Say, Allen. (1993). Grandfather’s Journey. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN: 978-0395-570357.
Brief plot summary:
This picture book, although considered fiction, describes Allen Say’s own personal experience as a Japanese-American. The story is told in first person narrative and begins with the life of Say’s grandfather. He grew up in Japan but moved to America as a young adult. He created a life in California, but after nearly two decades he began to grow homesick and moved back to Japan where his own daughter married and had a son (the narrator). The boy grew up in Japan but as a teenager decided to see the California that his grandfather was always talking about. He ended up moving there and having a family of his own, but “The funny thing is, the moment [he is] in one country, [he is] homesick for the other.”
Critical analyses:
Overall impression: Wonderful depiction of what it is like for those belonging to two places, whether it’s countries, cultures, or families.
*Caldecott Medal Winner*
Grandfather’s Journey is an authentic telling of what it is like to belong to both Japan and the United States. It won the 1994 Caldecott Medal for its outstanding illustrations. I could not do the pictures justice with my own words, so here are some borrowed words from Publisher’s Weekly: “Elegantly honed text accompanies large, formally composed paintings to convey Say's family history; the sepia tones and delicately faded colors of the art suggest a much-cherished and carefully preserved family album” (Publisher’s Weekly, 1993). Allen Say created the detailed illustrations as well as the text, making the story even more personal. The realistic aspect of these illustrations will help kids realize the truth in Say’s story and give them a good idea of what life was like during this time period.
The story begins with Say’s grandfather, as a young man, leaving Japan to explore the United States. He is first pictured wearing the proper Japanese attire for the time period (Kids Web Japan, n.d.) and then pictured wearing “European clothes” of the time period (Watson Library). His physical characteristics are also true to that of most Japanese men and the illustrator (obviously) avoids stereotypical “yellow” skin by giving his grandfather differing shades of light colored skin. As he is exploring the U.S. he “met many people along the way...black men and white men… yellow men and red men” (all of which are represented fairly through the corresponding painting). When he returns to Japan to marry his sweetheart, they are pictured wearing clothing more similar to the European style of the time, which is correct for this time period. Around this time, Japan began moving toward this style and away from their traditional clothes (Kids Web Japan). The remainder of the story reflects the same, accurate portrayals of each culture and the customs of each. Most importantly, however, is the meaning behind these back and forth styles. Along with Say’s description of his grandfather’s life journey, the images allow readers to visually understand the feeling of loving and belonging to more than one place and to more than one lifestyle. Although the story mostly takes place pre-WWII and is focused on the grandfather’s life, connections can be made to modern times and kids living now.
Review excerpts:
“Lovely, quiet-- with a tenderness and warmth new to this fine illustrator’s work.”
-- Kirkus, 1993
“Experience the celebration of two cultures as Allen Say lovingly recounts the life of his grandfather.”
--BookHive
“Wong’s gentle voice settles into the background, letting the family portraits and landscapes speak to the push and pull of life in Japan and America and to the similarities between generations.”
--Audiofile
Connections (related books, activities, children’s responses, etc.):
Most kids will be able to relate to this story and they could discuss how so. For example, some kids are from other places (whether it’s a whole other country or just another city), some have divorced parents which can create this split/homesick feeling, and some come from families with differing cultures.
I also stumbled upon this site that has some great connections: http://eduscapes.com/library/g/grandfathers_journey.htm
References:
Kids Web Japan. (n.d.). History of Kimonos. Retrieved November 11, 2015, from http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/virtual/kimono/kimono01.html
Publisher's Weekly. (1993, October). Grandfather's Journey. Retrieved November 11, 2015, from http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-395-57035-7
Thomas J. Watson Library, The Metropolitan Museum of Art. (n.d.). Costume Institute Fashion Plates. Retrieved November 11, 2015, from http://libmma.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/search/collection/p15324coll12/searchterm/187*/field/title/mode/all/conn/and/order/nosort/page/1
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