Children’s book tells the story of a little Ukrainian girl and her cat

In the spring of 2022, shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine, Bergen County teenager Trevor Ostfeld traveled to the region with his Temple Emanu-El of Closter synagogue to deliver medical supplies, food, diapers and other necessities. Displaced FamiliesOstfield heard stories of escape and survival. One story stuck with him so well that it is now the subject of his children’s book, Finding Messi: The magical cat from Kiev.

The book tells the story of a cat named Messi and her owner, the real owner, 11-year-old Irina Cherniak, whom Ostfeld met at a hotel in Warsaw. Cherniak told him that she and her mother were forced to flee their home, leaving Messi behind, and the cat soon disappeared.

This picture book details their journey to reunite with the help of the community.

“I never thought about writing a book, but this story was so compelling that it needed to be shared,” said Ostfield, now 17.

While the book only touches on the war lightly, it “gives kids a good perspective on the human impact of war through another child,” he said. Chernyak, now 13, co-wrote the book. All proceeds will go to Ukrainian children.

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