“Returning to Her Homeland”: A Review of Babushka is Homesick by Carola Schmidt.

 

Illustrated by Vinicius Melo. (2019; Facebook: @MyLovelyBabushka). ISBN: 9798603382616.

Babushka is Homesick is the sequel to Tell Me a Story, Babushka, which I recently reviewed (and loved!). Babushka, in the first book, tells her granddaughter Karina about how she came to America after escaping a camp in Siberia following the invasion and seizure of grain in Ukraine by the Russians.

In the sequel, Babushka decides to return to Ukraine—for the first time since she was taken from her home by the soldiers—on a trip sponsored by the Ukrainian Church.

While the first book centered solely on Babushka (which means “little grandmother”) and Karina, Babushka is Homesick reveals a house full of energetic grandchildren from a broad array of ethnicities and four of Babushka’s friends, who are all very unique in appearance and wonderfully, whimsically illustrated by Vinicius Melo.

Speaking of Melo’s illustrations, you will want to take your time with them, especially the opening one, which is filled with all kinds of elements that cue not only Ukrainian culture but daily life at Babushka’s. Another illustration, spread over two pages, on which you can spend a lot of time is on pages 18 and 19, when Babushka and friends first set out to explore the city. Celebration of diversity is everywhere in this book.

Melo also uses various techniques that bring to life the rich textures of the blankets, curtains, and other Eastern European fabric designs. I found the illustrations of the religious iconography to be equally engaging.  

Having not been in their homeland since they were children, the women are astonished by how Ukraine has changed and modernized. Their experiences with food (borscht and varenyky: known in America as pirogues), culture, and sightseeing give us a glimpse into life in modern Ukraine, which sits in stark contrast to the Russian invasion (called the Holodomor) in the first book.

In the end, as much as she has enjoyed her visit to Ukraine, Babushka is eager to return home to her many grandchildren, her arms laden with gifts, including matryoshkas (“little matron”), or nesting dolls, which played a significant role in Babushka’s escape from Siberia on a train when she was a child. They have a different message here—one that is equally inspiring and inspiriting.

As I mentioned in my first review, these books not only celebrate the strength and wisdom of our grandmothers—they offer an opportunity to learn about different nationalities and cultures and the reasons why so many immigrants came to America in the first half of the twentieth century.