Vitalii Petrenko and the Secret of the Roman Baths

The Charitable Association, The Friends of Oleksandriya, in Ukraine, announces the release of a new children’s novella, Vitalii Petrenko and the Secret of the Roman Baths by Claire Bramwell-Pearson. Set in the city of Bath, this is the tale of an unlikely friendship across cultures, sprinkled with oodles of dragon-filled magic. Now available in paperback, this new title is the perfect fantasy read for children aged 8 and beyond.

Vitalii Petrenko and the Secret of the Roman Baths follows talented footballer Vitalii, his mother Tetiana, and little sister Nadia, who flee the war in Ukraine and settle in the outskirts of Bath. Their arrival coincides with fish mysteriously disappearing from supermarkets and ponds all over Bath. Vitalii is befriended by hopelessly disorganised but history-loving Edward Austen who shows Vitalii Roman coins that he has discovered in his back garden. While waiting to consult the Roman Bath’s Curator, Vitalii accidentally drops magic coins into the warm water which awaken a Ukrainian three-headed dragon, Zmiy Horynych…and an unexpected adventure begins.

Author Claire Bramwell-Pearson, illustrator Alexandra Dikaia and Chair of the Friends of Oleksandriya, Zhenya Shkil

Both heartwarming and heroic, the narrative is complemented by captivating illustrations by Ukrainian artist Alexandra Dikaia, bringing the story’s characters and settings to life. Whether read aloud at bedtime, used in a classroom setting, or independently explored at the weekend, Vitalii Petrenko and the Secret of the Roman Baths ignites the imagination while spotlighting Britain’s solidarity with Ukraine in a spellbinding and strikingly original way.

Author Claire Bramwell-Pearson completed a Communication Arts Degree and subsequently worked on ITV’s successful cartoon series The Telebugs, followed by Walt Disney’s groundbreaking Who Framed Roger Rabbit? Following a stint in New York, she worked for Steven Spielberg on Balto, We’re Back and American Tail II, and Warner Bros Studios on Space Jam and Quest for Camelot. In 2019, New York’s renowned Gotham Writers Workshop led her to the wonderful Writing for Young People MA at Bath Spa University.

Alexandra Dikaia is a Ukrainian illustrator, writer, and concept artist with over fifteen years of experience in design and illustration. She is the author and illustrator of The Moonmill Fairy Tales and founder of Add Magic Academy, where she leads creative courses and challenges. She has been a featured speaker at Women Techmakers events inspired by Google and she illustrated a non-fiction book about chocolate for the prominent Staryi Lev Publishing House. Her art blends simplicity with profound meaning, embodying her philosophy of healthy minimalism and creativity as a path to self-discovery.

Children in Oleksandriya with the book

The Friends of Oleksandriya is a charitable association that promotes support and solidarity for Ukraine, particularly between Bath & North East Somerset and Oleksandriya. It believes that by working together, a difference can be made to people’s lives and a better world can be created. The team is made up of volunteers who are passionate about helping others and creating impact.

Since its establishment, The Friends of Oleksandriya, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Bath, managed to raise more than £100,000 to buy 13 7.5kW generators, a 70kW generator for the Children’s Hospital in Oleksandriya, and a 100kW generator for the Central Hospital of Oleksandriya. The Friends of Oleksandriya believe that everyone deserves access to basic human needs such as food, shelter, education, and medical care. In December 2024, Oleksandriya received a 200kVA generator from the charity for one of their hospitals, as well as over one thousand Christmas presents for children of all ages.

Zhenya Shkil, Alexandra Dikaia and Claire Bramwell-Pearson

Founder and trustee of The Friends of Oleksandriya Zhenya Shkil says: “We were extremely lucky to be introduced to a graduated writer for Young People from Bath Spa University, who has an incredibly original vision and vibrant imagination. When we first met, I told Claire about a children’s café I went to in Oleksandriya and how there was a huge statue of Ukrainian fairytale characters outside it. One of them was Zmiy Horynych and the other was Kotyhoroshko, who fought Zmiy Horynych, and I showed her the picture. She managed to take the antagonist of the story and transform him into a sympathetic character, moving him to Bath and creating a magical world, a new form of folklore.”

Now available in paperback, the book was featured as part of the Bath Children’s Literature Festival and can be purchased from a range of local independent shops, including Mr B’s Emporium, the Bath Abbey Gift Shop, Topping & Company Booksellers, Bathford Community School, and the bookshop in Bradford-on-Avon. The official book launch will take place on Saturday 8th November 2025 at 2pm at the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution. It’s free to attend and everyone is welcome; all the details can be found here. In addition, I hope to introduce The Real Chrisparkle readers to the author Claire Bramwell-Pearson in an interview very soon!