How Books Are Born: Writer Khemra Shirov Conducts a Unique Lesson at the Pushkin School
Whenever we open a book, we rarely stop to think about the person behind its creation. For children, authors often remain nothing more than names on a cover. However, the students of Class 3G at the Joint Turkmen-Russian A.S. Pushkin School were in for a treat: they had the chance to meet the person who creates these literary worlds—the renowned Turkmen writer Khemra Shirov. This meeting gave the children a glimpse behind the scenes of the writing process and an opportunity to converse with a true master of the written word.
The excitement began even before the guest stepped through the school doors. The third-graders turned into real-life detectives and researchers, focusing their investigation on the school library. They peppered the librarians with questions, tracked down all of Khemra Shirov’s books on the shelves, and immersed themselves in reading. They were eager to find out: who is the man behind these stories? What was his childhood like? What were his interests at their age, and where does he get his ideas?
It went far beyond a simple reading session; the students organized a full-scale poetry marathon. They selected the author’s poems and memorized them. During breaks and at home, they debated the right intonation for specific lines and discussed how best to convey the characters' moods and personalities. It became a point of honor for the children to show the writer that his books were known, loved, and understood here.
When the appointed time arrived, a pleasant sense of excitement filled the classroom. Khemra Shirov was welcomed by the class teacher, Zoya Leonidovna, and the school librarian, Zlata Alexandrovna. They made every effort to ensure the writer felt right at home—among friends—from the very first moment.
A large exhibition was set up in the school corridor. The author’s books were displayed on stands, and the exhibit featured a significant detail: the same stories looked out at the students from covers in two languages—Turkmen and Russian.
The schoolchildren spent a long time examining the illustrations and comparing different editions, marveling at how the same wonderful fairy tale could speak to children in different languages, transcending all boundaries.
When Khemra Shirov entered the classroom, a conversation began. The writer turned out to be a brilliant storyteller with a wonderful sense of humor. He told the children about his own childhood—about the days when he, too, sat at a school desk dreaming of adventure. But most importantly, he lifted the veil on how the imagination works. It turns out that writers don’t just invent stories out of thin air.
They simply know how to observe the world around them very closely. An ordinary walk in the park, a funny cat on a fence, a chance conversation between passersby—any of these things can become the starting point for a great, captivating book, provided one adds a touch of imagination.
Perhaps the most captivating moment was the author’s reading. When Khemra Shirov picked up one of his books and began reading excerpts, absolute silence fell over the classroom. Reading a text silently is one thing, but hearing it spoken by the creator himself is something else entirely. The writer varied his voice and used intonation to highlight key moments, making the story’s characters seem to materialize right out of thin air. The children listened intently, afraid to miss a single word.
Afterward, the class practically erupted with questions. The third-graders were curious about absolutely everything. Was it hard to come up with names for the characters? Which of his own books did the author consider his favorite? Questions poured in one after another, and Khemra Shirov conversed with the children thoughtfully—treating them like serious adult colleagues—while marveling at their insight and how well-read they were.
At the end of the meeting, when it was time to say goodbye, no one wanted to leave. Khemra Shirov donated copies of his brand-new books—fresh from the publisher and filled with engaging puzzles, poems, fairy tales, and riddles—to the school library. Now, the children will have plenty to keep them occupied during the upcoming autumn school break.
To commemorate this amazing day, everyone—children and adults alike—gathered by the school walls for a large group photo. The picture captured the children’s radiant smiles and sparkling eyes. This meeting taught the kids something vital: writers are not just distant portraits in textbooks but real, fascinating people, and reading is not a chore, but a genuine and captivating journey.
Ayna Yolbarsova
