Brave Volodymyr: The Story of Volodymyr Zelensky and the Fight for Ukraine

Opening with a description of the Ukrainian flag, conversational text introduces young Volodymyr Zelensky (b. 1978), during whose childhood “flying Ukraine’s flag was against the law.” Elovitz Marshall next offers up remarks about living under the Soviet Union’s oversight: “Anyone who broke the rules or said the wrong thing or criticized the Soviet government could be punished.” At age 13, Zelensky, witnessing the fall of the Soviet Union, “was so happy. It was a new start for all Ukrainians.” Zelensky’s adulthood—from his early years as a charismatic television entertainer to his presidential election in 2019—plays out in the text against Vladimir Putin’s growing push for control of Ukraine. The bright hopefulness of Olikyo’s gouache-style digital illustrations amplifies the story’s resolute view that, even as war drags on, “freedom is a fragile thing./ It needs to be cherished./ It needs to be protected./ And freedom depends on the truth.” An author’s note, timeline, and bibliography conclude. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 4–8. (Oct.)