NetGalley ARC
Read-Aloud: NO (best for one-on-one for length)
Tags: war, faith, friendship, kindness

Originally published in 1971, this Russian tale of war, faith, and friendship would be great for individual read-aloud or small group settings. Varenka says early on in the book: "Who will care for the children who wander and get lost in the forest, and who will shelter the animals and feed the birds when winter comes." She stays behind as war encroaches and cares for travelers, children, and animals. Her nightly prayer that God will build a wall around her house to protect them all is finally answered when a large snowfall covers her house and war passes them by.

Varenka feels like a Russian folk tale, with simple drawings and Varenka hoping for peace in wartime. I liked the endurance of Varenka and how she kept up her faith. There is mention of God and Varenka praying to him for help.

What a beautifully illustrated book that would be good for kids of all ages, in my opinion. It's a beautiful story of faith and helping others. A great lesson to learn at a young age to carry with you through life.

Varenka lives in a vulnerable spot in the middle of a war. She prays that a wall is built around her house to protect her from the gun and cannon shots. A few villagers, and their animals, join her as she takes them in and gives them shelter. Varenka is a kind and beautiful soul who continues to pray. The illustrations give the reader a quaint picture of the rural and historical context of the setting. Some pages are wordier than what one sees in typical picture books, but it was all great dialogue and description. Any reader will root for Varenka and her guests to survive the brutal winter and wartime. I read this via NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and North South Books Inc for my copy of Varenka by Bernadette Watts in exchange for an honest review. It publishes September 6, 2022.
This is a beautifully illustrated book that I think any child could enjoy. It is a sweet story of faith and helping out fellow humans that resonates among all times and all cultures.

Varenka is a wonderful book about finding refuge and helping others.

This reprint has some amazing and childlike art in it that I think will help broach a difficult subject when children read it! I really enjoyed how timeless this story is, though originally from 1971, it's still very relevant today. While a heavy topic, I think it's handled with such grace.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and NorthSouth Books for providing me with a copy for an honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Varenka by Bernadette Watts is a children's picture book about war and the power of faith. The story revolves around Varenka, an old woman who cares for the children and animals of the forest near her home. According to the description, "Varenka shelters a young artist, an old farmer and his goat, and a lost child."

Overall, Varenka by Bernadette Watts is a wonderful children's picture book that deals with a tough topic in a pleasant way. One highlight of this book is how it talks about the horrors of war in a way that children will understand without any violent imagery. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're looking for a children's picture book, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in September!

A heavy topic for young children. I liked the illustrations! This could be a good conversation starter for many topics with children .

This book grabs the attention of the reader with the multiple layers woven into the storyline. The surface layer is the delightful way the author provides engaging snippets of everyday life in rural Russia (both visual and literal.) Another layer I found is the often unheard story of struggles of the uncounted casualties of war. What other layers are there to discover? I will reread this book and am sure that I will find more layers revealed!

This book is a beautiful story where Varenka is a Good Samaratin because she does not flee her home during war time and welcomes those who have nowhere to go. Beautiful illustrations , and the story tells in child appropriate ways a historical fiction of what it was like in the USSR when the fight came to your doorstep.

It also shows how good deeds and faith can help during times of trouble.

The reason I would not include this in my classroom curriculum is that I am a public school teacher and the faith part of the story would not work in my school. But certainly my own children would read it and love it.