Ukrainian student donates published children’s book to campus library

Kateryna Kyselova, Children’s Literature and Literacies master’s student, donated a signed copy of her published book to the BGU Library – for future students to share with Ukrainian children across Lincolnshire.

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Kateryna is originally from Ukraine and has been studying for an MA in Children's Literature and Literacies at BGU, whilst living in the UK.

During this time, she has written a book which has now been published in the Ukraine. This is her third in a collection of published books, as an established writer and journalist in her home country.

The book is focused on bread – a key part of life and celebrations in Ukraine. Following a timeline of how bread grows from a grain, the story explains how bread is produced, how you make it at home and where it travels once made.

Kateryna shared what bread represents for her: “For me, bread is a symbol of life and represents the celebration of life.

“It was important to me for the book to not focus on trauma but instead the celebration of life, embodying how bread follows you not just throughout each year but your whole life.”

On Wednesday 4^th June, Kateryna attended the library alongside some of her academics and library staff to donate a signed copy of the book.

Wendy Corn, Library Assistant, said: “I was thrilled to accept Kateryna’s donation of her book, and it is wonderful to add to our collection.”

The book is a wonderful addition to the library’s Teaching Resources Collection, so that students can take the book into schools and share with Ukrainian children living in Lincolnshire.

Kateryna commented on her time at BGU and her MA course: “Reading and comprehension in Ukraine is not what it should be. This makes me feel bad, not only as a mother but as someone who works with educators.

“I am passionately interested in how we can help our children to read and be supported on their journey to loving books.

“Therefore, the combination of education and children’s literature and literacies within this course proved to be the right option for me. You are so efficient in promoting readers in the UK, and it is so insightful to learn about the background surrounding this.

“BGU’s MA in Children's Literature and Literacies provides a brilliant combination of theory in a very digestible format, with practical elements incorporated. I found the course very balanced, and it works to the best interests of students, like myself!”

Emma Rogers, Senior Lecturer in Primary Education, said: “We are proud to be the only university in England to offer the combination of Children’s Literature and Literacies within a master’s degree.

“Kateryna is an amazing student, and her circumstances are extraordinary, so it is great that we can celebrate her success. On behalf of everyone at BGU, I send her the most heartfelt congratulations.

“My only wish is that I could read the Ukrainian language to experience reading her book first hand!”

To find out more about our MA in Children's Literature and Literacies, please click here!

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