Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:  Joan Brander, 604-275-8169, joan@babasbeeswax.com

From toddlers to teachers—engaging in the wonder of pysanky and their symbols is an educational opportunity

VANCOUVER, BC — March 1, 2018 —  More than just another colouring page. A first of-its-kind book demystifies the symbolism of pysanky with a rich array of large-format drawings. These can be coloured by children or mounted in classrooms as teaching aids.

In My First Pysanka: Symbols my Baba taught me, ($9.95 Baba’s Beeswax, March 2018) author Joan Brander draws on not only her Ukrainian culture and heritage but also on her experience promoting pysanky to teachers and children. She shares traditional pysanky symbols that were passed down through the generations learned as a child from her grandmother whom she called “Baba”.

·                  Over 70 hand-drawn images

·                  No stock photos are used

·                  Symbols are grouped into categories

·                  Drawings are simple and uncomplicated

·                  Pages can be mounted as teaching aids

·                  Avoids pitfalls of low resolution online images

Kids are fascinated with pysanky and the symbols they can write on a fragile egg. But they need simple designs to balance the skills they need for the technique. In response to the growing interest in Ukrainian Easter eggs and the need for teaching aids, I created this book to complement other resources used by educators. Images in other colouring books or available online are too complicated for children.

Joan Brander has partnered with teachers and schools since 1991 by giving workshops and demonstrations to kids of all ages and levels of experience. Her range of publications and teaching aids include a bibliography, children’s activity book, videos, powerpoint, pamphlets, newsletter, and eBooks.

My First Pysanka: Symbols my Baba taught me ($9.95, 80 pages, 8-1/2” x 11”, paperback, ISBN 978-1-897253-48-9) is available online at BabasBeeswax.com, at Ukrainian book stores, or by calling 604-275-8169.

Baba’s Beeswax has everything from books and resources to kits and supplies for making pysanky Ukrainian Easter eggs the traditional way with beeswax and dyes. For more information please visit www.babasbeeswax.com

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