Aminjon Shookuhi, author of Where Does the Water Come From? Jan Seabaugh holds a Ph.D. in Humanities, Studies in Literature from the University of Texas at Dallas. She has taught English and writing at St. Mary's University and also translates Russian, French, and German. She lives in South Bend, Indiana, with her husband Alan.
Aminjon Khodjibaev, better known by his pen name Aminjon Shokoohi is one of the most prominent Tajik writers of the twentieth century. He was born in the Republic of Tajikistan in 1923 and grew up in the village of Rumon, a few miles away from the ancient city of Khujand. Khujand is referred to by historians as Alexandria Eskhata, where Alexander the Great founded a Hellenistic settlement, while leading his troops into Central Asia. Aminjon Shokoohi made his debut as a young author in the late 1940’s. His poems are considered some of the best in modern Tajik poetry. He later became a novelist and dramatist, and his work also includes a libretto for an opera, as well as classic Persian poetry forms. Shokoohi wrote several collections of children’s poetry and later published his trilogy, known primarily by the title of its first book Where Does the Water Come From? The story, set in Shokoohi’s home village, represents a child’s inherent sense of curiosity and desire to explore. The story also teaches everyone about the delicate nature of our environment. Shookohi was granted the highly coveted Rudaki Award and after his death was named the National Writer of Tajikistan. Facilities and streets bear his name in Tajikistan, and his statue is set in the front yard of the school where he once studied.
Willard Manus, author of A Dog Called Leka.
Willard Manus was born and raised in New York City but lived for many years in the Greek islands, mostly in the village of Lindos, on the island of Rhodes. His experiences there were published in a memoir, This Way to Paradise--Dancing on the Tables. While living in the Aegean, he also wrote novels, plays, and articles--and learned how to sail and spearfish.
Kornei Chukovsky, author of Doctor Ouch.
Kornei Chukovsky was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1882. In addition to Doctor Ouch, he is the author of Crocodile, Giant Roach, The Telephone, and From Two to Five, a study of the language of children. In addition, he translated Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, and Walt Whitman. Chukovsky died in Moscow in 1969.
Our Translators
Karim Khodjibaev and Moukhabbat Khodjibaeva, translators of Where Does the Water Come From?
Karim Khodjibaev, the author's son, is a professional linguist who works in the field of adult education and language research. Together with his wife and co-authors, he published a large volume Tajik-English Dictionary. Some of his early publications are related to the socio-political dynamics of Central Asia. Khodjibaev holds an M.A. in linguistics and is a certifiied translator and interpreter in several languages. Moukhabbat Khodjibaeva is the daughter-in-law of the author. She holds an M.A. in Cinema Arts and an M.S. in Information Technology. Moukhabbat works in the field of Eurasian studies and has written several articles dedicated to the history of women’s life in that area. Moukhabbat specializes in curriculum development and has contributed to several language projects in both Persian and Russian.
Jan Seabaugh, translator and illustrator of Doctor Ouch and illustrator of Where Does the Water Come From?
