Коли ти живеш далеко від України, кожна річ рідною мовою стає особливою. Це не просто слова на папері — це зв'язок із корінням, це вечірні обійми з дитиною, це запах рідного дому, який ми намагаємося зберегти в серці. Саме для українських родин у діаспорі я створила двомовну книгу "Sunny the Sunflower: Sunny's Vyshyvanka".
Finding high quality children's books that represent Ukrainian culture abroad is not easy. You go to a local bookstore and see hundreds of titles, but none of them talk about the traditions you grew up with. You want your kids to see characters that look like them and celebrate the same holidays. Without these stories, a big part of their identity stays empty. They might start to feel that their heritage is something hidden or not important enough to be in a real book.
When children don't see their culture in the media they consume, they lose interest in it. You might try to explain things yourself, but without visual help, it is hard to keep a toddler engaged. They need bright colors, simple words, and a friend they can recognize. If your home library only has local books, the connection to Ukraine becomes weaker every year. You need a way to make your heritage visible and proud on your own bookshelf.
This is why I created the Sunny series. It is a collection of bilingual books designed to bring Ukrainian heart to homes around the world. The main character, Sunny the Sunflower, explores the world of traditions in a way that is easy for kids to understand. Each book is written in English and Ukrainian, so you can practice language while reading a cozy story. You can find the whole collection here
The Sunny series is more than just reading. It is a complete experience. For every book, I designed matching toys. When a child sees the character on the page and then holds the same toy in their hands, the story comes alive. It creates an emotional bond that lasts. You can check the patterns for these characters in my shop and see how other families collect them on my Instagram.
Behind every handmade item there is a person with a story. Many people see a finished toy or a book on a shelf and think it is just a product. They don't see the hours of work or the reason why these things were created in the first place. It is easy to buy a mass produced toy from a big store, but those items don't have a voice. They don't tell a story about a culture or a dream.
When you buy something without knowing the maker, you miss out on the connection. For a creator, it is hard to show the world that their work is more than just a hobby. If people don't understand the mission, they might see a handmade book as just another item for kids. Without sharing the "why" behind the stitches, the work stays quiet. It doesn't reach the people who truly care about heritage and handmade quality.
I want to change that and introduce myself properly. My name is Mariana, and I am the person behind the hooks and pages. I don't just make toys. I create what I call "paper ambassadors" of Ukraine. My mission started when I realized how hard it is for families living abroad to keep their culture alive. I wanted to give them a tool that is soft, warm, and easy to love. You can see my journey on my Instagram.
У світі, де дитячі полиці переповнені супергероями з відомих кіновсесвітів, ми часто забуваємо про силу наших рідних символів. Коли я тільки починала створювати Соняшника Санні, я ставила собі питання: "А чи зацікавить він сучасну дитину?". Сьогодні я впевнено кажу — так. Бо дітям потрібні герої, які розмовляють з ними про рідне, зрозуміле і світле.
Moving to a new country is a big step, but it often comes with a hidden problem. You see your child picking up the local language so fast that they start to forget their mother tongue. It happens quietly. First, they answer you in English, then they struggle to find the right words in Ukrainian. You want them to belong to the new world, but you feel a deep pain knowing they are losing their identity.
How do we explain the concept of "home," "identity," and "tradition" to a three-year-old? These are complex ideas, yet they form the foundation of who we are. As a Ukrainian creator living in a global community, I’ve realized that the most effective way to pass on these values is not through lectures, but through play. My character, Sunny the Sunflower, was created to be more than just a toy—he is a gentle teacher of Ukrainian heritage for children everywhere.
Living far from your home country brings a constant worry. You look at your kids and wonder if they will ever truly understand where they come from. It is hard to keep traditions alive when the environment around you is completely different. You want your children to feel a connection to their roots, but you don't know how to start. Standard history books or long lectures about the past are just too boring for a toddler. They want to play, not sit through a lesson about symbols and old customs.
In an increasingly connected world, raising a "global child" has become a priority for many parents. We want our children to be empathetic, open-minded, and linguistically diverse. But for those of us in the Ukrainian diaspora, or for families interested in Slavic culture, there is an added layer of importance: preserving a connection to our roots while flourishing in a new environment. This is exactly why I created the bilingual edition of my book, Sunny the Sunflower: Sunny's Vyshyvanka.
Every creator knows the moment when a project becomes something more than just a combination of materials. For me, that moment happened with Sunny. What started as a simple crochet project—loops of yellow and green yarn—transformed into a character with a heart, a history, and eventually, his own book series on Amazon. Today, I want to share how Sunny the Sunflower evolved from a physical toy into a storyteller that carries the spirit of Ukraine to children around the globe.
.jpeg){kind=spacer}
Can a toy tell a story of a nation? When I created Sunny the Sunflower, I wanted to capture the warmth of the Ukrainian sun and our rich cultural traditions. My goal was to design something large, soft, and comforting that feels exactly like home. Sunny became my very first original design — a 60 cm tall giant "snuggler" made from high-quality plush yarn.
As more families welcomed Sunny into their homes, I realized he needed a voice to share his heritage with the world. This inspiration led me to become an author on Amazon KDP. I wrote a bilingual children's book titled "Sunny’s Vyshyvanka". It tells the heartwarming story of a sunflower searching for his own Vyshyvanka — the traditional Ukrainian embroidered shirt that serves as a powerful lucky charm.
This book is a vital tool for the many Ukrainian families currently living abroad. Being bilingual (English and Ukrainian), it allows children to maintain their native language while staying deeply connected to their roots through storytelling.
Buy the full book on Amazon
Get the digital crochet pattern
Can a toy tell a story of a nation? When I made Sunny the Sunflower, I wanted to show the warmth of the Ukrainian sun and our traditions. I wanted to make something big and soft that feels like home.
Sunny was my first own design. He is not just a plush toy. He is a friend. He is 60 cm tall and very soft. I made him bright yellow like the fields in Ukraine. Many people liked him, and I realized he needs a voice. He needed to tell the world where he came from.
That is how I became an author on Amazon. I wrote a book called Sunny’s Vyshyvanka. It is about a sunflower who wants his own traditional embroidered shirt. In Ukraine, we call it Vyshyvanka. It is our lucky charm. Every stitch has a meaning.
The book is bilingual. It has English and Ukrainian text. I know many Ukrainian families live abroad now. This book helps children keep their native language. Parents can read in English and show Ukrainian words. It helps to stay connected to your roots.
You can also make your own Sunny. The crochet pattern is available in my shop. It is a big project but very rewarding. You can find it on Shopify or in my book with 5 patterns on Amazon.
Bring a piece of the Ukrainian sun to your home. You can find the bilingual book and the crochet collection on Amazon, or get the digital pattern in my shop.
Shop the Book on Amazon.
Get the Crochet Pattern on Etsy
Follow my journey on Instagram.