Module 2: Grandfather's Journey

Book Summary: The author, Allen Say, narrates this story about his Japanese born grandfather.  His grandfather was born in Japan and decides to travel by boat to America.  He explores North America by train, riverboat, and walking.  He loves California the best, but decides to go home to Japan to marry his childhood sweetheart.  The couple go to San Francisco and have a baby girl.  Say's grandfather misses Japan and the family returns home, where his daughter (Say's mother) grows up.  This is a story about Say's grandfather belonging to two countries: Japan and America.

APA Reference of Book: Say, A. (1993). Grandfather's journey. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Impressions: This book is very much about wanting to find home in its various contexts.  Since this book won the Caldecott in 1994, I examined the pictures carefully in conjunction with the text.  The watercolor pictures and accompanying text are sparse, almost mimicking postcards.  Some of the pictures look like family photographs; perhaps they were painted from photographs.  The expressions on Say's family faces are neutral.  However, there is the universal theme of longing to be in different places and loving two countries at once.

Professional Review: 
"In lucid, graceful language, he chronicles these passages, reflecting his love of both countries--plus the expatriate's ever-present longing for home--in both simple text and exquisitely composed watercolors: scenes of his grandfather discovering his new country and returning with new appreciation to the old, and pensive portraits recalling family photos, including two evoking the war and its aftermath. Lovely, quiet--with a tenderness and warmth new to this fine illustrator's work" (Kirkus, 1993).

Kirkus (1993, October 1). [Review of the book Grandfather's journey, by A. Say]. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/allen-say/grandfathers-journey/

Library Uses: Many teachers and education students come into my library to check out materials. I think this book would be a good recommendation concerning multicultural projects.