On January 30, the ceremony of the All-Ukrainian Children’s Literature Award “Humane Book” will begin. Established by UAnimals, the award honors authors, illustrators, and publishing houses whose books foster a caring attitude toward nature in children. For us, this is not only an important ceremonial event, but also a tool for combating indifference and cruelty — one that helps build a more humane future.
Through books, we speak with children about empathy, responsibility, and respect for life. About the fact that cruelty does not emerge out of nowhere, and humanity does not develop on its own. That is why the Humane Book Award is part of our systematic work, not merely a literary distinction.
The Humane Book Award 2025 Ceremony
The ceremony took place at Kooperativ, which kindly provided the venue for the evening. We sincerely thank them for their support and the opportunity to gather for such an important occasion.
The ceremony will be hosted by Lana Chubakha — stand-up comedian, volunteer, and combat medic. She will announce the winners and guide us through an evening that promises to be warm and inspiring.
Winners of the Humane Book Award 2025
This year, the award was presented to three books that teach children empathy, care, and responsibility:
⭐️ “Snow Ice Cream”. Author by Kateryna Lazirko, illustrated by Iryna Potapenko. Publisher: Chas Maistriv Publishing House.
This book captivated the children in five families on the jury. They loved the characters, initiated discussions, and looked at the illustrations again and again. In its pages, the author reveals the problem of global warming through the story of a little zebra and suggests small steps to prevent it.
Photo: Andrii Yushchak
⭐️ “My Bullfinch Friend”. Author by Nadiika Herbish, illustrated by Anna Surhan. Publisher: The Old Lion Publishing House.
This is a story about a girl who takes care of birds during winter. It was especially relevant this winter, when, after attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, people found the strength to care not only for one another, but also for stray animals.
Photo: Andrii Yushchak
⭐️ “A Lion Doesn’t Smile in the Circus”. Author by Hanna Bulhakova, illustrated by Karina Shuba. Publisher: Ranok Publishing House.
The book explains why animals do not belong in circuses. It received the highest score from the family of publisher, philologist, and blogger Yuliia Slyvka, who has been a member of the jury for the third consecutive year.
Photo: Andrii Yushchak
A special award was also presented — sadly, a posthumous one. It was awarded to “Daddy’s Book” by Volodymyr Vakulenko, a collection of children’s poems by the writer who was abducted and killed by occupying forces in the Kharkiv region. Bright, at times humorous, and filled with love for children, Volodymyr’s poems continue to live on, nurturing kindness and light in young hearts. The award was presented to his former wife, Iryna Novitska.
Photo: Andrii Yushchak
During the ceremony, the song “November Lullaby”, based on a poem by Volodymyr Vakulenko, was performed by musician Vitalia Hrytsak. The band Tember Blanche also performed on stage.
Who Judged the Books?
This year, 338 books were nominated for the award, with seven titles shortlisted. They were evaluated by eight families: parents read the books together with their children, analyzed them, discussed them, and assigned scores. Thus, for the first time since the award was founded, the jury included not individual professionals, but entire families:
- Natalia Zhizhchenko — cultural figure, researcher of Ukrainian culture, and frontwoman of the band ONUKA; Yevhen Filatov — sound producer, composer, and leader of the band The Maneken; their children: daughter Lina and son Oleksandr.
- Yuliia Slyvka — publisher, PhD philologist, blogger, and representative of an active parenting community; her husband Ihor and daughters Darusia and Lidusia.
- Svitlana Roiz — child and family psychologist, expert in child development; Anatolii Roiz — veteran; their daughter Daria.
- Artur Proidakov — Executive Director of the MriiDi Educational Foundation, Ukrainian language and literature teacher, author of “Who Does It Like This?! How to Teach a Child to Learn”, and one of the Top 10 teachers according to the Global Teacher Prize 2023; Maryna Selezinka — speech and language therapist; their son Marko.
- Tetiana Stus — writer and founder of BaraBooka, a project supporting children’s reading and Ukrainian children’s literature; her daughter Daryna and granddaughter Uliana.
- Rostyslav Petrushko — book blogger and creator of the YouTube channel “Literary Country”; Olesia Kyryliuk — Rostyslav’s mother, software developer; Vladyslav — Rostyslav’s brother.
- Hrasia Oliiko — illustrator and children’s author, winner of the BBC Children’s Book of the Year Award 2024 and the Humane Book Award in 2023 and 2024; her daughter Nina.
- Sashko Todorchuk — founder of UAnimals, member of the Armed Forces of Ukraine; Marichka Todorchuk — founder and head of the Dobrodii Club, civic activist; their daughters Solomiia and Polina.
Our idea was to promote reading within the family. Yulia Slyvka, a permanent member of the award jury, publisher, and philologist, shared her impressions of reading together: “This year, it was especially nice to evaluate books with my children. Because it is an opportunity not only to look at a book as an artifact, but also to take into account the child’s perception. Sometimes it can be very unexpected.”
We thank the authors, illustrators, and publishing houses for creating books that foster responsibility rather than indifference. We are grateful to the jury for their thoughtful and fair evaluation.
Our special thanks go to everyone who reads together with children and discusses what they read. These conversations often become the first steps toward a conscious attitude to the world and to the lives around us.
The Humane Book Award is an integral part of our animal protection work. We believe that together we can raise a humane generation — one that knows how to empathize, respects every life, and acts responsibly.
Learn more about the Humane Book Children’s Literature Award on our website.
Main photo: dan.balashov
