ALMATY– A fantasy story about the fascinating adventures of a young boy and his friends has just been published to inspire children to be curious about Kazakh culture, the language and the country’s rich history.
Titled“In Search of the Golden Cup: the Adventures of Batu and His Friends,” the new book was written by Kazakh author and PhD of Philological Science Zira Nayrizbayeva.
The tale follows Batu and his school friends as they meet Aspara, the prince of the Massagets, an ancient ethnic group that lived in what is now contemporary Kazakhstan. The group sets off on a journey to find a stolen sacred cup of wisdom and peace.
While searching for the relic, the adventurous children encounter different mythological creatures, including the sacred bird Samryk, which helps the main characters defeat their enemies.
The author also wanted to nurture a sense of patriotism and solidarity among the young, as well as illustrate that a person, even a child, should take responsibility for their own deeds and for their family and country in general.
The illustrations for the book were created by talented young Kazakhstan artist Timur Davletgireev, who recently published his own creative comic papers,which were rendered in manga style.
There are plans to translate the book into the Kazakh language and also create a cartoon programme about Batu and his friends, while an internet portal, interactive games and a journal for children will be rolled out soon.
