Mama and Papa Have a Store

by Amelia Lau Carling

From the clip, clop of the milkman's mule in early morning to the clic, clac of her father's abacus at night, a young girl tells about a day in her family's store and home in Guatemala City. Every day customers of many heritages — speaking Spanish, Chinese, and Mayan — come to buy cloth, buttons, and thread in colors like ?parrot green? and ?mango yellow,? and dozens of other items. While the girl's parents and their friends talk about their hometown in China from where they emigrated many years ago, she and her siblings play games on the rooftop terrace, float paper boats, and make shadow puppets under the glow of flashlights. When the store closes, the girl dances to celebrate her day. Amelia Lau Carling's thoroughly American children loved her childhood stories about Guatemala so much that she wrote them down for others.

Genres: Picture Books, Cultural, Childrens, Family, Immigration, Nonfiction, International

32 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1998

About the author

Amelia Lau Carling was born in Guatemala, the youngest of six children of Chinese immigrants. Surrounded by friends and customers in her family's general store in Guatemala City, she learned about the Chinese, Spanish, and Mayan cultures.
Carling has been an art director and designer of children's books for major publishing houses in New York City. She lives in Westchester County, New York.

Reviews

[Jessica Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mama and Papa Have a Store welcomes readers into the life of a young girl who lives in Guatemala City with her family. Her parents own a Chinese store that sells just about anything you can imagine: firecrackers, buttons, thread, cloth, tablecloths, soy sauce, perfume, lanterns, flower, etc. The girl introduces the readers to the local residents in her town and the customers who frequently shop at her parents’ store, including the blind man, the candy woman, and the Mayan Indians who come from far away villages. She goes on to explain that her parents are from Nine Rivers, which is a town in China. The girl describes the daily activities that her parents and siblings perform each day. When it rains, the lights go out, so the young girl and her siblings entertain customers by making shadow puppets with flashlights. Soon, the rain stops; the girl’s parents close the store and prepare for another day. The book qualifies as realistic fiction.

Because the book’s author is Chinese and Guatemalan and learned about the Spanish, Chinese, and Mayan cultures, this book accurately represents the setting and characters. Readers get to experience what it is like for a young girl to live in a Hispanic country while realizing that there is great diversity within her community. Chinese and Hispanic cultural aspects are represented in the book as the young girl describes the meaning of her parents’ names in Chinese and Spanish. This book is appropriate for children ages four through eight. The vivid, colorful, and detailed illustrations attract young readers; the short sentences and simple language allow children to understand the story. Surrounding context and illustrations define Spanish and Chinese terms used throughout the book. Because the girl’s life is simplistic, young children may realize that technology is not needed to live happily. Mama and Papa Have a Store is a story that appreciates diversity and simplistic life. The young girl exposes multiple perspectives as she describes the different people who visit the store.

[JJ Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mama & Papa Have a Store is a charming story about a Chinese family living and working in Guatemala. The day-in-the-life-of story is told from the point of view of a young girl. While her brothers and sisters go off to school, she stays behind at her parents' store, watching the customers, observing the street traffic, and imagining far away cities. The young narrator shows us that life isn't all that different where she lives than it is where her parents grew up or even where the reader is from. There are neighborhood stores, familiar strangers, and family meals. This book is a good example to show students how the US isn't the only place in the world where people came immigrate to and lead their lives. Students can imagine how it would look like if two other different cultures came together.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this picture book, a young girl describes vividly the happenings in her parents' small store in Guatemala City. Since her parents have moved to the country from China, the store is filled with all sorts of surprising cultural treasures from their homeland but also materials and goods that are popular with locals. The text and illustrations, created in watercolor and gouache, effectively provide a glimpse into a small slice of life that seems realistic, filled with some dreaming and imagining as well as work and play. Although her parents' move from their own homeland must have been difficult, they seem to have made a place for themselves in this town. Readers will smile at the description of the meal prepared by the mother as well as the youngsters' use of candle wax to make a slide on the rooftop. Since I had no idea that any Chinese citizens had ever lived in Guatemala, this picture book was eye-opening for me. Young readers whose own parents are immigrants may find some of their own experiences represented here. One of the book's strengths is how it captures so well just how one day, wonderful in its normality, proceeds.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story tells of the typcial day a Chinese family has running their shop. You'll hear the various stories of people sitting outside the shop, those who come in to buy and the family that runs the store.

Ages: 6 - 10

Cleanliness: mentions lottery tickets and there is a picture of heaven, angels, hell and devils that a little girl looks at.

#geography #southamerica #guatemala

**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it! Visit my website: The Book Radar.

[Margaret Boling · Rating 3 out of 5]

9/23/2018 ~~ I felt myself sink into this story set in Guatemala City at some point in the past (mule drawn carts in the town, but a description of a bus also). The narrator is the child of Chinese immigrants who opened a store in Guatemala. She tells of the story of a typical day of her parents minding the store, her family home behind the store, the meals they eat, and the Mayan Indians who come to shop for thread. The illustrations are spectacular and I enjoyed the look at a culture beyond my own. I did wish the story had more conflict or narrative arc.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice picture book about a girl whose family is ethnic Chinese immigrants to Guatemala. A young girl tells the story of her experience at the store in which her family sells items to local people who speak Spanish or Mayan languages. Her parents have friends who hail from the same hometown in China and they enjoy talking about news they get from home and others who have emigrated elsewhere. The family continues to eat Chinese food and speak Chinese while learning Spanish and the other languages too. Nice story.

[Jenna M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mama & Papa Have a Store is a unique tale about a girl in Guatemala City with her family. Her parents own a Chinese store that adds Spanish, Chinese, and Mayan cultures to the story. The young girl realizes that her community is filled with diversity. I believe this would be an excellent time to introduce introspection for students to think about their lives and the impact of differing cultures. The sentences are short and easy to comprehend, and the illustrations are colorful and detailed, perfect for young readers.

[Alma · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young Chinese girl growing up in Guatemala recalls memories of her parent’s general store, which carried everything from perfume to tablecloths to firecrackers and more. Her parents were forced to leave their home in China due to a war and came to Guatemala more than fifteen years ago. Amelia Lau Carling won a 2000 Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor Award for her work on this book. Read more about it on my blog: https://shouldireaditornot.wordpress....

[Skyler Dressel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book tells the story of a Chinese-American family who own and operate a small grocery store in a diverse neighborhood. The story is told from the perspective of the family's young daughter, Mei-Mei, who helps out in the store and learns about the different cultures and foods of their customers. The illistrations in the book are bright and capture the culture. The book is written in a simple style and shines light on immigrant families.

[Teresa Selders · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is for ages 4-8 years old. Pre-K to third grade. A very good book from many different heritages. Languages (People) from Spanish, Chinese and Mayan come together to buy it items from the neighborhood store. There, many friendships are formed. All the families share different stories of what it is like in there homelands. I like this book. It brings many families together to buy from the store and learn things from each other. I would share it in my classroom.

[Maddie Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book received a Pura Belpre award and I think that award was well deserved! I did enjoy this book because it taught me a lot about the family's culture and goes into depth on different activities they like to spend time partaking in. This book is a good way to introduce students to big families and talk about cousins and uncles and aunts and the importance of family!

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice book about a family who lives in Guatemala City and the parents own a shop and sell things. It tells the story about what they do day to day living. It is a good family story and you can see that the family is close.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is a peek into the life of Chinese immigrants living in Guatemala, and their interactions with family members, neighbors, and customers. I appreciated learning about other cultures, and I was glad for the opportunity to expose my children to this story.

[Molly Leffler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It was kind of long and feel like students may lose attention. It would be good for learning other cultures

[Rani · Rating 5 out of 5]

A day, a life, and a beautiful lifestyle told with a gentle, evocative, and powerful telling. Life of immigrants and the way they make the life.

[Jessica Pinnick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book from the little girls point of view.

[Dalton Prather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed seeing the vibrant culture in every page. Marvelous.

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book about a Chinese family who immigrated to Guatemala and lived the life of shopkeepers. True story!!!! Beautiful illustrations with the feel of both cultures.

[Lizzy Schaner · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a bit of a longer read, but it really gives you a good look at what people from different cultural backgrounds do within everyday activities.

[Christine Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is so much love and nostalgia in these illustrations. The writing really immerses you in a day in Amelia's childhood.

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mama& Papa Have a Store by Amelia Lau Carling was published in 1998 by Dial Books for Young Readers. The story details a day in the life of a young girl whose parents own “a Chinese store” in Guatemala City. Through the narrative, we meet the regular cast of characters who surround the store daily, as well as travelers from “an Indian village far away” who have come to the store to buy thread that they will turn into clothing. We learn how the girl’s family left China during World War II and have come to set up shop in this Spanish-speaking land. As the family has lived in Guatemala, they have assimilated, and now speak Spanish, express knowledge about Guatemalan cultural arts, and include Guatemalan foods next to traditional Asian fare in their meals. Through the narrative, we learn about the children’s activities and the family’s rituals in a typical day of operating this family business.

Amelia Lau Carling crafted this text based on her own experiences as a Chinese child who grew up in Guatemala. The narrative is a simple, “bed-to-bed” story that teaches about Guatemala and the family’s life as it leads readers through the day. Carling’s colorful illustrations help readers envision the store and the merchandise available there, and enhance her descriptions of the little girl’s daily life. The text has a very matter-of-fact tone, without significant drama or elaboration of more emotionally complex topics like the family’s flight from war-torn China. This tone is true to the narrator’s voice – the little girl naturally displays minimal interest in the “people and places so far away.” This narrative nonfiction piece does its job of teaching about cultural and family experiences, but feels a bit flat without any clear, driving message or purpose beyond simple explanation. The author’s brief remembrance of her parents before the story begins hints at her sense of the family history and her parents’ strong ties to their hometown, but this emotion is not strongly felt in the narrative itself.

This book has a unique cultural presence, in that it teaches both about Guatemalan and Chinese cultural practices through its words and illustrations. We learn about Guatemalan villages by examining the pictures where we see the people’s colorful clothing, paintings, animals, fabrics, and landscapes. A bit of Mayan culture is introduced with the inclusion of the “Indian” family. Chinese customs and culture are present as we read about some of the merchandise available in the store, learn about the family’s reminiscences of their homeland, see and read about them eating their lunch and enjoying their outdoor spaces, and listen to the clic, clac, clac of Papa’s abacus. The family’s blended cultural life is not explicitly pointed out, but readers can see how the two traditions mix together, just as Carling mixes Spanish words and sounds into her narrative. Most of this feels authentic and natural in its presentation.

This text could be used with students from kindergarten to grade 2, and would fit nicely in units about immigration, community, and Latin American culture. It might also be a nice mentor text for a basic study of narrative nonfiction.

[Maria Salinas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Main Characters: little girl, mom,dad
Setting: Guatemala/Store
POV: Narrator
Grade Level: k-2
Reading Level: 4.3
Genre: multicultural/ realistic fiction
Award: Pura Belpre

This is a story about a Chinese girl spending the day in her parent’s store. She describes every detail that happens during the day. From when the milk man goes to their store until late night when the store is closed. Throughout the day many people from different cultures stop at her parents store to buy many things. She is curious to see that everyone has different choices in color and style. While the customers go and purchase their goods they also spend time talking about their hometowns and remembering what they have left behind. While these conversations happen the girl goes to the roof top where she plays with others. At the end of the day when the store is closed the girl celebrates the day by dancing.

This story would be great to use with my primary or even upper elementary as a read aloud. Many of those students coming from other countries might relate to the book and open up to sharing what life is like in their home country. After the read aloud students could either draw or write what things they remember about their hometown. I would then have students share out.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you look hard enough, you can find a good number of immigrant stories among children's literature available in the States. But, it's MUCH harder to find a story like this. Author Amelia Lau Carling's parents fled their village in China during the Japanese invasion in 1938. They emigrated to Guatemala City and ran a successful general store. Drawing on her experiences growing up, Carling depicts in her book a day in the life of a family like her own -- growing up surrounded by Spanish, Chinese, and Mayan languages, and Chinese, Guatemalan, and Mayan cultures, and the ways they intersected in mundane life -- street vendors, making lunch, store inventory, etc. The book is a lovely reflection of multiculturalism being lived in daily life. Glad to have found it.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great picture book memoir that is truly multicultural. The Lau family left China during World War II because the Japanese wee attacking. They made a new life in Guatemala City. Here they learned Spanish and became part of the community.

I appreciated seeing this part of history. We think of displaced Jews during WWII, but the war was happening in many places and others also fled their countries.

[Scarlett Sims · Rating 4 out of 5]

The most interesting thing about this book is the mixing of cultures. It is about Chinese immigrants living in Guatemala. It's a children's picture book, so there isn't a ton of hidden depth or anything, but it definitely show children how two cultures both different from our own can be blended together.

[Lourdes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was not aware that there had been a Chinese immigration to Guatemala so I was happily surprised by this story of a young Chinese girl and the cultural mix of her Chinese family into Guatemalan culture. Her family owns a textile company. I was surprised that this 1998 Américas winner depicts the indigenous Guatemalan as Indians. The illustrations are colorful and cheerful.

[Patrice]

The most interesting thing about this book is the mixing of cultures. It is about Chinese immigrants living in Guatemala. It's a children's picture book, so there isn't a ton of hidden depth or anything, but it definitely show children how two cultures both different from our own can be blended together

[Renee]

2000 Pura Belpre Honor Book Award for Illustration.
2000 Washington Irving Children's Choice Honor Book Award.
1998 Americas Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature.
1998 List of Notable Books in the field of Social Studies.

Age: 4-8?

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[Laree Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great read!!I think that children will enjoy reading this story. The author describes the different cultural experiences that a chinese girl encounters while working in her parents store.

[Becca Sharp · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this Pura Belpre Honor book, a little girl describes what life is like for her family, Chinese immigrants to Guatemala during World War II. The watercolor illustrations are warm and the story introduces both Spanish words and Chinese themes.