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by Oksana Lushchevska LUE SKIES AND OLDEN ELDS ELEBRAT G RAINE shchevskaby Oksana LushchevskaPublished by Capstone Press, an imprint of Capstone 1710 Roe Crest Drive, North Mankato, Minnesota 56003 capstonepub.com Copyright © 2023 by Capstone. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the publisher. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on the Library of Congress website. ISBN: 9781669033035 (hardcover) ISBN: 9781669033042 (paperback) ISBN: 9781669033059 (ebook PDF) Summary: Welcome to the land of sunflowers: Ukraine! From the sandy coasts of the Black Sea to the vibrant capital of Kyiv, this proud nation is full of history, culture, and beauty. Explore the bountiful crops that earned this Eastern European country its nickname, the “breadbasket of Europe.” Learn more about Ukraine’s unique history—from former Soviet Union republic to independent nation. Then discover some of the country’s most well-known figures, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Along with bright, bold photographs, celebrated author Oksana Lushchevska shares the treasures of her beloved home country, taking young readers beyond the headlines and into the heart of Ukraine. Editorial Credits Editor: Julie Gassman; Designer: Heidi Thompson; Media Researcher: Jo Miller; Production Specialist: Tori Abraham Image Credits Alamy: Agencja Fotograficzna Caro, 28, Nataliia Yankovets, 18, REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko, 27; Getty Images: Anastasiia Kulikovska, 5 (middle right), connect11, 17 (middle), johan10, 17 (left), Maryna Iaroshenko, 5 (bottom right); Newscom: Fine Art Images / Heritage Images, 15, Hennadii Minchenko/Avalon, 29; Shutterstock: Alexandros Michailidis, 17 (right), All for you friend, 3 (bottom), Andriana Syvanych, 3 (top), 26, Anton27, Cover (middle), Creative Travel Projects, 4, 14, Dobra Kobra, Cover (middle right), Drop of Light, 22, Eric Isselee, 11 (middle), Fercast, 5 (left), Goinyk Production, 8, home for heroes, 19 (top), Ian 2010, Cover (top left), Back Cover, 6, 7, Iryna Melnyk, 25, Mny-Jhee, 20, Monika Hunackova, 9, Natalia Hanin, 12, New Africa, 13 (top), Oleksandr Polonskyi, 19 (bottom), Olesia Bilkei, Cover (right), PCHT, 11 (right), photomaster, 5 (top middle), Rudmer Zwerver, 11 (left), Ruslan Lytvyn, 30, Ryzhkov Oleksandr, 10, Sagittarius_13, 5 (top right), SergeyIT, 24, Serhii Brovko, Cover (middle left), Superheang168, 13 (bottom), Yuliia Myroniuk, 3 (middle), 5 (middle left), yuris, Cover (left), Wikimedia: public domain, 31 Design Elements: Shutterstock: Brenik, Mykola Mazuryk, sumroeng chinnapan, (sky background)Table of Contents Welcome to Ukraine! 4 A Vast and Diverse Land 8 History of Ukraine 14 People and Culture 22 Ukraine Fact File 31 Ukrainian Alphabet 31 Index 32 About the Author 32Welcome to Ukraine! Welcome to the land of sunflowers: Ukraine. Beneath the blue skies, the sunflowers bloom! Millions of the bright yellow flowers grow all over the land. Their sweet scent goes up, up, up to the mountains . . . and down, down, down to the seas. Blooming from summer to fall, sunflowers look like masterful paintings. For Ukrainians, the sunflower is a symbol of peace. 4Ukraine is a large country located in Eastern Europe famous for its rich history and fertile soil. It is a country with deep cultural roots, a diverse natural environment, and unique traditions. Ukraine’s history, delicious dishes, art, and language add to the country’s beauty and complexity. Discover the treasures that make Ukrainians so proud. National Symbols of Ukraine FLAG: Two equal blue and yellow horizontal bands. Blue represents the sky. Yellow represents the wheat fields. EMBLEM: A golden trident on a blue shield FLOWER: Sunflower BIRD: White stork ANIMAL: Nightingale (right) DANCE: Hopak FOOD: Borscht DRESS: Embroidered shirt 5THE POWER OF SUNFLOWERS Sunflowers stand for prosperity, happiness, and good luck. Ukrainian people love sunflowers. They grow them everywhere. Some grow them in fields for tasty sunflower oil. Others grow them in gardens to tempt bees to pollinate plants. Some prefer to plant sunflowers in their yards for delightful bouquets. Others grow sunflowers for snacking. Have you ever tried sunflower seeds as a snack? The sunflower has a magical power. Grow it by your house and see for yourself: It will gather the sunshine for you! The sunflower is a true jewel of a yard or balcony. Oh, and don’t forget to use a special saying or poem while watering your sunflower. Your sunflower will surely enjoy it. 6Now, remember the special saying? Here’s one to try. Use this short Ukrainian poem while watering your sunflower: Fall, Rain, Fall Fall, rain, fall, Fall for all. Fall as a treat, I will cook you a beet. I’ll put treat on a tree. There, there it will be! The dove will eat it all. The rain will fall and fall. When the dove flies away, The rain will bring a new day. Fall rain for growing, Grow big for showing! How to Plant a sunflower DIRECTIONS STEP 1: In the spring, find a sunny spot with direct sunlight. Prepare the soil. Organic potting soil or homemade compost work the best. STEP 2: Moisten your soil. STEP 3: Gently push the sunflower seed into the soil no more than one inch deep. STEP 4: Cover the sunflower seed with dirt. Press down firmly. STEP 5: Give your seed plenty of room to grow. Water the sunflower seed daily, but don’t overwater it. 7Next >