The Story of Ukraine: An Anthem of Glory and Freedom

SPECS

• Imprint: Brown Books Kids

• BISAC: Juvenile Nonfiction / History / Europe

• Format: Hardcover

• Page Count: 36

• Publication Date: December 13, 2022

• ISBN-13: 9781612546087

• Dimensions: 10" x 10"

• US List Price: $17.99

• Carton QTY: 24

AUTHOR BIO

Olena Kharchenko is from Dnipro, Ukraine. She is a graduate of Oles Honchar Dnipro National University. She lives in the USA with her husband and daughter. She is actively volunteering in different projects trying to help Ukraine to resist Russian aggression since 2014. Olena hopes that this book will help people around the world to learn more about her motherland.

Michael Sampson, a Fulbright Scholar to Ukraine, is a New York Times best-selling author of more than forty books for children. His books include Armadillo Antics, Ten Little Squirrels, and Chicka Chicka 1, 2, 3.

ILLUSTRATOR BIO

Polina Doroshenko is a Ukrainian artist and illustrator living and working in Kyiv. She graduated from the National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture in Kyiv, and currently teaches at the Department of Graphic Arts of NAOMA. Polina's illustrations were awarded the White Ravens Award, and were among the finalists of the Bologna Children's Book Fair (2022). Polina has a four-year-old daughter who is an inspiration in her art.

PRAISE

"A fervent celebration of Ukraine, Kharchenko and Sampson’s dual-language picture book offers a heartfelt introduction to the 'multi-ethnic, multi-language and multicultural country' through the lens of its national anthem... 'Blue is the bright, peaceful, cloudless Ukrainian sky. Yellow is the symbol of its golden wheat fields.' These hues also prove a unifying thread through Doroshenko’s layered, folklore-style artwork."—Publishers Weekly

The Story of Ukraine: An Anthem of Glory and Freedom is written with clarity and meaning. It’s filled with a plethora of bright, vibrant illustrations that illuminate the unrelenting positivity, hope, and courage for which so many Ukrainians have come to be known... Young children will learn that the impassioned endurance of the Ukrainian people dates back centuries. Admirably, they’ve been emboldened by their challenges, and youth and adults alike will find this noteworthy contribution an awe-inspiring narrative."—San Francisco Book Review

“Kids have certainly heard about Ukraine and the war raging there. Here’s a book that will help them understand the people of that country. The Story of Ukraine: An Anthem of Glory and Freedom walks readers through each line of the Ukraine national anthem while providing details of land and life in the country. Presented in English and Ukrainian, this book gives readers of all ages the opportunity to put a context around the news they hear… it is an example of how crisis in the world impacts us here at home.” —Seattle’s Child Magazine

"National patterns, music, literature and symbols of Ukraine have always indicated the importance of freedom, identity, traditions and the struggle for independence. This book is the core of Ukrainianness — feel it with your heart." —Larysa Denysenko, UN Goodwill Ambassador for Tolerance in Ukraine, Human Rights Lawyer, and Author of Maya and Her Friends

“Packed with insight into what makes Ukraine unique and vital. A story beautifully told!”—Jeff Kinney, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid series

“A gorgeous, vibrantly illustrated introduction to the Ukraine … I cannot recommend this wonderful book enough.” —Junot Díaz, Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author of Islandborn

“A very big world gets much smaller in the hands of Olena Kharchenko and Michael Sampson in this bold and creative book.” —Peter H. Reynolds, New York Times Bestselling Creator of The Dot The Word Collector