The Carpet: An Afghan Family Story

by Dezh Azaad, Nan Cao (Illustrator)

Overview

This poignant story, about an Afghan refugee child and the family carpet that connects them to home, inspires readers to live and learn in love, not fear

The Carpet follows a day in the life of an Afghan refugee child, where every moment revolves around love, family, and the carpet that connects them to home. The carpet is the centerpiece of family life, where meals, stories, laughs, and memories are shared.

This moving story, inspired by the author’s life, celebrates what makes a home—no matter where you are.

We sip our tea and talk together,
Ruby cushions of goose feather.
The carpet is for sitting.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781419763618
Publisher:	Abrams Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	04/04/2023
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	1,016,890
Product dimensions:	8.60(w) x 10.60(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Dezh Azaad is an Afghan writer who’s been a refugee his whole life. He lives in Germany, where he teaches Persian to refugee children and leads seminars for teens and young adults on social change, race, and the climate crisis. Azaad loves tinkering with electronics and cooking meals that take five hours to make and five minutes to eat. He is the author of The Carpet: An Afghan Family Story.

Editorial Reviews

"Despite the cartoonish rendering of the characters’ faces, the bold colors and movement in the illustrations help the narrative establish a loving family that will thrive because of their close bond."

Booklist

Inspired by Azaad’s own life, this powerful, lyrical tale speaks to the importance of sharing, learning, caring, and other values. A love letter to family, culture, and home.”—Kirkus

"Despite the cartoonish rendering of the characters’ faces, the bold colors and movement in the illustrations help the narrative establish a loving family that will thrive because of their close bond."—Booklist

From the Publisher

2023-02-25
A carpet holds a treasured place for a child and their family, Afghan refugees.

The story begins with this family of six—“mother, father, sisters, brothers”—as they sit on the carpet, sipping tea and talking. As they gather “greens, fresh and crispy,” the carpet becomes a space for food preparation. It is also a place where the protagonist and their siblings can play make-believe games as well as a spot for listening to stories. The carpet is also “for remembering,” however. When war came, the family was forced to leave their home; like a stranger in a strange land, the protagonist sometimes feels lonely and out of place now, but “the carpet keeps me grounded” and connected to their homeland. Inspired by Azaad’s own life, this powerful, lyrical tale speaks to the importance of sharing, learning, caring, and other values. References to basil, mint, dill, parsley, and a mythical bird known as the Simorgh enrich the story, emphasizing the family’s connection to their culture. Cao’s vibrant illustrations complement the text, capturing the importance of the carpet in this family’s life and celebrating “a piece of home.” Though the author’s note mentions that Afghans are about “family, not war,” there is no context about the war in question, so caregivers or educators may need to fill in some gaps. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A love letter to family, culture, and home. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews