Publishers Weekly, quoting Anastasiia Zagorui’s survey for Chytomo from late March and early April, writes that, of publishers in Ukraine today, “10% said they were forced to stop their operations, including 4mamas Publishing House, Abrykos, Booksha, DIPA, Mamino, Oleksandr Savchuk, Osnova Publishing Group, and Smoloskyp. Others, such as Blym-Blym, Ïzhak, and Klio, have been severely compromised. The majority of publishers, 51%, continue to publish but have altered their operating models, taking such measures as reducing their working hours. Thirty-nine percent of publishers had not changed their models when the survey was taken.” (https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/international/international-book-news/article/89463-the-war-s-toll-on-ukrainian-publishers.html)
This is not specific to Children’s publishers, but gives an immediate signal that things need to be done to help support Ukrainian publishers in this time.
Moving on from the current implications for publishers in Ukraine, it is of utmost importance to acknowledge the destruction of libraries and the continuous threat to libraries that the Russian war poses. UNESCO (as of the 27th of June 2022) writes that seven libraries that are considered cultural sites have been destroyed thus far: in Chernihiv the Chernihiv Library for Youth, the Chernihiv Regional Universal Scientific Library V. G. Korolenko and the Central City Library M. Kotsiubynsky have all been destroyed. In Kyiv the Central City Library in Irpin and the Makarivska Public Library have both been devastated. In Kharkiv the State Scientific Library has been damaged, as well as the Central City Library V. G. Korolenko in Mariupol. Looking to the specific case of the Chernihiv Regional Youth Library, destroyed on March 11th, it is now being rebuilt as Ukraine has regained control of Chernihiv (https://social.network.europa.eu/@EU_Commission/108221874996302596). As of January, 2023, UNESCO reports that further libraries have been damaged; the Village library in Pidhaine, Kyiv; the Makariv Public Library in Makariv, Kyiv; and the Severodonetsk Central City Library in the Luhansk region.
For up-to-date information on damaged cultural sites in Ukraine from UNESCO, visit their dedicated webpage here.
The Ukrainian Institute has shared Serhii Laievskyi’s before and after images, illustrating the damage to the Chernihiv Library for Youth the Russian war has inflicted.
According to the Ukrainian Institute of Books, last August there were 2,616 library employees safe, 264 in relative safety, and 12 libraries in danger. 2,792 libraries were able to operate in full, 25 partially, and 82 were unable to work (survey taken last summer).
The Ukrainian Institute of Books have also created a catalogue of new Ukrainian children’s and adult’s books.
Many publishers and booksellers remain active today in Ukraine. Here are some publishers (mostly children’s), their webpages, and their current updates. Please consider supporting them by buying books!
A-ba-ba-ha-la-ma-ha are based in Kyiv and continue to sell Ukrainian children’s books. Check out their instagram here.