Ukrainian Air: How Sunny Sonechko WON: 1 (Rural Life Around the World)

A book designed to help parents and teachers explain the Russian War in Ukraine created for children ages 3-10.

Sunny Sonechko melts the snow and pours warmth and love on the flowers making them grow strong and tall. When a storm cloud covers the village in darkness, the sunflowers rise in a wall to defend their home as Good triumphs over Evil.

The book helps readers see why the Ukrainians hold so much love for their homeland. The rich traditions of Eastern Ukrainian folklore and contemporary village life are echoed in Cossack dress, mouth-watering dishes, Ukrainian spring, and above all the love for grandmothers who grow and eat sunflowers, the national flower. The nation's historical life cycle of war and tragedy leading to reconstruction and prosperity is demonstrated.

Ukrainian Air follows the pattern of all books in Folkerts' series "Rural Life Around the World" showing contemporary rural life and traditions: it is a visual gem, both entertaining and educational. A poetic story integrated with colorful illustrations, all carefully researched, enables young children, parents, and teachers to discover a unique cultural geography. Come and sense the sounds, aromas, visual details, and emotions of people with whom you have more in common than you thought. A picture glossary is available at the back.

Author Dr. Olya Samilenko worked for the U.S. Commission on the Ukraine Famine of 1932-33. She later directed the Goucher-College/Johns Hopkins University Cooperative Program in Russian.

Illustrator Nataliia Tonyeva is a graphic designer from Ukraine who lives in the United States. With a career creating illustrations for websites and applications, moving to illustrating a children's book has been a long-held dream now achieved.