Pegi Deitz Shea, illustrated by Leane Morin,
The Carpet Boy’s Gift
Tilbury House, 2006.

Ages 8-12

In The Carpet Boy’s Gift, a Pakistani family sells their oldest son, Nadeem, to a factory owner to pay off a loan.  For years Nadeem is uncomplaining.  He works stoically at his loom all day, every day, finding comfort in knowing that he is helping his family.  The wool fibers he inhales in the factory make him sick, though, and he dreams of the day he will be free, go to school, and play outside. Every time he gets close to repaying the family debt, the factory master fines him for some tiny infraction, pushing freedom further out of reach.

One day, a former child laborer, Iqbal Masih, comes to Nadeem’s town to spread the word about a new law meant to abolish child slavery in Pakistan.  Masih gives Nadeem official certificates to present to the factory owner to prove that he must free the children. Nadeem bravely presents the certificates, but the master responds by tearing them up and severely punishing Nadeem.  Disheartened, Nadeem seems once again resigned to his situation, but when word comes that Masih has been murdered, Nadeem leads an escape from the factory.

Author Pegi Deitz Shea addresses the nightmarish issue of child labor in a simple and sensitive way.  The Carpet Boy’s Gift is quite a dark story, but it should not frighten children: rather it may help them to empathize with the working children of the world. Every picture is framed by a pattern resembling the border on a rug except for the final illustration, a borderless and striking overhead view of the children leaving the factory with arms outstretched and birds flying overhead.  At the end of the book there are extensive notes and a detailed list of resources relating to child labor and social justice issues. These provide a context for the story: Iqbal Masih was a real boy who campaigned against child slavery in Pakistan and was tragically murdered at the age of twelve for his heroic efforts. Suggestions are given for related subjects to discuss with children, including a list of the United Nations “Rights of the Child.”  With Pakistan much in the news of late, The Carpet Boy’s Gift would make a timely addition to any bookshelf.

Jeannine Cuevas
November, 2008