Grandfather's Journey

Inspired by memories of his grandfather, author/illustrator Allen Say presents the true story of his family's ties to two very different countries. Beginning with his grandfather's first journey from Japan to the United States, Say describes how his grandfather adapted to life in America while still remembering and missing his native country. Later, Say's grandfather returned to Japan to marry his childhood sweetheart, with whom he returned to the United States. While there, the couple welcomed and raised a daughter who later returned with them to Japan where she married, and eventually gave birth to a baby boy--the author himself. Close to his grandfather, Say enjoyed hearing about life in the United States, and after surviving the horrors of World War II, he eventually makes his own journey to America. This autobiographical picture book concludes with Say reflecting on his own life and realizing that he is following in his grandfather's footsteps, finding home and comfort in both Japan and the United States--always homesick for the country he is away from. Illustrated with watercolor paintings, GRANDFATHER'S JOURNEY was selected by the New York Times Book Review as one of the Best Illustrated Children's Books of 1993 and is the winner of the 1994 Caldecott Medal.