Grandfather’s Journey

Written and illustrated by

Allen Say

Caldecott Metal Winner - 1994

 Say, A. (1994). Grandfather's journey. New York, NY: Scholastic.

EXPOSITION: When the author’s grandfather was a young man, he left his home in Japan, got on a boat, and came to see America.

CONFLICT: He marveled at all he saw, and was torn between fascination with this new land and love for his homeland.

RISING ACTION: He later returned to Japan, married his childhood sweetheart, and brought her to San Francisco, where they made a home.  But he grew homesick for his homeland, so he brought his family back to Japan to live.

CLIMAX: Yet he longed to return to America.  But before he could do so, World War II broke out, making the return trip impossible.

FALLING ACTION: By the time the war was over, his home, like most of his country, had been destroyed and he was never able to return to the United States that he loved so much.

RESOLUTION: In time, his grandson, the author of this book, followed in his grandfather’s footsteps by coming to America.  And, like his grandfather, he found that the moment he is in one country, he becomes homesick for the other.

WAS THIS A WELL-ILLUSTRATED BOOK?  Allen Say's illustrations are a perfect compliment to his text.  The pictures have a realistic quality that are as honest as his words.  And the soft pastels properly reflect the artistry of his Japanese heritage.

PICTURE SOURCES: lookingglassreview.com

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