The Cat Man of Aleppo
by
Irene Latham ,Karim Shamsi-Basha
illustrated by
Yuko Shimizu
Edition
Hardcover edition
Publisher
Penguin Random House
Imprint
G.P. Putnam's Sons
ISBN
9781984813787
Awards and Honors
2021 Randolph Caldecott Medal Honor Book
POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE AREAS
Violence: War/Harsh Realities of War
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.“A Note from Alaa.” Authors’ notes. Illustrator’s note. Art references. Full-color illustrations drawn with black ink, then scanned in and colored with Adobe Photoshop.
POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE AREAS
Violence: War/Harsh Realities of War
Details
Format
Page Count
40
Trim Size
10 2/3" x 9"
Dewey
E
AR
3.6: points 0.5
Lexile
AD610L
Genre
Fiction
Scholastic Reading Counts
0
JLG Release
Aug 2020
Book Genres
Picture Book
Topics
Animal rescue. Cats. Aleppo, Syria. History of Syrian Civil War, 2011. Animal sanctuaries.
Standard MARC Records
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Cover Art
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Praise & Reviews
Starred or favorable reviews have been received from these periodicals:
Kirkus Reviews*, Booklist*, Publishers Weekly*, School Library Journal, Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books*, The Horn Book Magazine
Praise & Reviews
School Library Journal
The power of one person’s kindness and commitment to others is a potent message. Mohammad Alaa Aljaleel’s life is “a story about cats and war and people. But most of all, it is a story about love.” In this book based on an actual person and real events, Latham tells the tale of an ambulance driver who chose to stay in his hometown of Aleppo, Syria, even after war broke out. He begins to come across hungry, lonely cats as he drives his ambulance. With what little money he has, he buys scraps of meat to feed the animals; he extends his efforts to other animals and children as well. With international support, Mohammad creates a sanctuary from war’s devastation for animals and children. The straightforward telling is accompanied by graphically strong illustrations. The art depicts war-torn streets, bombed buildings, and great sadness but also playful cats and smiling children who have been helped by Mohammad. Notes from both authors and the illustrator provide a glimpse into the book’s inspiration and the research that went into the art. A useful addition to school and public libraries to inform and to spark discussion about war, individual potential, and kindness to animals.
Horn Book
This gentle book emphasizes that in the midst of chaos, caring for the forgotten and discarded, no matter how small, affirms the preciousness of all life.
School Library Journal
K-Gr 3-The power of one person's kindness and commitment to others is a potent message. Mohammad Alaa Aljaleel's life is "a story about cats and war and people. But most of all, it is a story about love." In this book based on an actual person and real events, Latham tells the tale of an ambulance driver who chose to stay in his hometown of Aleppo, Syria, even after war broke out. He begins to come across hungry, lonely cats as he drives his ambulance. With what little money he has, he buys scraps of meat to feed the animals; he extends his efforts to other animals and children as well. With international support, Mohammad creates a sanctuary from war's devastation for animals and children. The straightforward telling is accompanied by graphically strong illustrations. The art depicts war-torn streets, bombed buildings, and great sadness but also playful cats and smiling children who have been helped by Mohammad. Notes from both authors and the illustrator provide a glimpse into the book's inspiration and the research that went into the art. VERDICT A useful addition to school and public libraries to inform and to spark discussion about war, individual potential, and kindness to animals.-Maria B. Salvadore, formerly at District of Columbia Public Library?(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Grades 2-6
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Grades 2-6
Multicultural Elementary
12 books per Year
$254.88 per Year
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