Staff Picks: Spotlight on Ukraine
by eapearce
The ongoing war in Ukraine has many people interested in learning more about the country and in reading titles by Ukrainian authors. AADL is growing our collection of these titles! We’re also growing our collection of books in Ukrainian for both kids and adults. Browse AADL’s World Languages collection to see newly added titles in Ukrainian. In March, you can also view our Spotlight on Ukraine display in the Downtown Library lobby. For English speakers interested in Ukraine, here are a few titles to start with!
Budmo!: Recipes from a Ukrainian Kitchen, by Anna Voloshyna | Request Now
In this new cookbook, you can celebrate the rich culture of Ukrainian cuisine with traditional recipes with a modern twist. Anna Voloshyna is a young Ukrainian chef who moved to the Bay Area in 2011 from Kyiv. There, she began hosting Eastern European pop-up dinners featuring recipes from her homeland, and from these, Budmo! was born. Voloshyna’s mouth-watering recipes include her grandmother’s roasted duck, reinvented borscht with sorrels and soft eggs, and roasted beet pkhali, a minced vegetable dish topped with pomegranate molasses. “Budmo!” means “cheers!” in Ukrainian and you’ll want to host your own dinner party featuring recipes from this gorgeous book after you flip through the pages!
Ukraine in Histories and Stories: Essays by Ukrainian Intellectuals | Request Now
This collection by a variety of contemporary Ukrainian writers contains reflective essays both on Ukraine’s history and the present day situation in Ukraine. The book spans a range of topics from Russian aggression, cultural diversity, the resilience of the Ukrainian people, and the depth of history in the country, much of which is little-known outside of Ukraine. Contributors to the book include prominent Ukrainian historians, writers, philosophers and political analysts and it is described as “essential reading for anyone interested in Ukraine.”
Yellow Butterfly: A Story From Ukraine, by Oleksandr Shatokhin | Request Now
This wordless picture book, which received numerous starred reviews from publishing magazines, shows the conflict in Ukraine through the eyes of a young girl. Author and illustrator Shatokhin uses the colors of the Ukrainian flag - yellow, blue and white - to depict scenes from the country in turmoil, and to show how the young girl finds hope in yellow butterflies against a clear blue sky. Readers will travel with the girl through the devastation of war to a place of peace and hope for the future. Shatokhin has helpfully provided background information about how to consume a wordless picture book, and about how to talk to a child about war.
A Message from Ukraine: Speeches, 2019-2022, by Volodymyr Zelensky | Request Now
Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky became a household name worldwide in recent years due to his unwavering courage and leadership of the Ukrainian people as conflict with Russia escalated. With speeches that Zelensky personally selected, this book recounts both the story of the man and the story of the country through his voice. Throughout, his words encourage both the Ukrainian people and the world at large to stand up and fight for liberty and democracy. The sentiments of this stalwart and brave leader are well worth a read.
Blog Post
Subjects
Reviews