Street Puppy Masjid Cat
Written by Moniza Hossain, Illustrated by Wastana Haikal
Picture Book Category
A pampered house cat and a stray dog form an unlikely friendship in this sweet story about kindness. A pampered house cat lives in a mosque. A lonely stray dog lives on the street. The cat has too much to eat, but the dog has to beg just for a bite. Their paths should never cross. But when the imam recites the adhan at prayer time, they both go rushing toward the mosque. Their unlikely friendship will teach kids about the importance of showing kindness to everyone.
Moniza Hossain (Author)
Moniza Hossain is a Singaporean author who debuted with the picture book, Street Puppy Masjid Cat, in October of 2025. Her sophomore picture book, Ritu In The Sun, will be published in 2026. She also writes books for middle grade readers. Her middle grade debut, Bad Things Happened Here, will be published Fall of 2026. She has a short story in the award winning anthology Being Ace, and another in an anthology entitled The Beasts Beneath the Winds.
Wastana Haikal (Illustrator)
Wastana (he/him) is a visual artist based in Bandung, Indonesia. After graduating in Visual Communication Design from the Bandung Institute of Technology he decided to become full-time illustrator.
He loves to tell a story, and he is always creating story-driven works from fantasy-themed to slices of life with vibrant and eclectic elements. He is inspired by music, movies, Indonesian culture, fashion and most of all from his surroundings: nature, personal experience, travelling, people on the street, animals, how people interact and the list goes on. Life inspires him.