Mama and Papa Have a Store

By Amelia Lau Carling
Paperback: $11.95

A young girl describes what a typical day is like in her parents’ Chinese store in Guatemala City, Guatemala. Recipient of a Pura Belpré Illustrator Award Honor in 2000.

Front cover for La tienda de Mamá y Papá by Amelia Lau Carling and Amelia Lau Carling
This book is also available in Spanish
La tienda de Mamá y Papá
By Amelia Lau Carling

Description

From the clip, clop of the milkman’s mule in the early morning to the clacking of her father’s abacus at night, a young girl brings us into her home, which is also her parents’ store. Located in Guatemala City, the store is filled with the colorful textures of cloth, threads, buttons, and things from her parents’ homeland in China. As people come and go throughout the day, the girl hears several languages-Spanish, Chinese, and Mayan.

The Mayans buy thread for weaving in colors such as “parrot green” and “mango yellow.” The girl’s parents talk about their hometown in China, from which they emigrated, fleeing a war, years ago. The girl and her brothers and sisters make up games to play on the rooftop terrace, on the sidewalk, and in the store. After supper the girl dances to celebrate her day.

Lyrical writing and delightful artwork will captivate both children and adults in this story drawn from the author/illustrator’s childhood memories.

About the Creators

Amelia Lau Carling
Amelia Lau Carling

Amelia Lau Carling was born and grew up in Guatemala, the youngest of six children of Chinese immigrants. Surrounded by family and customers in her parents’ general store, she learned about Chinese, Spanish, and Mayan cultures. After moving to the United States, she was inspired to write Mama and Papa Have a Store, her debut book, by her own children’s fascination with stories of her childhood. Carling now lives in Yonkers, New York.

Awards

  • Américas Award

    Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs

  • Pura Belpré Illustrator Award Honor

    American Library Association (ALA)

  • CCBC Choices

    Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)

  • Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People

    National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS)

Paperback

  • ISBN 9781620143087
  • Publication Date Oct 01, 2016
  • Trim Size 8 × 8.4 in
  • Weight 0.375 lbs
  • Page Count 32
  • Interests

  • Audience Children
  • BISAC Category 1 JUV / Social Themes / Emigration & Immigration
  • BISAC Category 2 JUV / Biographical / Latin America
  • BISAC Category 3 JUV / Lifestyles / City & Town Life
  • Themes Asian / Asian American / AAPI, Biography / Memoir, Childhood Experiences and Memories, Cultural Diversity, Economics / Finance, Education, Empathy / Compassion, Families, Home, Immigration, Informational / Expository Nonfiction, Latinx / Latino / Hispanic, Multiple Ethnicities Represented, Nonfiction, Occupations, People In Motion, Persistence / Grit
  • Reading Levels

  • Age Range Ages 5 - 11
  • Grade Range Grades K - 6
  • Guided Reading Q
  • ATOS Book Level 4.1
  • DRA 40
  • Lexile Level 810
  • Reading Level Grades 3 - 4
  • Bebop Reading Fluent
  • This Book is Included in These Collections:

    • 33
      Asian/Asian American English Collection Grades 3-5
      Collection of 33 books: $408.35

      2046 in stock

    • 24
      English Guided Reading Level Q
      Collection of 24 books: $283.80

      190 in stock

    • 67
      Authentic Spanish List
      Collection of 67 books: $1,045.65