and
displacement are not unique to Ukraine. Children and teens facing the loss of
friends and family, or their own mortality, need help navigating the emotional,
physical, and practical upheavals and restorations. Books offer opportunities
to ask questions, wonder, and simply acknowledge the realities of their
circumstances. https://www.notifbutwhen.org/
Refugees
Nonfiction accounts and memoirs.
Rodger, Ellen. A refugee's
journey from Ukraine. Crabtree Publishing Company, 2018.
Published
after the annexation of Crimea – but still painfully relevant.
Miron's life in Ukraine is happy until a war breaks out in his city,
Donetsk. Surrounded by political instability and increasing violence, Miron and
his family decide to flee to find safety in a more stable part of Ukraine.
But life as an internally displaced person is not stable. He and his family
aren't sure if true safety lies ahead for them. Interspersed with facts
about Ukraine and its people, this narrative tells a story common to
many refugees fleeing the country. Readers will learn about the conflict there
and how they can help refugees in their communities and around the world who
are struggling to find permanent homes.
Radzilowski, John. Ukrainian
Americans. Chelsea House, 2007.
Discusses Ukrainian
Americans, their history, culture, traditions, accomplishments and
contributions to American society. Chapters include: The Ukrainians in North
America -- Ukraine: land of promise and tragedy -- Coming to North America
-- Building a new world -- Making a new home -- Bringing Ukrainian traditions
to North America -- The newest Ukrainians in North America -- Chronology --
Timeline.
Grimberg, Tina. Out of Line:
Growing up Soviet. Tundra Books, 2007.
A rabbi remembers her life as
a child in Kiev, Ukraine, where her family lived under Soviet rule until
they moved to the United States when she was fifteen.
Background for Educators
In addition to United States Federal Government websites
the outstanding Opposing Viewpoints Series, published by Greenhaven,
explores various aspects of controversial issues.
United States
Department of State: Ukraine. https://www.state.gov/countries-areas/ukraine/
Updates,
fact sheets, policy, and current news.
Ruth, Michael. Ukraine.
Greenhaven Press, 2016.
This book is part of the
excellent Opposing Viewpoints series. Published after the annexation of Crimea,
many of the same issues are relevant for the current invasion.
Chapter include: How should the United States manage
the Ukraine Conflict? The United States should intervene militarily
in the Ukraine Conflict / Jorge Benitez ; The United States should
stay out of the Ukraine Conflict / Chris Freind ; If U.S.
arms Ukraine, Russia could arm Iran / Josh Cohen ; The United States
should arm Ukraine / Luke Coffey and Nile Gardiner ; The United
States should continue imposing sanctions on Russia / David J. Kramer ; The
United States must support the Minsk Agreement for Ukrainian peace / Victoria
Nuland ; Ukraine's Minsk Agreement will not bring peace / Alexander
Mercouris -- Should the West intervene in Ukraine? The West should
help Ukraine / Ian Kearns, Steve Andreasen, and Des Browne ; Europe
should integrate Ukraine / Nicolai Petro ; Europe should not
integrate Ukraine / Alexander Donetsky ; NATO should not become
involved in Ukraine / Seumas Milne ; NATO should confront Russia
over Ukraine / Kurt Volker and Erik Brattberg -- What should be
Russia's place in Ukraine? The West is responsible for provoking Russia
over Ukraine / Tim Black ; The West has a choice :
abandon Ukraine or punish Russia? It should choose the latter / Alex
Massie ; The Russian military should fully invade Ukraine / Brad
Cabana ; Crimea belongs to Russia / Dmitry Tamoikin ; Crimea belongs
to Ukraine / Yulia Tymoshenko -- How should Ukraine plan
its future? Ukraine must hold on to its contested regions / William
Risch ; Ukraine should give up its contested regions / Alexander J.
Motyl ; Ukraine must prosecute those committing war crimes / Amnesty
International ; Ukrainian military as a whole is responsible for war crimes /
David Garrett ; Why Ukraine shouldn't be offered NATO membership /
Andrei Tsygankov ; Taking IMF money would damage Ukraine's economy /
Jeffrey Sommers and Michael Hudson, as told to Jessica Desvarieux.
Folktales
Nothing
reveals the intricacies of a culture like their folktales.
Tetro, Maria
Zemko and Joseph A. Tetro. Secret of the Glass Mountain and Other
Folktales from Ukraine. Winter Light Books, 2014.
A collection of Ukrainian folk tales featuring
enchanting stories and memorable characters, including a determined prince and
beautiful princess, a wise ant and a terrifying dragon, a depressed rabbit, a
strange horse, some troubled mice, a very lazy man, and a green dwarf named Oh!
Original illustrations drawn by artists in Ukraine.
Tetro,
Maria Zemko and Joseph A. Tetro. How the Animals Built their House
and Other Stories. Winter Light Books, 2008.
Three Ukrainian folk tales that describe the troubles one month
experiences when he tries to visit another; the reliance of family and friends
when a reluctant vegetable requires help from everyone at harvest time, and how
a group of animals discovers that a long trip can end much closer to home than
anyone expected. Original illustrations drawn by artists in Ukraine.
Tetro, Maria Zemko and Joseph A. Tetro. The
Fox Judge and Other Tales. Winter Light Books, 2007.
Three Ukrainian folk tales
depict a special hen that lays a golden egg, a sly fox who negotiates an
argument between two cats trying to divide a wedge of cheese, and three
butterflies of different colors who stay together to help each other through a
sudden rainstorm.
The Mitten – Did you know that this familiar folktale
originated in Ukraine?
Aylesworth, Jim., and McClintock,
Barbara. The Mitten. Scholastic Press, 2009.
A retelling of the traditional
tale of how a boy's lost mitten becomes a refuge from the cold for an
increasing number of animals.
Brett, Jan. The Mitten: A
Ukrainian Folktale. Putnam, 1989.
Several animals sleep snugly
in Nicki's lost mitten until the bear sneezes.
Tresselt, Alvin. The Mitten.
Lothrop, Lee & Shepard, 1964.
This retold version by Alvin
Tresselt and illustrated by Yaroslava is adapted from the version by
E. Rachev. A tale about a lost mitten which
becomes the shelter for many forest creatures.
Kimmel, Eric A., and Krenina,
Katya. The Birds' Gift: A Ukrainian Easter Story. Holiday House,
1999.
Villagers take in a flock of
golden birds nearly frozen by an early snow and are rewarded with beautifully decorated
eggs the next spring.
Bilenko, Anatole, et al. Ukrainian
Folk Tales. Dnipro Publishers, 1974.
Pan Kotsky the puss-o-cat --
Foxy-loxy and palsy-wolfie -- The goat and the ram -- Kolobok the Johnnycake --
Kotihoroshko Rollipea -- Oh -- The wheat-ear -- The magic egg -- Ilya Muromets
and nightingale the robber -- The little shepherd -- Boris son o'three -- The
golden slipper -- The poor man and the raven czar -- The poor man and his sons
-- The poor lad and the rich merchant Marko -- Danilo who had no luck -- A tale
about the little Linden tree and the greedy old woman -- A tale about the
stolen Postoli and the boiled eggs -- Misery -- The farm.
Informational Country Books
There are a lot of books about Ukraine on sites like Amazon.
For older youth, the best sources for country information will be government
websites.
United States
Department of State: Ukraine. https://www.state.gov/countries-areas/ukraine/
Updates,
fact sheets, policy, and current news.
Bassis, Volodymyr, et al. Ukraine.
Cavendish Square, 2018.
Ukraine is a country with a
vibrant and at times troubling past. This book explores the origins of Ukraine,
its triumphs and struggles, and examines what it's like to live there today.
From its geography to its economy, its language to its festivals, this book
gives a current and comprehensive overview of Ukraine.
Murray, Julie. Ukraine.
Big Buddy Books, 2018.
Welcome to Ukraine - home of
vast steppes, deep ports, and beautiful architecture. Maps, a timeline with
photos, and fun facts complement the text.
Zuehlke,
Jeffrey. Ukraine in Pictures. Lerner, 2006.
Reveals the history and government, economy,
people, geography, and cultural life of the Ukraine. Chapters include: The
land -- History and government -- The people -- Cultural life -- The economy.
Zemliansky,
Pavel. Ukraine. Gareth Stevens Publisher, 2002.
Presents information on the
geography, history, government, economy, people, social life and customs, arts,
contemporary issues, and relations with North America of Ukraine, a
country in Eastern Europe that regained its independence from the Soviet Union
in 1991.
Everyday Life – Science, Art, Food & Holidays
Romanyshyn,
Romana, et al. Sound : Shhh ... Bang ... Pop ... Boom! Chronicle
Books, 2020.
This is an award-winning book
on the phenomenon of sound with a philosophic reflection on its nature that
will appeal to inquisitive children looking to learn more about science and
nature. A stunning sequence of rich infographics provoke the reader to listen
... learn ... and think. Whether it's hearing noise, music, speech ... or
silence, no one will come away from these pages without experiencing sound with
new ears and a fresh understanding. Stunning visual sophistication and
compelling infographics will appeal to adults as well as children. A perfect
book for educators to share with children interested in STEM topics. The
husband and wife team Romana Romanyshyn and Andriy Lesiv, share an art studio
in Lviv, Ukraine.
Olia,
Hercules. Summer Kitchens: Recipes and Reminiscences from Every Corner of
Ukraine. Weldon Owen, 2020.
An
exploration into the culinary identity of eastern Europe through stunning food
and travel photography, interspersed with stories and memories of tiny
buildings called summer kitchens - small structures alongside the main house
where people cook and preserve summer fruits and vegetables for the winter
months. The author illustrates how the region’s cuisine varies as much as the
landscapes, climate, and produce through her travels to the Carpathians, the
Black Sea, the shores of the Danube and Dnieper, and her native land.
Hughes, Ellen. Christmas
in Ukraine. World Book, 1997.
Do
not be fooled by the title! This book is loaded with pictures, recipes, songs,
and crafts for anytime of year. Chapters include: The Ukrainian People -- The
Days Before Christmas -- Sviata Vecheria and Rizdvo -- Generous Eve -- Songs of
the Season -- Ukrainian Crafts -- Ukrainian Carols -- Ukrainian Recipes.
Touba,
Jacquiline. Ukraine: Sasha Kotyenko’s Painting “Embroidery Time.”
Powerkids Press, 1997.
The young Ukrainian artist,
Sasha Kotyenko, discusses her culture and traditions, and describes a painting she
made of herself and her sisters embroidering. Chapters include: My city -- My
country -- My home -- My painting -- Making cloth -- Embroidering our clothes
-- Women's clothing -- Our house -- Traditions -- A country to be proud of.
History
Wolny, Philip. Holodomor : The
Ukrainian Famine-Genocide. Rosen YA, 2018.
One
of the lesser-known historical crimes that wiped out millions of people was
Holodomor (loosely translated from Ukrainian as "death by hunger"),
the famine and genocide that occurred during Soviet rule between 1932 and 1933.
This book relates the shocking story of how a natural disaster was weaponized
by the Soviet Union under the rule of Joseph Stalin to punish a whole people.
Evocative photographs with compelling background and analysis give readers the
story of a tragic chapter of European history in the twentieth century, while
tying the event to our all-too-relevant modern context.
Taylor, Peter Lane., and Nicola,
Christos. The Secret of Priest's Grotto: A Holocaust Survival Story.
Kar-Ben Pub., 2007.
Two explorers survey caves in
the Western Ukraine and relate the story of how an extended Jewish
family, fleeing persecution by the Nazis, lived for two years in a large cave,
Popowa Yama, and survived the war.
McQuerry, Maureen. Nuclear
Legacy: Students of Two Atomic Cities. Battelle Press, 2000.
Students from
Slavutych, Ukraine, and Richland, Washington, describe the effects of
growing up in communities purposely developed in secrecy and isolation because
of their nuclear-based industry and discuss their future in these towns as
demand for nuclear energy declines.
Toll, Nelly S. Behind the
Secret Window: A Memoir of a Hidden Childhood During World War Two. Dial
Books, 1993.
The author recalls her
experiences when she and her mother were hidden from the Nazis by a Gentile
couple in Lwów, Poland, during World War II.
