A Conversation with the AWC’s Own Caldecott Honor Recipient, Karim Shamsi-Basha
The AWC’s own Karim Shamsi-Basha recently won a Caldecott Honor for his children’s book The Cat Man of Aleppo. Bradley Sides caught up with Shamsi-Basha to talk about the award, the real-life Cat Man, and the joy of writing about home.
First of all, congratulations, Karim, on having The Cat Man of Aleppo chosen as one of this year’s Caldecott Honor books. That’s incredible recognition. I’m curious to know how you heard the news of your award.
Stacey Barney, Executive Editor with Penguin Random House, did a Zoom call with Irene Latham and me and told us. She was elated. We were freaking out. She said in her 16 years with Penguin, this was her first.
For this to be your first children’s book, I’m sure there has to be an extra special feeling in receiving such an accolade. You join some elite company, with classic books such as Tomie de Paola’s Strega Nona and Ludwig Bemelmans’ Madeline also being awarded the Caldecott Honor.
Really it’s beyond an honor. There are great stories everywhere, positive stories that communicate the goodness in all of us. It just feels good to have such story from my country of Syria recognized like this.
You teamed up with fellow Alabama writer Irene Latham to write the book—and with Yuko Shimizu to illustrate it. How did these partnerships come about, and whose idea was it to tell this specific story?
Actually it was Irene’s idea. She alerted me to the story and asked if we could collaborate on a children’s book. I jumped on the idea. Then Stacey Barney gave us three choices for an illustrator, and Yuko was obviously the one. I have to recognize Yuko here. She did so much research and illustrated the book in a way that earned us this honor. Her work really told the story in an authentic way. She showed people true grit and beauty, amid war and horror.
For readers who haven’t yet heard about The Cat Man of Aleppo, how would you describe it?
Cat Man of Aleppo is an actual person, Alaa Mohammed Al-Jaleel, who saved cats during the civil war in Syria. He’s an ambulance driver, and he noticed everyone was leaving their cats behind when fleeing Aleppo because of the war. So he began taking care of them. It’s a simple, yet a wonderful story about war, about animals, about humanity. How often have you heard of humanity out of a Muslim and Arab Country? The media loves to point out the wars and terrorism and all the negative things out of the Middle East. But we have as much humanity as everyone else.
I know you’ve developed a friendship with the Cat Man, Alaa, himself. Have you spoken with him since the award? How does he feel about seeing his own story being honored in this way?
He was thrilled. I called and told him, he was super excited. Later he sent me a picture of himself with children holding the award. Alaa now has built an orphanage. This man is incredible. He is the Mother Theresa of Syria. He now lives on a farm with nearly a thousand animals. He called me a few months ago to let me know he was smuggling four monkeys to Turkey so they get adopted instead of killed. Who does that? My daily dilemma is whether to get the cappuccino or the latte, his is smuggling animals across dangerous borders. It definitely sets your priorities straight.
To receive this kind of award for a book set in Aleppo, a place you know intimately, I’m sure there has to be a special kind of happiness in that, right? A sense of home pride?
Absolutely. It lets the West know we are ok, Muslims and Arab. We are not just Terrorists. We love, we long for peace, we laugh and cry, we tell jokes and care for each other and have fun and work hard and do what everyone else does. My next book is about a man building schools for orphans and refugee children in Idleb – Syria. It’s another story of humanity. My country is full of that. War is terrible, but it drives some to rise above it and show the world true goodness.
Finally, I have to tell you how moved I was by The Cat Man of Aleppo. It’s full of goodness and kindness, and it’s really beautiful. I’m glad to see it honored with this wonderful recognition. Congratulations again, and thank you for taking the time to talk with me.
You are welcome. I just want to spread the word about this story. The focus should not be about me, it should be about this incredible man. Please see his donation page link and help anyway you can. And thank you.
—
Karim Shamsi-Basha immigrated to the United States from Damascus – Syria in 1984. He attended the University of Tennessee and graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Karim admits that was not his forte! So he did what he loved: Telling stories. His children’s book, Cat Man of Aleppo, Penguin, has won the 2021 Caldecott Honor. His upcoming novel, Cactus Pear, is about a 15-year-old Muslim boy in love with a Christian girl amid the Syrian Civil War. One of the highlights of his career was an essay he wrote for Alabama Christmas, along with legendary writers Helen Keller and Truman Capote. Karim’s desire for people to love one another is where his personal and professional goals intersect. He lives in Birmingham and is a father to three grown children: Zade, Dury, and Demi. Karim lives with the motto Carpe diem, squeezing the nectar out of this beautiful thing we call life.