Grandfather's Journey

Say, Allen. 1993. GRANDFATHER'S JOURNEY. Illustrated by Allen Say. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 3-1551-07503-2339.
Plot Summary
Allen Say relates his grandfather's initial journey to American and all the beauty he encounters there. He returns to Japan, marries and again returns to America with his family. Time passes on and his grandfather's heart longs for the old country, yet while he is there he longs for America. In time the author relates to his grandfather's longing for one country while in another.
Analysis
In this Caldecott winner, Allen Say pays tribute to his grandfather with his words and illustrations. The story begins with an illustration of Say's grandfather wearing traditional Japanese clothing. In the following illustration we are told he is wearing European clothing. We also learn of his adventurous spirit,
"He explored North America by train and riverboat, and often walked for days on end."
The water color illustrations depict the majestic and breathtaking views of North America's country side. To balance those illustrations, we also see that the grandfather was bewildered with the huge factories and tall buildings.
Say accurately portrays the beauty of nature, but also depicts the pollution of those same factories that bewildered his grandfather.
Say comments on his grandfather's character as he states,
"He met many people along the way. He shook hands with black men and white men, with yellow men and red men."
Once he returned to his village, we see the grandfather rowing a boat with his new bride. Both are wearing clothing of the era -- not the traditional Japanese clothing. We are reminded this story has taken place some time ago, since the clothing differs from today's. The family then relocates to San Francisco.
Some of the illustrations resemble family portraits: the family outside dressed in nice clothing and seemingly posing for a camera, or the daughter standing with her blond doll as it sits on a stroller. Other illustrations don't seem to be poses. For example, we see the grandfather pensively looking out the window as he is surrounded by songbirds. This illustration strongly depicts the text that goes along with it, "He remembered the mountains and rivers of his home. He surrounded himself with songbirds, but he could not forget." In the background we see a clock telling the time. Adults may see this as time passing by and children will be quick to notice the numerous songbirds that surround the grandfather.
So the grandfather's longing for his homeland is so strong, that he returns to it. In the same manner that readers marveled at the beauty of the illustrations of North America, the readers now marvel at the beauty of Japan's countryside. Just as we think all is well, Say depicts a generation gap in his illustrations. We see Grandfather's daughter in modern clothing and in the background a woman is kneeling in traditional Japanese clothing. This powerful illustration also matches Say's text,
"But the village was not a place for a daughter from San Francisco. So my grandfather bought a house in a large city nearby."
While in the city, Say tells us the young woman falls in love and marries. From this union comes forth the author. He hears of many stories about California from his beloved grandfather. The last time Say sees his grandfather, he tells Say that he longs to see California one more time. Sadly, he was not able to do so.
As his grandfather had done, Say too travels to California. Perhaps to fulfill his grandfather's longing.
"After a time, I came to love the land my grandfather had loved, and I stayed on and on until I had a daughter of my own. "
Like his grandfather, he yearns for the land and people of his childhood. He returns from time to time. One of the final lines in his book is one that is best understood by immigrants that have fallen in love with their new country and all the while reminisce and long for the old country.
"The funny thing is, the moment I am in one country, I am homesick for the other."
The elegance of the words, the life-like illustrations, and the topic that is so close to an immigrant's heart makes this a jewel of a book. All the while, Say educates the reader and dispels misconceptions we may have had: Japanese marriages were always arranged or Japanese traditional clothing was the norm. The warmth this book carries convinces you that had Say's grandfather read this, he would have been very proud of his grandchild. It is the sort of book I would love to pen to pay tribute to my parents and grandparents.
Review Excerpts
"Say transcends the achievements of his Tree of Cranes and A River Dream with this breathtaking picture book, at once a very personal tribute to his grandfather and a distillation of universally shared emotions. 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."-From Publisher's Weekly
"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."--From Kirkus Reviews
Connections
Other picture books by Allen Say:
How My Parents learned to Eat
The Boy of the Three-Year Nap
Tree of Cranes
Home of the Brave
Allison
Emma's Rug
Websites
http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/authors/allensay/index.shtml