Other editions of book Mama and Papa Have a Store

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."

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.