Olya & Olena Escape the Invaders

BY OLYA ILLICHOV and MADDY SHYBA, ILLUSTRATED BY DIANA BEZUKH
Song/Poem by Volodymyr Shyba

Publisher proceeds for The Little Book and Olya & Olena Escape the Invaders go to the Canada Ukraine Foundation,  Doctors Without Borders, Chytomo Aid for Publishers, and "Home In Our Hearts."

DONATION TALLY! $34,700! (February 15, 2023 Tally)

BUY THE BOOK NOW FROM: or Amazon, Indigo/Chapters, Durvile Shopify site

Buy the Audiobook KOBO & AUDIBLE | PDF link for audiobook listeners

BONUS FEATURES, Excerpts, Audio, and Songs

MEDIA: Gormley on Demand | CJME Radio | CKUA Radio Network

ANNOUNCING: The “Home In Our Hearts” Donation Program  A percentage of the publisher’s proceeds go to Речі першої необхідності, after-arrival support for Ukrainian refugees.“Thank you so much! This is truly kind of you. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.” —Yuliya Gorbach, St. Vladimir’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Evacuee Welcome Committee

"Olya and Olena Escape the Invaders"  is about two young Ukrainian ballet students who escape the Russian invasion and begin a frightful journey. They must find safety with only simple instructions from their teacher: “Run away through the city and forest, then take a train far away from the explosions.” How will they escape the invaders? What will they do without their parents at their side? With the help of many kind helpers along the way, and a little dog named Rinnie, Olya and Olena find their path to freedom and a new home, where they too become important helpers.

Excerpt: “There was a rumble of thunder in the distance as they picked up their bags, but they noticed through the studio windows that the sky was clear blue, without a cloud.
“That’s weird,” said Olya, looking out across the school campus and towards the city. She looked down at the street and she was surprised to see military tanks and unfamiliar soldiers approaching.
They heard the rumbling sound again, and then louder. This time, the room shook with loud booms and the booming noise didn’t stop. Olena grabbed Olya and pulled her away from the window. When they looked back, a cloud of fire and dust rose up from the walls of the apartment building across the road, which was being destroyed before their very eyes.
“What’s happening?” Olya shouted. Both girls were frightened and confused, but too stunned to move. Suddenly, they each felt a firm hand grasp their wrists and they were pulled toward the stairs.
“This way!” shouted their teacher, who had come back to bring them to safety.”