#Karim Shamsi-Basha

[youngreaderreviews]

Book Review: The Cat Man of Aleppo by Irene Latham and Karim Shamsi-Basha

The Cat Man of Aleppo Written by Irene Latham and Karim Shamsi-Basha. Illustrated by Yuko Shimizu.

Genre or Category

Caldecott Medal book OR Newbery Medal book

Target Age Group

PreK-6th grade

Recommended for ages 4-8 years, grades PreK-3rd grade.

Format

Physical, print / Audio (VOX Book)

Summary

Aleppo is Alaa’s home, which he treasures dearly despite the ongoing war in Syria. Many of his neighbors flee, Alaa stays to help those in need- both human and animals alike. Alaa may be an ambulance driver, but he’s also the caretaker for Aleppo’s many cats. In his journey to take care of these cats, Alaa does even more good for his community and makes some friends along the way.

Justification

This book was chosen because it fulfills the category “Caldecott Medal book OR Newbery Medal book.” In 2021, The Cat Man of Aleppo received honors for the Caldecott Medal, which is an award that recognizes outstanding American picture books for children. This specific award is gifted to the illustrators of the books that are awarded and honored. In addition, this title also received the 2020 Middle East Book Award, which recognizes youth literature that contributes towards meaningful understanding of the Middle East. It has also received a glowing review from Kirkus Reviews. 

Evaluation

For this review, I will be evaluating setting, accuracy, and mood.

Setting

The setting is established quickly in the first few pages, which is explicitly stated by Alaa himself and in the narrative written by the authors. Without this, the reader can still tell where the story is located based on the context clues provided by the illustration, which is not always easy. The clothing seen on the background characters, the architecture, and the presence of different foods and spices tells us that the setting is in the Middle East, which is helpful to the reader if they aren’t familiar with Aleppo or Syria. Additionally, showing Alaa in a war-torn environment emphasizes how he feels and why.

In reference to VOX books specifically, which is the version being reviewed, the different sound effects used throughout the readalong helps to immerse the reader. Not only are there sounds of people, but there also sounds from vehicles, animals, and conflict. One thing to note is the use of a cat’s meow to signal when the page is being turned. Although the meows are delightful, they remove the reader from the immersive effects.

Accuracy

Although this book does not include a bibliography for works about Alaa, it does include a list of art references, which the illustrator used to design the backgrounds and characters seen throughout this book.  In order to guarantee accuracy, the illustrator utilized memoirs, videos, photos, and other forms of media. It is also stated that the cat sanctuary in the book is based on two separate cat sanctuaries, which were blended together. It should be noted that interviews were conducted with Alaa Aljaleel himself, which is why there is a lack of bibliographic information.

Mood

There are many different moods that are explored throughout this book. At some points it is fearful, other times it is lonely, but it ends on a hopeful note. The mood is shaped both by the writing and the illustrations. The writing helps the reader through using descriptive language and the illustrations show different forms of body language, while also showing mood through a variety of color schemes. 

In reference to VOX books specifically, which is the version being reviewed, the audio present in the readalong helps emphasize the mood of this book. These sounds also influence the mood of the reader because of the immersive effect it has. The mood can also be seen through the speech of the narrator, whose energy and tone changes throughout the story.

References

Latham, I., Shamsi-Basha, K. (2020). The cat man of Aleppo (Y. Shimizu, Illus.; R. Faragallah, Narr.) [Audiobook]. G.P. Putnam's Sons. VOX book. Listening Library.

Latham, I., Shamsi-Basha, K. (2020). The cat man of Aleppo [Cover illustration] (Y. Shimizu, Illus.). G.P. Putnam’s Sons. https://images4.penguinrandomhouse.com/cover/9781984813787

[southjerseyweb]

I just moved to from Alabama to New Jersey. Here's what shocked me.

This is Taylor ham, right? This extra salty meat has been the subject of name-debate in New Jersey for decades!Karim Shamsi-Basha …

[grackle-crackle-books]

The Cat Man of Aleppo by Irene Latham and Karim Shamsi-Basha, Illustrated by Yuko Shimizu

Genre/category: Caldecott Award Honoree 2021, Picture Book

Targeted Age: PreK to 2nd graders

Quick plot synopsis: When people must flee war in Aleppo, Syria, they're forced to leave beloved pets behind. Alaa, an ambulance driver, stays in Aleppo and takes care of lonely, scared cats.

Why I chose The Cat Man of Aleppo: The Cat Man of Aleppo is a 2021 Caldecott Award Honoree that depicts kindness following tragedy. Mohammad Alaa Aljaleel, known as Alaa in the book, is a real-life cat rescuer in Aleppo, Syria. A note from him appears at the beginning of the text. This book covers his story and shows the very real horror that is the Syrian civil war (2011 - ). I selected The Cat Man of Aleppo because I think it’s the perfect book to introduce concepts that Western children would not otherwise see. The story also concludes with notes from Latham, Shamsi-Basha, and Shimizu, discussing their own connections to the story, Alaa, and Aleppo.

Evaluation:

Yuko Shimizu’s digitally colored ink illustrations support the mood of scenes in The Cat Man of Aleppo. Bright pages with a bustling bazaar are immediately followed by a nearly all-black page spread featuring Alaa grieving in front of a view of Aleppo burning. The illustrations show the war-torn Aleppo that surrounds Alaa as he helps injured people. These pair with the text’s description of the increasing emptiness of the city. Brighter colors seep back into the pages as the cats are introduced. With the rescue of the cats, hope begins to find its way back into Alaa and Aleppo. Additionally, Shimizu put a lot of effort into research to represent Aleppo and its people as accurately as possible. For example, when researching Alaa myself, I recognized a real-life cat because I had seen him in Shimizu’s artwork.

The Cat Man of Aleppo tells the true story of Alaa’s efforts to protect and care for abandoned animals in Aleppo. The book follows events from his first efforts feeding cats in the street to the assistance for orphaned children he now provides. Some elements of Alaa’s story are left out, such as the bombing of the original cat sanctuary. It would have been interesting to see this event addressed, and how it contributes to Alaa’s heroic perseverance in the face of devastating loss. However, I can see why various details such as this were left out for brevity’s sake. Leaving the sanctuary bombing out also makes the story less traumatic for younger audiences. Additionally, some of the elements of Alaa’s story not in the text are referenced in the authors’ notes.

Cultural details in Latham and Shamsi-Basha’s text helps the reader to imagine the Aleppo that thrived before the war. We learn that Aleppo was a city of “pistachios and jasmine soap”, of “boiled corn and dried figs” (Shamsi-Basha & Latham, 2020). Rather than see Aleppo as only a dangerous place, The Cat Man of Aleppo encourages the image of the city as hopeful, human, and deserving of protection. These details about the food, trees, and fashion of Aleppo create this image. Alaa loves his country, his people, and of course, his cats.

Do I recommend it?: Of course! The Cat Man of Aleppo tells a powerful story of helping others in the face of horrible devastation. It’s a great way to introduce children to this topic and encourage them to follow Alaa’s example and make a positive impact on the world.

Citations:

American Library Association. (2022, January 10). Randolph Caldecott Medal. Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC). https://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/caldecott

BBC News. (2019, March 7). Return of the cat man of Aleppo. https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-47473772

Shamsi-Basha, K., & Latham, I. (2020). The Cat Man of Aleppo (Y. Shimizu, Illus.). G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers.

[alissambc]

Millions of Books: The Cat Man of Aleppo (62/200)

The Cat Man of Aleppo // Written by Irene Latham and Karim Shamsi-Basha // Illustrated by Yuko Shimizu // G. P. Putnam's Sons 2020

Summary: In this true story, when war comes to Syria, Alaa begins by caring for the many cats left behind, and ultimately his whole community.

Uses: The Cat Man of Aleppo could be an accessible way to discuss the events in Syria with students, or could be used to inspire service and activism, as the message of the story is to start where you can.

Notes: Shimizu's Caldecott-honored illustrations evoke the sites and sounds of Aleppo, both before and during wartime. An illustrator's note details the extensive research and sources that went into the images.

[novelistra]

NoveList's Juvenile Brain Trust is a group of readers' advisory librarians and metadata librarians who focus on books for kids and teens. Once a week, the JBT gets together to catch up and share books. On  3/4/2020, we discussed:

I Am Brown, Ashok Banker; illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat

All Aboard the Moonlight Train, Kristyn Crow; illustrated by Annie Won

The Magical Yet, Angela DiTerlizzi; illustrated by Lorena Alvarez

The Cat Man of Aleppo, Irene Latham and Karim Shamsi-Basha; illustrated by Yuko Shimizu

This Way, Charlie, Caron Levis; illustrated by Charles Santoso

You Matter, Christian Robinson

Have you read any of these books? What do you think of them?

For more recommendations (plus printables and readers’ advisory tips), check out what's new on the NoveList blog!

[stephaniejoanneus]

The Cat Man of Aleppo by Irene Latham and Karim Shamsi-Basha, illustrated by Yuko Shimizu

The Cat Man of Aleppo by Irene Latham and Karim Shamsi-Basha, illustrated by Yuko Shimizu

The Cat Man of Aleppo by Irene Latham and Karim Shamsi-Basha, illustrated by Yuko Shimizu. G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2020. 9781984813787

Format: Hardcover

Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 5

Genre:  Biographical fiction

What did you like about the book? Amidst the backdrop of war, a man sets himself the task of saving the cats left behind by a fleeing populace. Mohmmad Alaa Aljaleel,…

[motlorg]

L’Chaim event to honor Cathy Friedman with the Birmingham Holocaust Education Center

Cathy Friedman of the Birmingham Holocaust Education Center believes education is a key to preventing another Holocaust.

Cathy Friedman of the Birmingham Holocaust Education Center believes education is a key to preventing another Holocaust. (Karim Shamsi-Basha/Alabama NewsCenter) At age 10, Cathy Friedman learned about the Holocaust at temple. She was shocked and asked her mother how something that horrific could happen. “My mother looked at me with tears streaming down her face and said, ‘I dreaded the day one of…

[nanogb]

Syrian Muslim Karim Shamsi-Basha finds peace in Jesus

http://dlvr.it/P6PzJQ

[southjerseyweb]

N.J.'s best cheap meals: Epic Arabian and Mexican food stashed in a forgotten N.J. city

Stories by Karim Shamsi-Basha · N.J.'s 17 best mocktails, as non-alcoholic bar drinks surge in popularity · Ramadan 2024 in New Jersey: These classic …

[grackle-crackle-books]

List of Reviewed Books

(This list will be updated as I add reviews here.)

PreK through 6th:

Hike by Pete Oswald

¡Vamos! Let’s Go to the Market by Raúl The Third

Jump at the Sun: The True Life Tale of Unstoppable Storycatcher Zora Neale Hurston by Alicia D. Williams and Illustrated by Jacqueline Alcántara

When Aidan Became a Brother by Kyle Lukoff and Illustrated by Kaylani Juanita

Thunder Underground by Jane Yolen and Illustrated by Josée Masse

Prince & Knight by Daniel Haack and Illustrated by Stevie Lewis

The Cat Man of Aleppo by Irene Latham and Karim Shamsi-Basha and Illustrated by Yuko Shimizu

New Kid by Jerry Craft

The Real Boy by Anne Ursu

Scary Stories for Young Foxes by Christian McKay Heidicker

7th through 12th:

The River Has Teeth by Erica Waters

Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin

Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang

Himawari House by Harmony Becker

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

[doplaz-blog]

He Went Into a Coma as a Muslim. When He Came Out Of It, Jesus Was There.

He Went Into a Coma as a Muslim. When He Came Out Of It, Jesus Was There.

Syrian-born Karim Shamsi-Basha was once a Muslim. In 1992, he had sudden brain aneurysm that left him in a month-long coma. He woke up and miraculously recovered. His doctor told Karim he had “seen very few people recover as you did. You have to find out why you survived.”

After realizing what miracle he experienced, Karim began a 20 year, soul searching journey that led him to one thing: Jesus…