In Celebration of Kyrgyz Language Day: Globus and Bereke Books Have Published New Children's Books

For the second year in a row, Globus has been supporting the publication of children’s books in the Kyrgyz language. Last year, the children’s book Alippe was published. This year, the project continued: to mark National Language Day, Bereke Books and Globus presented the series Berekeluu Jomoktor. It features stories about heroes familiar from Kyrgyz epics and legends.

Why children’s books, specifically? As children, we listen to them before bedtime, root for the heroes, rejoice at a happy ending, and sometimes fall asleep before the story is over. Later, we realize that along with these stories, we were taught values such as goodness and justice, respect for elders, friendship, courage, and responsibility. And we also learned the language in which these stories were passed down from generation to generation.

That is why it is important for children to have books in which they can encounter characters from their own culture in their native language.

That was precisely the goal Bereke Books set for itself when creating *Berekeluu Jomoktor*. Globus supported the initiative by continuing the collaboration that had begun a year earlier with the release of Alippe .

The new series consists of five books. Each one tells its own story and explores a separate theme. In the book Manas, young readers meet Manas when he is still a child. Through the hero’s story, the authors explore themes of friendship, unity, and mutual support. Sanzhyra focuses on family history. After reading it, children can work with their parents to remember their ancestors and record the names of seven generations. Special pages are provided in the book for this purpose. Umai Ene tells of a mother’s love and care. Maral Ene reminds us of humanity’s connection to nature and the need to treat it with care. And Zhanil Myrza introduces children to a heroine who was brave, independent, and a good decision-maker.

Gulnaz Asakeeva, the author of the series, says she wanted to make children’s first encounter with these characters simple and accessible.

“I wanted to tell these stories to young children in a language that is familiar and simple to them, omitting episodes that are too complex for a child’s understanding. At an early age, a child doesn’t need to know the entire epic or legend. What’s far more important is their first encounter with the characters.”

If, after reading, a child wants to learn even more about their family, history, language, and culture, then the book has fulfilled its purpose.

As one of the largest players in Kyrgyzstan’s retail market, Umai Retail sees its role not only in developing commerce but also in supporting initiatives related to the Kyrgyz language and the country’s culture. The group’s retail division comprises more than 170 stores operating under the Globus, “Narodny,” “Dostor,” and SPAR brands. Every day, they serve more than 300,000 customers. On this scale, support for cultural and educational projects goes beyond a single campaign. Books, in particular, become more than just a part of everyday life: they can be found on store shelves, purchased for children, given as gifts to loved ones, or read together at home—and they serve as a connecting thread between children and knowledge of their native culture and language..

The first print run of “Berekeluu Jomoktor” will consist of 500 copies of each of the five books, for a total of 2,500 copies. Some of the copies will go on sale, while others will be donated by Globus to charitable organizations. The books can be purchased at the Globus 1 store (53/1 Aaly Tokombayev Street / Sukhe Bator Street).

Supporting children and their development remains one of Umai Retail’s key areas of focus. The #UmaiRetailForChildren program has become a cornerstone of the company’s socially responsible business initiatives and, for many years now, has brought together projects in the fields of education, culture, and child development, helping to preserve the younger generation’s connection to the country’s language, history, and cultural heritage.