Kunkush: The True Story of a Refugee Cat

Encounter: Narrative Nonfiction Picture Books

by Marne Ventura, Marne Ventura

Uses Common Core narrative nonfiction approach to tell the true story of a cat that becomes separated from his family when they flee Iraq for refuge in Europe. Their reunion will bring tears to the coldest heart.

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Cats, War, Animals, Childrens, Family

32 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 2017

Reviews

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful story about a lost Turkish Van cat and the people who help reunite him with his refugee family, who had paid 1,000 euros to bring him on the boat with them from Iraq (via Turkey) to Greece. That’s cat love right there.

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great way to introduce the topic of refugees through the story of a cat.

[Bluebelle-the-Inquisitive (Catherine) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sweet story of resilience and the power of animals to unite people. I don't remember Reunite Dias but I'm in entirely the wrong part of the world and was well tuned out of the media that would have spread the story to me at the time.

It's a perfect way to educate older children on an important war. The details cover who was fighting who, where people went and the trouble they faced. Though it is quite text heavy. There are activity questions and a glossary in the back of the book. It is at least partly intended as an educational resource. Ever if it is a little sad I like that the end of the story, Kunkush's death from an illness is included.

I adore the illustrations. The changing settings are done well. Including internal architecture, a nice touch that the intended audience would never pick up on. It's clear the Beidi Guo, the Illustrator, has as a cat, the body language for the cat seems to be on point. The art style suits. The dark ocean feels intimidating and the reader does feel small. But once the cat enters the city it's so, so bright and perfectly shows a sunrise. The family is shown in their true style, particularly the mother (and another female member) in her hijab.

[Michelle Glatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cat lovers, you will enjoy this incredible and heart-warming story about people working together to reunite a family with their beloved pet.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was surprisingly such a sweet, endearing, heart-string tugging story. I teared up at the end... it was happy and bittersweet. Oh, the remarkable story and extent that so many people helped reunite one family.

[Noel نوال · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the true story of Kunkush the cat who gets separated from his family fleeing Iraq as refugees. The artwork is beautiful and this is a perfect way to teach children about refugees and displacement through a beautiful and heartwarming story.

[Emily✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't help but compare this book to Lost and Found Cat , which I enjoyed much more, and was written by people actually involved in the events.

Kunkush is much wordier, and seems to make the story more about the volunteers than the cat and his refugee family. Unlike Lost and Found Cat, there isn't much extra information about this particular family, or about the refugee crisis in general, to be found in the back of the book. Some of the illustrations, especially in the beginning, are very dark and difficult to see what's happening. Also, the island of Lesbos was referred to as "Lesvos" in this book, which is... weird? And strangely lesbophobic??? (I can't think of any other reason to go against the common spelling.)

Overall, this book is fine, but pales in comparison to Lost and Found Cat, which I would recommend.

[Mary Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

True story that weaves a story of refugees, the plight of a cat who lost its family, and the ability for social media to draw people together for positive social causes.

It seems perfect for school media projects (elementary/middle) to discuss social studies topics and current events while tying it to technology and safe social media practices.

Additionally it introduces immigration and war refugees in a way that can be approachable for young kids - through the experiences of a lucky cat and the many people who loved it.

Illustrated in eye-catching style with smart use of shadow and light for storytelling. Depicting the migration in semi-darkness is an interesting choice to convey the danger and secrecy involved. The map inserted mid-story gives a great way to talk about geography and how far the migrant family traveled from their homeland.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kunkush is a fluffy white cat whose family had to flee Iraq due to the fighting there. While they could not take much with them, they *did* take their cat and paid the extra costs for the smugglers to also take the cat across the ocean with them to Greece! However, once there, Kunkush escaped and the family had to leave for a refugee camp before they could find Kunkush again. A lucky set of circumstances and determined volunteers give this true story a happy ending.
I wish the illustrations had included more accurate maps but it was fascinating to see how far Kunkush and his family had traveled. I also love the kindness of strangers to a beloved pet.
Depending on your audience, it is a bit text dense but is also written in an engaging easy to understand manner.
CW: refugees, references to war, loss of home

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love geography and stories of refugees touch my heart especially as the travel across continents in often the most horrific conditions is their core. This one is about refugees, but moreso about the people who help a refugee cat that got separated from it's family. I am an animal rescuer, so this one was interesting to me as cross country rescue is not nearly as common as local rescue. What a story about using our internet access to make connections, build bridges, and help the hearts of a family that had endured so much fear and angst by reconnecting them with their family. Well done, indeed. I hope it spurs students to study geography and consider making a difference in their world in some way.

[Ella · Rating 4 out of 5]

A true story about Kunkush’s journey to safety and finding his family again. The book highlights the kindness of strangers and how one person’s kind act can lead to a happy ending. A good book to use in upper KS2 to discuss refugees in quite a detailed way, thinking not only about their journey to safety but also why they may have left their homes. Lots of opportunities for high quality discussion, for example, thinking about what would happen differently if one person in the book acted differently and where Kunkush would end up. There are also opportunities to think about how the family and Kunkush are feeling throughout.

[Michaela Klegseth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cat that represents refugees that get separated from their families because of the war. Many people help this cat to be reunited with their family and they spent money to help travel the world to find them. The topic of refugees through this cat introduces this topic to younger children.The cat really wants to be reunited with its family and it travels the world and it shows a different side of geography. This true story tells of the war in a read between the lines aspect but it shows what happened behind closed doors.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

We talk a lot about refugees lately but we forget that animals are part of the refugee family. Some forgo personal items to make room for the family pet.

This family was from Iraq getting away from ISIS . As they travel to Greece for safety, their cat jumps from the basket before they can get off the boat.

Through a sweet story, and help from volunteers Kunkush finds his way back to his family... refugess from Iraq living in a new country far far away!!

[Korie · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Kunkush’s family flees the fighting in Iraq, they decide to pay extra to take their cat in the boat. In the chaos of crossing the sea and arriving under the cover of darkness in Greece, Kunkush runs away to escape to a dry, quiet place.

This is the true story of how aid workers and many more were determined to reunite a cat with his family. This would be great look at immigration for elementary students.

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kunkush: The True Story of a Refugee Cat is such a heartwarming story about how communities can band together to support refugees (and getting a cat home). This lightweight story is a great introduction into how refugees escape from their homes and how families can be separated (even the four legged fluffy ones). I definitely am going to add this to my classroom library!

[Peacegal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read another book about Kunkush, but there can never be too many. This story has so much going for it: explorations of what it means to be a refugee; the importance of the love of a pet, even in desperate times; the power of helping animals to bring very different people together; and the way technology can be used for humanitarian causes.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

An elementary and up level story of a refugee family forced to flee their home and the cat they take with that escapes from them during the travel. Can they find their way back to one another? True story

[Abi Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing, thought provoking book about a journey undertaken by migrants, but told from the point of view of a cat. This is a true life story and although there is a happy ending, it doesn't last long but is a good way of helping children see how the world works.

[Jennybeast · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awwww. Great picture book for talking about immigration and the good things people do.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked the happy ending

[Beth Honeycutt · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a treat to receive this at the Dublin Literacy Conference this past weekend!

[SARAH · Rating 3 out of 5]

how Kunkush is reunited with her family against all odds

[Suzanne Dix · Rating 4 out of 5]

A unique view of the Middle East refugee crisis.

[Melanie Gaum · Rating 4 out of 5]

This made me cry, as expected.

[Stacy Atherton Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this short, true story so much that I had 2 of my boys read it and talk to me about it.

[Rachie Hachie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sweet little book! I loved reading this as a cat lover and felt it was a great way to understand the experience of refugees.

[David Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

August 1, 2017

Children's nonfiction

This is the miraculous story about a cat that gets lost fleeing a war, only to find it's way back to her family. This is a great story, I'm not sure which I preferred, but either way, would be really good at demonstrating not giving up.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm always a sucker for a survival story, especially one featuring a cat. This one tells the true story of a beloved cat named Kunkush whose family fled Iraq to escape the violence in their homeland. Refusing to leave Kunkush behind, they kept him in a basket and paid extra money for his passage on a boat to Greece. But in the turmoil when the boat landed in Greece, the feline escaped and could not be found. They were forced to move on, and Kunkush was left behind to fend for himself. But the other cats in the area were fierce and feral, and he found it hard to get any food. Luckily for Kunkush, others were ready to step in to help him. Not only was he rescued and fed, but through the efforts of several compassionate volunteers, he was reunited with his family who were living in Norway. It's crazy to think he traveled more than 2,000 miles to get back to his family, and it's inspiring to learn of how much trouble so many individuals went to in order to reunite the cat and his family. Read this alongside another version of the story in Lost and Found Cat by Doug Kuntz and Amy Shrodes who were involved in the reunion efforts. As someone whose own cats were rescued by kind strangers after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, I can certainly relate to how the family and the cat must have felt, and applaud the caring hearts that prompted these actions. This book reminds readers of the importance of reaching out to those in need. Clearly, Kunkush would have been unable to survive on his own.

[KaylaAnn · Rating 2 out of 5]

It did not, actually, have a happy ending in my opinion :(

[Jo]

I have a thing for animal stories and for refugee stories. This is a lovely, touching combination of the two.