Amelia Lau Carling
Sawdust Carpets
Groundwood Books, 2005.

Rating: E*

This lovingly-told story from a Chinese girl growing up in Guatemala follow the author's award-winning "La Tienda de Mamá Y Papá/Mama and Papa Have a Store. Briefly, that book tells the true story of a family who flee to Guatemala when the Japanese invade the Pearl River delta in China, during the World War II. They opened a store, learned to speak Spanish, and raised a family.

Sawdust Carpet shows us how holy Week is celebrated in a Spanish-speaking country through the eyes of this family, who follow Chinese customs. In the home of Amelia's aunt and uncle, respect is made to both traditions – the Virgin of Guadalupe and the Quan Yin sit side by side on the family altar. Easter Sunday has been chosen for the baptism of Amelia's baby cousin Angel Sen Quan, so readers are introduced to preparations for both.

One of the distinctive aspects of the celebrations in Antigua is the celebration of sawdust carpets, made to welcome the Easter processions of Spanish colonial statues carried through the city streets. The carpets are made with sawdust dyed in a multitude of jewel-like colors, flowers and pine-needles. First, a layer of natural sawdust is put down on the cobblestones and sprinkled with water. Boards are laid across the work so the artist don't disturb their work. Next, designs are drawn on with colored sawdust sifted through stencils. Finally, a fine mist of water plays over the carpets to keep the sawdust in place. It takes all day to produce the beautiful and fragrant carpets upon which the corteges will walk.

On Good Friday morning, the carpets create an explosion of color and texture throughout Antigua's old streets. Don Ortiz, a master at making carpets, sees the children's interest in what he has done. Kindly he asks if they would like some of the leftover material to make their own carpet. Quickly, the children get to work with sawdust, rice, sunflowers and oranges. the final product is qué lindo! – beautiful!

When the sad and glorious procession comes closer to Amelia's street, she realizes what will happen. She stands firmly in front of the carpet, defying tradition, until Don Ortiz pulls her away. "This is the custom. We make the rugs as offerings to life. Haven';t you noticed? Flowers bloom and soon they die, but they leave seeds so others will grow. Life follows death and death follows life." Amelia reluctantly stands back so the procession can continue, and then she and her family walk through the city, following the journey to Holy Sepulchre. The trek home is a sad one.
The next day, Amelia's mother and aunt prepare Chinese tamales for the baptism, and ready the house for a family party. On Easter Sunday, the family goes to the church, now bright with celebratory colors, to christen Angel. The week ends with a party, as Amelia breaks the piñata, bringing candy down on her head, and laughter from her cousin.

The prologue provides accurate information about Guatemalan Easter celebrations and the glossary gives an explanation of potentially unfamiliar vocabulary. The story draws us in with its warmth, vitality and the excitement of a child participating in something important. Seen through the eyes of a child, the mix of cultures and values reinforces an understanding of the ways in which religious observances link past and present.

Thematic Links: Family; China; Guatemala; Easter Week.

Kathryn McNaughton
Vol. 10, number 5
June 2005

*Rating System:
E - Excellent, enduring, everyone should see it!
G - Good, even great at times, generally useful!
A - Average, all right, has its applications.
P - Problematic, puzzling, poorly presented.