Thank you for visiting our website and donation page. In the spirit of our non-profit mission, Seven Seas Press is launching a fundraiser to send copies of our latest book—Три Соняшники ~The Three Sunflowers (a bilingual Ukrainian-English edition)—to children affected by the war in Ukraine.
We're grateful for the collaboration with the Stand With Ukraine Foundation in Los Angeles, offering "glocal" (global and local) support, who will help get books directly into the hands of children affected by the war.
Written by Janet Lucy, illustrated by Colleen McCarthy-Evans, and translated into Ukrainian by Iryna Demchyshyna, The Three Sunflowers recounts a turbulent day in a garden where a trio of sunflowers face unexpected and chaotic events that they have no power to stop. The story helps children find peace inside themselves during unpredictable and frightening events, teaching them the value of resilience and perseverance even in difficult times. The book comes with a "Discussion and Activities Guide" to help children engage deeply with the story and explore the themes as they relate to their own lives.
For our translator, Iryna Demchyshyna, a Ukrainian refugee who fled her home with her four-year-old daughter in February 2022, the story has been a source of light and inspiration. Iryna and her daughter Solomiia (whose name was given to one of the sunflowers) eventually made it to Los Angeles, where they were hosted by Colleen's sister; a fortuitous meeting that led to Iryna translating the book for Seven Seas Press. Iryna remembers the difficulty of finding Ukrainian language books for her daughter, who spoke no English when she arrived in the United States, and the joy and comfort Solomiia felt when she received a bilingual copy of The Three Sunflowers. "When Solomiia read the book, it made her feel stronger and gave her hope," recalls Iryna, "this book reminds us that everything will be alright. Don't give up! Stay strong!"
Olena Tkachuk, mother of four daughters, also displaced by the war, wrote in her endorsement of the book:
"Три Соняшники ~ The Three Sunflowers is a wonderful gift for all Ukrainians, parents and children, to read together, remember our roots, and the power to move forward. It was a pleasure to read a book in the Ukrainian language after so long without any books in our mother tongue. It's full of love and care, and the story soothes and inspires hope."
We will also be working with other grassroots organizations and individuals who directly serve children displaced by the war.
We are grateful for your kind and generous support, may the seeds of peace blossom within and all around you.
