When war came to Syria, many fled the once-beautiful city of Aleppo and were forced to become refugees in far-flung places. But Mohammad Alaa Aljaleel, an ambulance driver, stayed behind. He wanted to help care for his neighbors who could not leave. He noticed quickly that it wasn't just the people who needed care, but the animals as well. The hungry, abandoned cats who called out to him on the streets were as lonely and scared as Alaa.

He used what little money he had to buy food for the city's abandoned cats, but there were too many for Alaa to care for all on his own, so he asked the world for help. Soon, his call was answered.

Now known worldwide as the Cat Man of Aleppo, Alaa's courageous and heartening story is brought to triumphant life by the words of Syrian immigrant Karim Shamsi-Basha and picture book veteran Irene Latham, along with the gorgeous illustrations of award-winning illustrator Yuko Shimizu.

To find out more about Alaa and his work, visit ernestosanctuary.org.

From the dust jacket of The Cat Man of Aleppo