The Story of Ukraine: An Anthem of Glory and Freedom

Gr 2-4–The Ukraine invasion is top of mind for many people; for others, this is the first time they’ve thought much about the country and they want to know more. This bold look at the Ukrainian nation and anthem assists that mission. It begins with pages outlining a brief history of Ukraine, then transitions to the lyrics of the national anthem, complete with annotations. Parts of the text are set in the vivid yellow and blue of the flag, and Doroshenko’s brazen illustrations echo the color scheme. It’s a bright deluge, made even more frenetic with the addition of Ukrainian versions of the text on every page. It’s a wonderful nod to the culture the book is trying to share, but one that is impenetrable to anyone who doesn’t understand Cyrillic alphabet. It also adds to the visual cacophony on the page. It’s a unique style of storytelling and art that readers will either love or hate.