Readers may recall the fantastic story of Kunkush, from last year, the cat who traveled with his family when they fled Iraq, only to be lost when frightened upon arrival in Greece via boat, escaping from his broken carrier. That true life tale is now retold my co-authors Amy Shrodes and Doug Kuntz, two of the key players that directly helped get Kunkush to his family who had relocated to Norway, through extraordinary social media efforts that resonated around the world.
Beautifully written and illustrated, it is a story filled with belief, faith, and hope, one that will be as special to children as to adults. Lost and Found Cat releases on Tuesday, January 31, and available at Random House, Amazon, in both hardcover and Kindle versions, and at Barnes and Noble.
LOST AND FOUND CAT
When an Iraqi family is forced to flee their home, they can’t bear to leave their beloved cat, Kunkush, behind. They carry him onto their boat to Greece, hidden away; but the waves are severe and when Kunkush’s carrier breaks, the frightened cat runs away from the chaos. After an unsuccessful search, the family has to continue on their journey, leaving brokenhearted.
A few days later, aid workers in Greece find the lost cat. Knowing about Kunkush’s distraught family, they’re desperate to reunite the two. A worldwide community comes together to spread the word on the Internet and in the news media, and after several months the impossible happens—Kunkush’s family is found, and they finally get their happy ending in their new home.
THE AUTHORS:
Amy Shrodes and Doug Kuntz felt compelled to travel to Greece to help with the refugee crisis, each in their own unique way—Amy as a volunteer helping the arriving refugees and raising awareness back at home through a podcast, and Doug as a photojournalist, who spent five months in Greece, Turkey, France, Germany, and finally Norway, bringing the plight of the refugees to people around the globe. When they met Kunkush, they knew he was very special to someone and they wanted to do everything they could to reunite him with his family.
THE ILLUSTRATOR:
Sue Cornelison graduated with a BFA from Drake University and continued her studies at the International School of Studio Arts in Florence, Italy. Sue has worked as a full-time illustrator for over a decade. She wrote and illustrated The Twelve Days of Christmas in Iowa, as well as illustrated Sofia’s Dream, Down by the Bay, You’re Wearing That to School?!, and the American Girl Bitty Baby series. Sue works in her backyard treetop studio in a renovated 1909 carriage house in rural Iowa.
I saw this story and was so happy they were reunited with their baby. And really happy they did not leave her behind. I feel so bad for those dear furkids with no one.