Katerina Spaeth: Dedushka: Memories of My Grandpa and Ukraine

In this heartfelt episode of Books, Kids & Creations, I sit down with author–illustrator Katerina Spaeth to talk about her beautiful new picture book, Dedushka: Memories of My Grandpa and Ukraine—a tender tribute to her childhood in Kharkiv and the grandfather who helped shape her life. Katerina shares precious memories of growing up in Ukraine in the 1990s, and how the everyday magic of her relationship with her Dedushka became the emotional backbone of this book. Through soft gouache paintings, embroidery textures, and wide-eyed prose, she honors the joy, love, and resilience of Ukrainian family life.