A Sea of Gold

 

A Sea of Gold / Patricia Polacco
New York : Simon & Schuster, c2024
86 p.

I picked up this recent picture book in my library, for obvious reasons. It's about a family in Ukraine who are displaced by war, ending up in the US Midwest with relatives. 

But it's really not so simple. It focuses on three generations a family living in Cherinovska, Ukraine, who are sunflower farmers. The first generation marries and sets up a new farmstead; their daughter then marries and does the same. But their daughter ends up traumatized by war, only speaking again once she is in America with her great-uncle, once again planting sunflowers. 

This book started out just okay for me; the writing style is dense and expository, much like Polacco's other books, which I think are suited for older readers or for parent-child reading experiences. The illustrations are instantly recognizable as Polacco's work, with the loose linework and bright colours that are her hallmark. Really engaging, especially with all of the historical content around weddings and rituals - great opportunity to show off finery and colour. 

But what I didn't expect was the growing emotion in the story; by the last few pages I found myself unexpectedly moved. It was a powerful ending, to what is a pretty tragic story. After the men in their family do not return home when Russians bomb the nearby village, the three generations of women flee, eventually finding refuge with the grandmother's brother in America. But there is still their shared history to carry them through. 

I think this is a timely read, showing the lengthy history of war and trauma experienced by Ukrainians at the hands of Russians, happening now once more. But there is also the love of family, and hope that finishes off this story - based on Polacco's own Ukrainian heritage through her grandmother. Really touching. 

Threads: Zlata's Ukrainian Shirt

Threads: Zlata's Ukrainian shirt / Lina Maslo
NY:  FSG, c2024.
40 p.

International Vyshyvanka Day was just last week; it's a celebration of Ukrainian heritage, held on the 3rd Thursday of May. These days wearing the Vyshyvanka (the Ukrainian embroidered shirt) is a response to the effort to wipe out Ukrainian culture with the Russian invasion of the country, so it's really resonant to read this picture book about a time in history where it was similarly evocative. 

Zlata is a young girl in the 30s, when the enforced famine was created by Stalin's policies. Over 1932-33, many Ukrainians were starved to death when Communist Russia took everything from farms and the countryside. This is known as the Holodomor, and seems like a dark topic for a children's book. But Maslo handles it well, focuses on this specific family and the importance of heritage, through Zlata's blouse made by her mother. "Red is for love, and black is for sadness", Zlata's father says, but there are also bright colours on a new blouse years later, representing hope and joy. As a side note, the endpapers of the book are printed with the floral motifs from her blouse, one in black and red and one in full colour. Great touch. 

Zlata must hide her shirt during these years, as any bit of Ukrainian culture or language is being repressed and is dangerous to show. But culture remains, and it comes out again. This is an important book for this moment, giving context and history to current events. And it's well done, telling an important story in way that children will understand. The illustrations are bright and engaging as well - I thought this was a really good read. You can see more from inside the book, and read the author's note on it, at Woozles bookstore.