Tetiana Sovgut, a Ukrainian author and designer based in Waltham, Massachusetts, has created an interactive children’s book titled “Музика в долоньках” (“Music at Your Fingertips”) to introduce young readers to traditional Ukrainian folk music and instruments. Designed primarily for children ages one to five, the book features eight traditional instruments—including the bandura, sopilka, and drymba—complemented by colorful illustrations, brief descriptions, and push-button sound recordings of authentic melodies like the traditional folk dance song “Arkan.”
The professional studio recordings allow very young children, even those unable to read yet, to hear genuine instrument sounds instead of electronic imitations. The project stems from a personal inspiration: as a trained philologist born in Kyiv, Ms. Sovgut wanted to share her homeland’s culture and folk music with her daughter, who was born outside of Ukraine, ensuring that traditional heritage becomes a lasting part of her identity. Beyond her creative work, Ms. Sovgut has a history of supporting Ukraine, earning a state award and military unit commendations for her contributions.
Ms. Sovgut handled every aspect of the project herself, from the original concept and design to the illustrations and assembly. For families living outside of Ukraine, particularly the diaspora, the book serves as a valuable tool to preserve cultural connections across generations and introduce children to unique elements of Ukraine’s musical identity long before encountering them in person.
However, because of a progressive illness, Ms. Sovgut is unable to expand the project into the larger undertaking she originally envisioned. She is selling the remaining stock—approximately 400 copies—at a reduced price with no plans for future print runs, encouraging supporters, parents, and community organizations to share and purchase the remaining books for young readers.
