New book about the Holodomor for children published

Ukrainian writer Tania Piankova, author of the Holodomor novel The Age of the Red Ants, has created a book for children. ‘The Tale of the Nut Root’ will be published by Staryi Lev Publishing House. It narrates the tragic pages of our history to the youngest readers. The writer herself announced it on Facebook.

“The children will be happy to learn about the crazy adventure of the brave Ukrainian Tarasyk, who defeated the Red Master and returned the bread to the people. I really wanted to give the little reader the very model of life where truth, love, and faith defeat all kinds of Russian-Soviet evil,” the author wrote and added that “adult readers will definitely recognise the symbols of our bitter history and will be able to explain easily the complex topic of the Holodomor to children step by step.”

The book was proofread by psychologist Svitlana Roiz and illustrated by artist Olia Haidamaka. The book is designed for readers aged 9-12.

From the annotation to the book on the publisher’s website:

A disaster happened in the village: the birds stopped singing, the trees in the gardens withered away from the light of the Red Star, all the food disappeared, many people fell asleep and could not wake up… The Red Master and his loyal henchmen are said to be involved: The Broom, the Boots and the Two-Headed Eagle. And so Tarasyk and Cockerel set off in search of the Red Master. Will they succeed in exposing the villain and saving the magic tree that holds the human race together? They have many trials and adventures ahead of them, but they find good friends with whom they are not afraid of obstacles.

“The Tale of the Nut Root helps young readers to get acquainted with one of the sad pages in the history of Ukraine, but once again proves that light does conquer darkness, and truth triumphs over injustice.”