Mama and Papa Have a Store

Americas Book Award, Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs
Pura Belpre Illustrator Award Honor, ALSC/REFORMA
Choices, Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC)
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, National Council for the Social Studies/ Children’s Book Council

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

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.