View on Biblioguides
I first discovered Allen Say through library book sales, where his books caught my eye with their lifelike illustrations and quiet storytelling. Emma’s Rug is a perfect example of why his work stands out—restrained in text, yet rich in illustration.
From the first page, I was swept into Emma’s world. She is a young artist who sees what others don’t, someone who draws her inspiration from a place that feels deeply personal and even mysterious. When she was a baby, Emma was given a rug—soft, simple, and unassuming. But for Emma, it became something much more. She carried it everywhere, stared at it for hours, and found stories and pictures inside it. Her father, amused, once said, “That’s not a blanket. It’s her television.” But Say shows us that for Emma, the rug is more than entertainment—it is the source of her creativity.
The story takes an unexpected turn when Emma’s mother, unaware of the rug’s significance, washes it. WIthout meaning to, Emma’s mother washes away Emma’s muse. Emma is devastated and throws away all of her art and withdraws into herself.
In a tender and sweet ending, Emma unexpectedly discovers something new, proving that the muse may be elusive but never really gone.
The illustrations are absolute perfection. Say’s artwork is the story. Page after page, the reader is invited into a world that feels substantial, complex, and alive.
I would recommend Emma’s Rug to artists, to those who love artists, and to anyone who cherishes a beautiful picture book. It is a quiet story that lingers—just like the best works of art always do.