This book introduces us to extraordinary creatures who appear in a home precisely when magic is needed most. Not loud or spectacular magic, but something warm,
intimate, and deeply human — the kind children truly need. In The Secret Life of the Lubomixes, magic has a name.
Or rather, three names. A Lubomix is born at the very moment a baby enters the world and a mother, seeing her child for the first time, says: “I love you.” That wave of love spreads as warmth across the newborn’s tiny body, their eyes begin to shine with happiness — and this is when a Lubomix comes into being.
At first, they are very small and completely bald. With every loving word spoken by an adult to a child, soft fur begins to grow. With every burst of a child’s laughter, magical abilities awaken. And when an adult embraces a child, a Lubomix learns how to wrap the world in a gentle, protective cloud of magic. This is how closely children and Lubomixes are connected.
To reflect balance and inclusivity, Lubomixes come in different forms: Lulu appears in families with girls, Mimi in families with boys, Lumi in families with children of all genders. Yet they all share the same essence — kindness, devotion, and the remarkable ability to arrive exactly when a child needs a friend the most.
The author of the book is Iryna Kotlyarevska, a children’s writer, Bachelor of Philosophy and Master of Political Science, but above all — a mother of four children: two boys and two girls. This unique combination of academic background and lived parental experience gives her a profound understanding of a child’s inner world — their imagination, hopes, and expectations, especially during those moments when life feels dull without gadgets and the desire to dream takes over.
The Secret Life of the Lubomixes is more than a fairy tale. It is a playful book and a small encyclopedia of everyday wonders, where children explore the world through stories, illustrations, and interactive activities. The book features characters of different nationalities, descriptions of the most fascinating homes around the globe where people live alongside their Lubomixes, games that train attention and clever thinking, as well as opportunities to learn flags and basic greetings and farewells in different languages. A special place is given to stories about the origins of the world’s most unusual sweets.
Lubomixes are great lovers of treats — something that instantly bonds them with children on an emotional level. Illustrations play a vital role throughout the book. They are abundant, detailed, and inviting — encouraging children to linger, observe, invent, and imagine. For adults, this is a key marker of quality in children’s literature; for children, it is an invitation to immerse themselves fully in a world free from screens and hurry.
At the very end, readers discover a delightful secret: the chance to paste in their own photograph next to the image of their personal Lubomix. In this way, the book becomes truly personal, the story becomes intimate, and the Lubomix becomes unmistakably theirs. It is often said that this book is used to treat sadness and boredom — the modern companions of childhood in moments without the internet or digital devices. Because The Secret Life of the Lubomixes by Iryna Kotlyarevska reminds us that real magic begins with love, play, and imagination.
