By Larysa Denysenko (author) , Masha Foya (illustrator)
"A story about tolerance and acceptance from Ukrainian author Larysa Denysenko "
Hardback In Stock £12.99 £11.69
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First published in Ukraine in 2017, Maya and Her Friends tells the story of nine-year-old Maya and her 16 classmates, all with different backgrounds and upbringings. It is the story of ordinary Ukrainian children and who have lived in the shadow of the constant threat of war following the occupation of Crimea in 2014.
Maya and Her Friends was written to highlight the fact that children should be allowed to live in safety and love, no matter how many parents they have, whether they may be orphans, have been separated from their parents by war or migration, or have had to flee their homes.
Nine-year-old Maja has 16 classmates, all with different home backgrounds.
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Sofia's father has disappeared in the battles against Russia. When the war ends, he will hopefully be found.
Aksana lives with her father because her mother is dead. Hristina lives with her grandmother because her parents are working abroad.
Rais is a Crimean Tatar whose family had to leave his homeland due to the Russian occupation.
Timko's parents are divorced, and he lives alternately with his mother and father.
Petro is a Roma and has a huge family clan.
Maja herself, on the other hand, has two mothers.
Since the occupation of Crimea in 2014, Ukrainian families with children have had to live their daily lives in the shadow of the threat of war. Maja and Friends tells the story of ordinary Ukrainian children and their families.
Ukrainian Larysa Denysenko is a well-known writer, lawyer, human rights activist, and TV and radio journalist in the Ukraine. She is also a member of the Ukrainian PEN* and is serving as a UN Goodwill Ambassador to increase tolerance in Ukraine.
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I warmly recommend this picture book! It’s funny and keeps you interested, I am sure children will love meeting Maya’s friends as well.
If you are looking for an inclusive picture book that also has beautiful illustrations and thought provoking stories, and you also want to help children in Ukraine, please look no further and grab Maya and Her Friends!
Maya and Her Friends is a book by Ukrainian human rights activist and author Larysa Denysenko. The author wrote the introduction whilst hiding in Kyiv, and the book itself is a beautiful story about acceptance and tolerance in a country deeply affected by conflict.
I couldn’t help but read the first few pages, and I was so intrigued by Maya and her friends that I couldn’t put the book down until I finished. The tone of storytelling is very refreshing and gripping. We get to meet Maya’s friends from school and her teacher Yulia. Every child has a unique story.... Read Full Review
Ivana - Diary of Difference
Nine-year-old Maja has 16 classmates, all with different home backgrounds. Sofia's father has disappeared in the battles against Russia.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed Maya And Her Friends and determined it is suitable for children aged 7-10 years old
Maya And Her Friends features in the following genres: Stories about Family and Friends, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Featured Books for 9+ readers, Recommendations, Warfare & Battles, Children’s / Teenage: General interest, Featured Books for 7+ readers
Hardback. £11.69, down from the £12.99 cover price. In Stock.
Maya And Her Friends was written by Larysa Denysenko and published by Studio Press an imprint of Bonnier Books Ltd
Maya And Her Friends has 72 pages
£11.69, reduced from £12.99. In Stock.
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