I wrote this book
My name is Natalya Misyuk
I am from Crimea, but I have been living in Lviv since 2014. I am the author of the project “Let's Make Text,” which makes people fall in love with the Ukrainian language.
I aalso won the Scholarship of the President of Ukraine for young writers.
Family story
The book tells about the connection between generations and the importance of family warmth.
Fall 2025
To be published in fall 2025
Mamino Publishing House
136 pages
8+
For middle and high school students, as well as adults.
What is the book about?
Little Natalya lives in Crimea and is six years old. She can read and write and really wants to be seven as soon as possible, because then she will be able to go to school. Now, while her parents are at work, the girl mostly spends time with her grandparents. In particular, with her great-grandmother Ustia, who is about to turn a hundred years old!
What's it like to play catch-up and hide-and-seek with such an old grandmother? How does a great-grandmother live? Why can't she build a construction set and isn't she interested in dolls? How many fairy tales can a great-grandmother make up, and why does everyone say that Natalochka took after her? And the main question: why are adults such weirdos?
History of creation
Everything described in the book actually happened to me. When I was little, I lived in Crimea and often spent time with my great-grandmother Ustia.
I wrote this book for all people who want to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of family warmth.
Who is Granny Ustia?
And why am I writing about her?
This is my great-grandmother. She lived to be 101 and died when I was 8, so I remember her well. Her name was Ustyniya Ivanovna Tkanko (née Vedmidska).
Grandma Ustia never learnt how to read or write, but she knew how to make up fairy tales. She told me and other children countless stories. I still carry the warmth of these stories in my heart.
And I also became a writer, and now I sometimes make up stories about animals myself. I think I took after Grandma Ustia.
Family album
Photo from the author's family archive.
 Little Natalya and granny UstiaLittle Natalya and granny Ustia Approximately 1993 |  Granny Ustia with her daughtersGranny Ustia with her daughters Approximately 1925 |  Great-grandfather MykhayloGreat-grandfather Mykhaylo, granny Ustia's husband Approximately 1916 |  HouseGranny Ustia's house (Chernihiv oblast) Approximately1950 рік |
|---|---|---|---|
 Little Natalya with a dollLittle Natalya with the doll presented by granny Ustia's relatives Approximately 1994 |  Grannt Oleksandra (granny Ustia's daughter) and granny UstiaGrannt Oleksandra (granny Ustia's daughter) and granny Ustia 1980-s |  Great-grandmother NatalkaGreat-grandmother Natalka (on the right) with her friend Approximetely 1918 |  Great-grandfather MartynGreat-grandfather Martyn Approximetely 1918 |
 Granny Ustia turning 100 years oldGranny Ustia's 100th birthday celebration The 27th of September 1995 |  Great-grandfather Martyn and his sister Yavdokhaстра ЯвдохаGreat-grandfather Martyn and his sister Yavdokha 1960-s |
For Libraries
The book "I Took After Granny Ustia" has received a grant from the Ukrainian Book Institute - and that's great. The first edition (1,500 copies) will be distributed to Ukrainian libraries in the fall of 2025. There it will be available free of charge to all readers.
The second, commercial, edition will also be sold from the fall of 2025.
