Children in Years 5 and 6 at Bathford Church School recently enjoyed an inspiring visit from local author Claire Bramwell-Pearson and Zhenya Shkil, founder and chair of The Friends of Oleksandriya – the Bath-based charity that commissioned and published Claire’s new children’s book, Vitalii Petrenko and the Secret of the Roman Baths.
Oleksandriya is Bath’s partner city in Ukraine, and the book, beautifully illustrated by Ukrainian artist Alexandra Dikaia, has been over a year in the making. It tells the story of a young Ukrainian refugee, Vitalii Petrenko, who moves to Bath with his mother and sister and befriends a local boy. Together they explore the Roman Baths and encounter a well-known Ukrainian dragon, in a heartwarming tale of friendship, kindness and cultural understanding.
The visit linked closely with Bathford Church School’s autumn theme of identity and diversity. Pupils were given the opportunity to explore different cultures and make personal connections through a live Zoom call with a class of Ukrainian children, allowing them to chat and compare experiences. Each child also received their own signed copy of the book to take home.
Headteacher Becky Hayter said, “It was wonderful to welcome Claire and Zhenya and see our pupils so engaged in hearing about life in Ukraine. They asked lots of brilliant questions and really enjoyed meeting them both. The message of Vitalii Petrenko and this visit were both wonderful ways to demonstrate to our pupils the importance of friendship and connection with people in Ukraine, where children are living lives very different to their own.”
Vitalii Petrenko and the Secret of the Roman Baths is on sale at Mr B’s, Topping & Company Booksellers and the Bath Abbey gift shop, priced at £10, and available from Bathford Community Shop for £6.
