The Caldecott Honor-winning true story of Mohammad Alaa Aljaleel, who in the midst of the Syrian Civil War courageously offered safe haven to Aleppo's abandoned cats.

Aleppo's city center no longer echoes with the rich, exciting sounds of copper-pot pounding and traditional sword sharpening. His neighborhood is empty--except for the many cats left behind.

Alaa loves Aleppo, but when war comes his neighbors flee to safety, leaving their many pets behind. Alaa decides to stay--he can make a difference by driving an ambulance, carrying the sick and wounded to safety. One day he hears hungry cats calling out to him on his way home. They are lonely and scared, just like him. He feeds and pets them to let them know they are loved. The next day more cats come, and then even more! There are too many for Alaa to take care of on his own. Alaa has a big heart, but he will need help from others if he wants to keep all of his new friends safe.

WINNER | 2021
Caldecott Honor Book

Praise for The Cat Man of Aleppo:
Caldecott Honor
Winner of the 2020 Middle East Book Award
A 2022-2023 Camellia Children’s Choice Book Award Nominee (AL)
A 2022 Texas Topaz Reading List Pick
A 2022 ALSC Notable Children’s Recording
A 2021-2022 Three Apple Book Award Nominee (NY)
A 2021 Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year
A 2021 ALA Notable Children’s Book
A 2021 Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award Nominee (OH)
A 2021-2022 Dogwood Book Award Nominee (MO)
A 2020 BCCB Blue Ribbon Book

★ “Based on a true story, this picture book is distinctive for its engaging narrative and impeccable illustrations . . . A beautifully told and illustrated story that offers a unique perspective on both war and humanity.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ “With meticulous care, Shimizu draws the destroyed buildings, the empty streets, and the cats that fleeing Syrians have left behind . . . Latham and Shamsi-Basha pick out the glimmers of light that make up Alaa’s story, and Shimizu portrays their beauty.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ “The story of the Cat Man of Aleppo is remarkable…Shimizu’s lifelike illustrations capture the joy and beauty prior to the war, juxtaposing it with the horror and grief that followed . . . A safe, sobering, and hopeful introduction to the crisis in Syria.” —Booklist, starred review

★ “Based on the true story of Mohammad Alaa Aljaleel, this story portrays a beautiful and loving community rocked by violence… Shimizu’s digitally colored paintings, echoing Edo-era Japanese art, are masterfully emotive…audiences will find solace in the reminder of humanity in the direst times.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, starred review

★ “Alaa's story is one of faith in humanity, the power of compassion and the benefits of altruism.” —Shelf Awareness, starred review

Irene Latham is the author of hundreds of poems and nearly twenty current and forthcoming poetry, fiction, and picture books. Winner of the 2016 ILA Lee Bennett Hopkins Promising Poet Award, she lives on a lake in rural Alabama, where the queen of the house is a cat named Maggie.

Karim Shamsi-Basha immigrated to the United States from Damascus in 1984. While in Syria, he spent a year at the University of Aleppo and got to know the people of that ancient city. All of Karim's work embodies love as a universal truth. His desire for people to love one another is where his personal and professional goals intersect.

Yuko Shimizu has been drawing and painting ever since she can remember, and has loved animals just as long. Though she has been illustrating for magazines, newspapers, and books longer than you have lived, this is only her second picture book (Barbed Wire Baseball, 2013). Yuko lives and works with a rescued senior Chihuahua named Bear, who is probably smaller than the cats in Alaa's sanctuary.

Karim Shamsi-Basha View titles by Karim Shamsi-Basha

Irene Latham View titles by Irene Latham

Yuko Shimizu View titles by Yuko Shimizu

Educator Guide for The Cat Man of Aleppo

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(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)

Discussion Guide for The Cat Man of Aleppo

Provides questions, discussion topics, suggested reading lists, introductions and/or author Q&As, which are intended to enhance reading groups’ experiences.

About

Awards

WINNER | 2021
Caldecott Honor Book

Reviews

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