Share these books with your kids to help them learn about the experiences of families and children living in Ukraine. Historical fiction, folktales and age-appropriate stories about the current crisis in Ukraine offer important jumping off points for further discussions.
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Table of contents
Picture Books
These picture books about Ukraine will help parents and educators talk with kids about the experiences of Ukrainian children living with war on their front doorsteps, and the historical context.
Quiet Night, My Astronaut: The First Days (and Nights) of the War in Ukraine by Oksana Lushchevska, illustrated by Kateryna Stepanishcheva
A child narrates her experience during the first 10 days of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. As she holds her astronaut doll, she addresses her thoughts to an imaginary astronaut in space. She describes her fears, her father's communications as a soldier, and her families escape to find safety. Sensitively written and imaginatively illustrated, the story focuses on the closeness of the Ukrainian family and their will to survive. Includes discussion questions. Ages 6 and up.
Threads: Zlata's Ukrainian Shirt by Lisa Maslo
This is a thoughtful story about a family that refuses to abandon their culture and traditions. In 1932, the Soviets go door to door demanding Ukrainians give up their grain and cultural goods like Zlata's birthday blouse. Scenes reveal that not all the neighbors share the same views about the Soviets, and Zlata's family is at great risk. However, the story also inspires hope for the future and the community. Ages 5 and up.
How War Changed Rondo by Romana Romanyshyn and Andriy Lesiv
Find it: Enchanted Lion - Yes, you can find Rondo at other stores. However, all proceeds from purchases of the book made through Enchanted lion benefit UNICEF in Ukraine.
This oversized book from a Ukrainian creative team will spark many conversations about the damage war inflicts on hearts and minds and how communities can rally. In Rondo, everything is wonderful. Danko, a glowing, transparent being, Zirka, a paper bird, and Fabian, a balloon dog, love living in their peaceful town. But one day, war comes and the inhabitants feel powerless to stop it. Nothing seems to halt the destruction. Then the town builds a huge light machine that defeats war's darkness. Rondo is rebuilt and red poppies spring up. Ages 5 and up.
MORE: Children's Books about War
Yellow Butterfly by Oleksandr Shatokhin
This beautiful wordless book uses the colors of the Ukrainian flag to tell a story of hope and war from a child's point of view. The illustrations use texture, scale, and pattern to great effect, offering different perspectives and evoking strong emotions. Young readers will be encouraged to offer their interpretations of the journey and the hope symbolized by the yellow butterfly. Not to be missed. Includes endnotes about discussing war with children. Ages 5 to 105.
MORE: Children's Books about Peace
Folktales
Folktales make excellent read aloud book choices and are great for exposing kids to other cultural traditions. In addition, kids will often see parallels with folktales from their own heritage.
The Cat and the Rooster retold by Ivan Malkovych, illustrated by Kost' Lavro
Find it: Amazon
Kids will enjoy this Ukranian folktale about friends, a cat and rooster, aligned against a common enemy–the fox. While Cat is away, Fox attempts to con the rooster into becoming his dinner. But Cat is much too clever and upon his return, beats the fox at his own tricks. Ages 3 and up.
Enough by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch, illustrated by Michael Martchenko
Find it: Amazon
Canadian-Ukrainian author, Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch's folktale about the power of resilience and the danger of greed allows young children to understand the Holodomor in Ukraine. When soldiers come to steal the grain on behalf of an unnamed Dictator, Marusia finds a clever way to hide enough so that the villagers won't starve. A magic stork flies Marusia to prairie land for seeds. A soldier discovers the secret, but his greed is his undoing. Ages 5 and up.
The Mitten: An Old Ukranian Folktale by Alvin Tresselt, illustrated by Yaroslova
A boy drops his mitten in the snow and one by one, woodland animals decide it's the perfect place to snuggle down. But will they all fit inside? If Tresselt's 1964 version of this classic folktale about a group of animals trying to stay warm is not available at your library, pick up a copy of The Mitten by Jan Brett. Ages 3 and up.
MORE: 50 Folktales from around the World
The Spider's Gift: A Ukrainian Christmas Story by Eric A. Kimmel, illustrated by Katya Krenina
Find it: Amazon
Katrusya's family is too poor to buy each other gifts for Christmas but Katrusya does manage to secure a tree. It turns out the tree is filled with spiders. Her mother wants to get rid of the tree (seems reasonable to me!) but Katrusya convinces her to keep it and in return the spiders decorate it with their webs. A Christmas miracle turns the webs to silver and brings riches to the villagers. Ages 4 and up.
MORE: Eric A. Kimmel's The Birds' Gift is a folktale about pysanky, traditional Ukrainian Easter egg decorations.
Middle Grade
Young readers ages 9 and up will learn more about present day and historical events in Ukraine. Alternatively, these novels are good choices to read aloud and will spark discussions.
Kidnapped from Ukraine (Under Attack series) by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch
Author Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch has written a large number of historical fiction children's books set in Ukraine. I highly recommend her books set in Ukraine during WWII. Her most recent series, however, focuses on the present-day conflict in Ukraine. After the Russians attack Mariupol, Dariia and her mother are separated from her father and twin sister, Rada. Mother and daughter spend months sheltering in a basement with other residents but after the building is bombed, Dariia is separated from her mother and sent deep into Russia to be "adopted" by a Russian family. The narration is unflinching but the resistance and resilience of Dariia and the other children is compelling. The next book in the series focuses on Rada's experience. Ages 9 and up.
MORE: Middle Grade Books about Refugees
The Lost Year: A Survival Story of the Ukrainian Famine by Katherine Marsh
If your kids ask why the Ukrainians feel historical animosity towards Russia, this book will help answer that. While isolated during the COVID-19 pandemic, Matthew finds photos and other clues that lead him to uncover a family secret surrounding the Holodomor, a period of famine in Soviet Ukraine during the 1930s. I've really enjoyed all of Marsh's books and here she interweaves multiple perspectives to tell a powerful and unputdownable story. Ages 9 and up.
The Blackbird Girls by Anne Blankman
While much of the action takes place in Russia, the inciting events are important in Ukraine's history. Valentina and Oksana both have fathers who work at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, but the girls do not get along. When the unthinkable happens and there is an explosion at the plant, the girls are evacuated. Oksana has to leave her mother and father behind and instead accompanies Valentina and her mother to Leningrad. The narrative alternates between the two girls in 1986, and Rifka in 1941, who we later learn is Valentina's grandmother. The girls learn secrets about their families, each other and must learn out how to trust each other. Ages 9 and up.
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