Amidst the upheaval of war, a young girl and her family leave their homeland and face the challenges of adapting to a new life in a foreign land, but find comfort in a star-shaped cardboard lamp reminiscent of the one they cherished back home.
Russia
Materials from Russia
The Invisible Elephant
In four short stories, The Invisible Elephant tells the story of a young blind heroine who gleefully explores her environment through her senses and imagination. Although she cannot see the world with her eyes, this doesn’t stop her from interacting with her surroundings joyfully. Young readers watch as she learns Braille, with her family and friends cheering her on at every step of the way as she learns to navigate the world in her own unique way. In addition to gorgeous illustrations by Yulia Sidneva and an artful translation by Ruth Ahmedzai, the book includes an illustrated guide that shows readers how to respectfully interact with the visually impaired.
On The Edge Of The World (Stories From Latin America)
Veera and her family live in Russia on what feels like the edge of the world on the Kamchatka Peninsula. Veera spends her time devouring fantasy books, playing fetch with her dog, and longing for a friend she can share her treasures with that she keeps hidden underneath the alder bush. Lucas and his family live on the coast of Chile, which also feels like the edge of the world. Lucas spends his days looking for fossils, playing solo games of soccer, and wishing for a friend to read with him on his favorite tree branch. Written and illustrated by acclaimed author-illustrator Anna Desnitskaya, On the Edge of the World is a playful and perceptive book that illuminates the mirroring lives of two separate children in two separate places, yet share strikingly similar settings and interests.
Accidental Czar: The Life And Lies Of Vladimir Putin
This riveting graphic novel biography chronicles Vladimir Putin’s rise from a mid-level KGB officer to the autocratic leader of Russia and reveals the truth behind the strongman persona he has spent his career cultivating.
The Blue Bird’s Palace
Natasha lives a simple life with her father, but when she is granted a wish and makes the selfish choice to live in a palace, the guardian of the Blue Forest transforms her into a blue bird and she learns to be grateful and share.
Daughters Of A Dead Empire
Set during the height of the Russian Revolution and told in alternating voices, sixteen-year-old Evgenia–a peasant and proud member of the Bolshevik party–agrees to help a seventeen-year-old bourgeois girl traverse the war-torn countryside in search of safety, but Anna is harboring a secret that could cost them their lives. Includes historical note and author’s note.
Dog Star
Nina, a young girl unsure of her role in her communist society, befriends a dog named Laika, who dreams of finding a home and is being studied in Nina’s father’s lab as part of the Soviet space program.
Can You Hear Me?
Can you smell the spring wildflowers? How does it feel when you run your hand across rough tree bark? What about the sight of fluffy clouds? Nature surrounds us all — but are we really paying attention?
Traitor: A Novel of World War II
Seventeen-year-old Tolya Korolenko is half Ukrainian, half Polish, and he joined the Soviet Red Army to keep himself alive and fed. When he not-quite-accidentally shoots his unit’s political officer in the street, he’s rescued by a squad of Ukrainian freedom fighters. They might have saved him, but Tolya doesn’t trust them. He especially doesn’t trust Solovey, the squad’s war-scarred young leader, who has plenty of secrets of his own.
Deep In The Woods-A Folk Tale
Deep in the woods is a little wooden house, with nine neat windows and a red front door. When a little mouse decides it will make the perfect home, so do the other animals in the wood – including a great big bear! But will the bear be able to put everything right when their home comes tumbling down? Find out in this beautifully illustrated retelling of a classic Russian folk tale.