Grandfather's Journey

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Say, Allen. 1993. GRANDFATHER’S JOURNEY. Boston, Mass: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN: 0395570352.

PLOT SUMMARY

Grandfather’s Journey is based on Allen Say’s own grandfather and his struggle with conflicting feelings for the country he grew up in –Japan, versus the country he immigrated to-America. He chronicles his journey west, where he boards a boat and “he wore European clothes” for the first time. His grandfather traveled to America by “train and river boat, and often walked for days on end”. He finally settled on California for his new home, but after a time he returned to his homeland to marry. He returned to California with his new bride where he would raise his family and stay for many years. But, soon he finds that he could not suppress his memories of his homeland even though “he surrounded himself with songbirds, he could not forget”. He takes his family and returns to Japan where he once again “laughed with friends”. He shared stories with his grandchildren about California and missed the mountains, so he scheduled a trip. Unfortunately he was never made the trip due to war. When his grandson finally grows up, he too leaves to discover the land that his grandfather so fondly spoke of. He had to see California for “himself” and it is on this journey he learns to understand the lifelong struggle his grandfather had for his love of two countries.

Critical Analysis
Allen Say’s Caldecott winning picture book helps readers have a personal look at how immigrants might feel when they are torn between two countries. He does a great job adding a personal touch by sharing his grandfather’s story, yet not making it the main focus of the story. Say’s watercolor illustrations give off the impression of a family photo album. This personal touch portrays itself, as if the narrator himself where sitting side by side with the reader sharing his story. It is exciting to see that some pictures almost glow with the emotion he is feeling.
Being that Allen Say is telling his family’s story of immigration his cultural markers are authentic showing proper landscapes, skin tones, and housing during Grandfather’s Journey. He cleverly pulls the reader in sharing his excitement for the new land and people he met, “he met many people along the way”. Allen Say did choose an interesting choice of words describing the different people he met; he tells the reader he shook hands with “black men and white men, with yellow men and red men”.

Readers will cherish this family tale while thinking fondly of their own heritages. This story has a dual setting, both in California and Japan. Allen Say develops his plot with such gentleness that readers will automatically understand his story. This is touching story sharing the importance of family and patriotism.


REVIEW EXCERPTS
Horn Book- “The immigrant experience has rarely been so poignantly evoked as it is in this direct, lyrical narrative, accompanied by soft-toned watercolors.”

Children’s Literature - “Many immigrants must experience the same conflicting emotions as Say's grandfather in his Caldecott Award book. Homesick for Japan when in California; yet, longing to return when at home in Japan. It was his grandson, Allen, who made the journey here and now lives in San Francisco. The paintings are haunting evocations of a time past and appear as an intimate part of a family's album. The range of emotions make this book suitable for older children and adults.”

Other Books by Allen Say
Say, Allen. Tree of Cranes. ISBN 9780395520246.
Say, Allen. Tea with Milk. ISBN 9780395904954.