The Cat Man of Aleppo

By Karim Shamsi-Basha, Irene Latham, Yuko Shimizu (Illustrator)

In war-torn Aleppo, one man's mission to save abandoned cats becomes a beacon of hope.

4.3/5 Goodreads · 1,950 ratings

34 pages· 682 words· Est. 6 min read-aloud

$17.99Save 6%

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Bookroo's summary

In the chaos of the Syrian Civil War, Mohammad Alaa Aljaleel stays behind in Aleppo, determined to help. As he drives an ambulance to rescue the wounded, he hears the cries of abandoned cats. Alaa begins feeding them, but soon their numbers grow. With a heart as big as his mission, Alaa must find a way to care for these forgotten creatures. Can he rally others to join his cause and provide a safe haven amidst the devastation? Discover a tale of compassion and resilience in the face of overwhelming odds.

From the publisher

The courageous and true story of Mohammad Alaa Aljaleel, who in the midst of the Syrian Civil War 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.