Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say

Bibliography 

Say, A. (2013). Grandfather's journey. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 0395570352

Plot Summary

Allen Say’s grandfather immigrated to America from Japan. He fell in love with California, and did not miss Japan until later in life. After returning to his once loved homeland, he thinks about California again.

 

Critical Analysis

The first two pages show two full page illustrations depicting Allen Say’s grandfather before and after immigrating to the United States from Japan. In one illustration he is wearing Kimono and in the other a peacoat. These large illustrations show an example of assimilation by Japanese immigrants coming to the United States. The book chronicles his experiences and lists some of the people he encountered in the United States, “he shook hands with black men and white men, with yellow men and red men.” It shows his growing love for the country, especially California. At one point after marrying and having his daughter in the United States, his grandfather decides to go back to Japan and see “the mountains and rivers of his childhood”. 

There is brief mention of the war that knowledgeable readers might infer to be World War II and leads to the grandfather being unable to return to California. Later in life, Allen Say decides to see the land that his grandfather loved so much, California. The book ends with this message about the struggles of making a home of two nations, “The funny thing is, the moment I am in one country, I am homesick for the other.”

Illustrations depict the various cultures and time periods described in the story. They take up most of the pages with the minimal words in the story underneath. They depict Japanese characters with distinct facial features such as almond shaped eyes in both Japanese Kimonos and western dress depending on where they called home at the time.

 

Review Excerpts and Awards

Caldecott Winner, 1994

From Kirkus Review: “In lucid, graceful language, [Allen Say] 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.”

Connections

Have students look at only the pictures to start. Ask what they notice about the characters. What do they believe is happening in the story. Read the words together next. What have they learned after reading the words?

Have students make a map of grandfather’s journey.