Meet the Authors: Chinara Sultanalieva & Kaiyrbubu Cholponkulova
The people behind the books.
Chinara Sultanalieva
Curator, Author
Chinara Sultanalieva is a social entrepreneur focused on developing the Kyrgyz children's publishing sector and strengthening cultural heritage through language, storytelling, and media. She works to expand contemporary Kyrgyz cultural expression and revive forms of cultural production.
Her professional background includes work in strategic communications and reporting in the mining sector, and later work in environmental management, including sustainable development, waste management, plastic recycling, and energy efficiency initiatives implemented with international development partners.
Kaiyrbubu Cholponkulova
Author, Poet, Translator, Singer
Kaiyrbubu Cholponkulova is a Kyrgyz poet and folk singer whose work reflects resilience, self-realization, and the lived experience of women across generations. Born in the village of Cholponbai, she wrote her first poem at the age of ten, but spent most of her early life raising a family and overcoming personal hardship, including the loss of her husband at a young age.
She managed to continue her education at the National Conservatory at 60. She started to sing and returned to poetry. She published two collections: “Juryogyumyo saktap kelem tumardai” (Have Saved in My Heart as a Talisman) and “Yrga Ailangian Omur” (Life Turned into a Poem). Her writing emphasizes the importance of creative fulfillment for women at any age. She continues to be engaged in literary and creative exploration.
Creative team & credits
| Name | Role | |
|---|---|---|
| Ainel Tavaldieva (pen name “Nikkel Erin”) | Illustrator of both books; also creates her own comic — her craftsmanship can be seen throughout both titles | @little.pumpkin.ghost |
| Karina Choyubekova | Layout designer (“верстальщица”) — one of two who brought the books to their final printed form; also handled food/content styling (“Барактоо”) | @foodtimeart |
| Aizhamal Borisova | Layout designer (“верстальщица”) — one of two who brought the books to their final printed form | @jamalborisova |
| Aliya Sharshekeeva | Editor | @aliya_suran |
| Samat Barataliev | Sourced and compiled all the animal sounds and traditional instrument melodies used in the books | @sam_des |
Special thanks to Chuck Henry — without him, these books would never have come to be! Thank you for your support!