Children Celebrate Russia Day with Russian Book Reading

More than 30 children celebrated Russia’s national holiday with a reading of Russian version The Cinderella Ballet by Aleksandra, at Russian Pointe Dance Boutique on Friday, June 15.

The children, all of whom have at least one Russian-speaking parent, were eager to hear a story in their native language and sat attentively as I read this title from Growing Through Arts' Ballet Series.

After the book reading, children learned about the Russian alphabet and acted out scenes from the story with the companion Cinderella Stage Scene Play Set. The children were also treated to an elegant brunch and had the opportunity to take photos with ballerinas dressed in regal tutus.

Inna Elterman brought her three children, ages 14, 7, and 2, to the event and said all three enjoyed the storytime. “My 7-year-old son, Eli, was very proud to show off his knowledge of Russian letters in the alphabet activity after the book reading, and my 2-year-old daughter, Kate, did not want to leave until she has rearranged the stickers in the dress-up book in every possible sequence,” Ms. Elterman said.

Victoria Friedman said her daughter was mesmerized by the Russian version of Cinderella. “Since the event, Aleksandra’s Cinderella ballet book has become the highlight of my daughter’s bed-time reading,” she said.

Hosted by the Moscow Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International, with I chair with Prince Piotr Galitzen, the event was held in honor of Russia’s national holiday, which is celebrated on June 12 and commemorates the day in 1990 when the Russian parliament formally declared sovereignty over Russia. The event was co-hosted by Rossotrudnichestvo — the (Russian) Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Cooperation — which aims to promote the study of Russian language.