On June 5, 2026, within the framework of the XXVI International Competition of Young Designers “Pecherskі Kashtany”, the final of the children's educational book competition “LET'S GROW TOGETHER!” was held for the first time, dedicated to the creation and illustration of books for the youngest readers.

Students of universities and colleges of Ukraine who are studying graphic design, multimedia design, book illustration, etc. participated in the Competition. More than 60 competition applications were submitted in the nominations “Printed Book” and “Tactile Book”. The works presented in the nomination “Printed Book” are focused on interactive content for young readers with elements of game-based educational material. The competition works in the nomination “Tactile Book” are focused, first of all, on the opportunity to learn information in books by touch, also forming the tactile experience of the child.

The author of the idea and the main moderator of the competition “LET'S GROW TOGETHER!” Nataliia Chuprina, Doctor of Study of Arts, Professor, Guarantor of the educational program «Graphic Design».

The submitted works were evaluated by a professional international jury, which included Kateryna Critchlow, lecturer at Birmingham City University, designer, member of the Royal Society of Artists FRSA (Great Britain), Stela Railean, author and illustrator of children's books, creative director of the studio "Loopina Creative", lecturer at the Ion Creange State Pedagogical University (Moldova), Daryna Yakymenko, graphic designer of the merchandising department of the company "VIYAR" (Ukraine), Kalyna Pashkevych, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, Dean of the Faculty of Design of the KNUTD, Nataliia Chuprina, Doctor of Study of Arts, Professor, Head of the Department of Art and Fashion Design, Liliіa Zhuravel-Zmіeіeva, Doctor of Philosophy, Head of the Department of Graphic Design, Olha Yezhova, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Professor, Professor of the Department of Graphic Design, guarantor of the educational program "Design (by Types)", as well as leading teachers Faculty of Design of KNUTD Oksana Maznichenko, Oleksandr Vasyliev, Iryna Chubotina.

The jury members highly appreciated the creativity of the submitted works, the content and artistic unity of the developed book projects.

Based on the results of the discussion, the winners were determined:

Nomination "Printed Book":

1st place – “River Friends”, Oleksandra Khramova, Kyiv National University of Technologies and Design;

2nd place – “For the Brave”, Maryna Horova, Khmelnytskyi National University;

2nd place – “In the Footsteps of Wild Paws”, Kateryna Stuzhenko, Kyiv National University of Technologies and Design;

3rd place – Coloring Guide “On the Paths of Nalyvayka”, Iryna Zorina, Kherson National Technical University;

3rd place – “Journey of the Eared Cabbage”, Alina Sadova, Kyiv National University of Technologies and Design;

3rd place – “The House We Took with Us”, Lina Solonenko, Kyiv University of Culture.

Fragments of the printed book "River Friends" by O. Khramova

The diplomas of the winners in the nomination are posted at the link

Nomination "Tactile Book":

1st place – “My Little Dolly”, Sofiіa Virotchenko, Kyiv National University of Technology and Design;

2nd place – “Children’s Book”, Tetіana Bozhenok, Kyiv National University of Technology and Design;

2nd place – “At the Doctor”, Khrystyna Muzyka, Kyiv National University of Technology and Design;

3rd place – “Fairy Lily and the Touchable World”, Oryna Pugach, Kyiv National University of Technology and Design;

3rd place – “Brushing My Teeth”, Yeva Stoіanenko, Kyiv National University of Technology and Design;

3rd place – “ZooAbetka”, Daryna Prokopіuk, Lutsk National Technical University.

Fragments of the tactile book "My Little Dolly" by S. Virotchenko

Also, the jury awarded a special prize to the competition work of Yelyzaveta Kapusta, a student at the Kyiv Professional College of Applied Sciences, for the consistent and detailed development of a methodology for using the interactive tactile book “Seven Pages – Seven Little Discoveries” for children aged 2–4:

Fragments of the children's book "Seven Pages - Seven Little Discoveries" by Ye. Kapusta

The diplomas of the winners in the nomination are posted at the link

The Organizing Committee of the Competition expresses its gratitude to the leaders of the winners – teachers of the Kyiv National University of Technologies and Design, Kherson National Technical University, Lutsk National Technical University, Khmelnytskyi National University and leaders of the Competition participants, representing a wide geography of higher education institutions! Acknowledgements to the leaders of the winners are posted at the link

We invite everyone to become participants in the children's educational book competition "LET'S GROW TOGETHER!" next year.

15.06.2026