Most Popular Books by Allen Say

In this Caldecott Medal–winning picture book, master storyteller Allen Say chronicles his family’s history between Japan and California. A lyrical, breathtaking tale of one man’s love for two countries, Grandfather’s Journey is perfect for fans of Last Stop on Market Street and Thank You, Omu! Through pensive portraits and delicately faded art, Allen Say pays tribute to his grandfather’s persistent longing for home that continues within Allen. This restlessness and constant desire to be in two places speaks to a universal experience as well as the deeply personal ties of family to place, and what it means to be at home in more than one country. Both a celebration of heritage and a poignant exploration of the struggles we inherit, Grandfather’s Journey is a modern classic perfect for every household.

Caldecott Medalist Allen Say presents a stunning graphic novel chronicling his journey as an artist during WWII, when he apprenticed under Noro Shinpei, Japan''s premier cartoonist DRAWING FROM MEMORY is Allen Say''s own story of his path to becoming the renowned artist he is today. Shunned by his father, who didn''t understand his son''s artistic leanings, Allen was embraced by Noro Shinpei, Japan''s leading cartoonist and the man he came to love as his "spiritual father." As WWII raged, Allen was further inspired to consider questions of his own heritage and the motivations of those around him. He worked hard in rigorous drawing classes, studied, trained--and ultimately came to understand who he really is. Part memoir, part graphic novel, part narrative history, DRAWING FROM MEMORY presents a complex look at the real-life relationship between a mentor and his student. With watercolor paintings, original cartoons, vintage photographs, and maps, Allen Say has created a book that will inspire the artist in all of us.

In this Caldecott Medal–winning picture book, master storyteller Allen Say chronicles his family’s history between Japan and California. A lyrical, breathtaking tale of one man’s love for two countries, Grandfather’s Journey is perfect for fans of Last Stop on Market Street and Thank You, Omu! Through pensive portraits and delicately faded art, Allen Say pays tribute to his grandfather’s persistent longing for home that continues within Allen. This restlessness and constant desire to be in two places speaks to a universal experience as well as the deeply personal ties of family to place, and what it means to be at home in more than one country. Both a celebration of heritage and a poignant exploration of the struggles we inherit, Grandfather’s Journey is a modern classic perfect for every household.

Caldecott Medal winner Allen Say brings his lavish illustrations and hybrid narrative and artistic styles to the story of artist James Castle. James Castle was born two months premature on September 25, 1899, on a farm in Garden Valley, Idaho. He was deaf, mute, autistic, and probably dyslexic. He didn''t walk until he was four; he would never learn to speak, write, read, or use sign language.Yet, today Castle''s artwork hangs in major museums throughout the world. The Philadelphia Museum of Art opened "James Castle: A Retrospective" in 2008. The 2013 Venice Biennale included eleven works by Castle in the feature exhibition "The Encyclopedic Palace." And his reputation continues to grow.Caldecott Medal winner Allen Say, author of the acclaimed memoir Drawing from Memory, takes readers through an imagined look at Castle''s childhood, allows them to experience his emergence as an artist despite the overwhelming difficulties he faced, and ultimately reveals the triumphs that he would go on toachieve.

There was a story that Mama read to Jiro: Once, in old Japan, a young woodcutter lived alone in a little cottage. One winter day he found a crane struggling in a snare and set it free. When Jiro looks out the window into Mr. Ozu’s garden, he sees a crane and remembers that story. Much like the crane, the legend comes to life—and, suddenly, Jiro finds himself in a world woven between dream and reality. Which is which? Allen Say creates a tale about many things at once: the power of story, the allure of the imagined, and the gossamer line between truth and fantasy. For who among us hasn’t imagined ourselves in our own favorite fairy tale?

Almond is a breathtaking and evocative story about finding your talent from Caldecott Medalist Allen Say. Everything changes for Almond Biggs when a new girl comes to school. The New Girl can play "The Flight of the Bumblebee" fast fast fast on her violin. And every day Almond sits and listens. Lost in the music, Almond wonders if she has her own unique gift. One special day, as Almond is watching the crows, circling and twirling in the wind, she realizes that she too can spread her wings and discovers the magic to being happy inside and out. Allen Say''s luminous artwork and emotionally powerful story help children discover the wondrous gift of being who they are.

A biography of Bill Wong, a Chinese American who became a famous bullfighter in Spain.

In his Caldecott acceptance speech for GRANDFATHER''S JOURNEY, Allen Say told of his difficulty in separating his dreams from reality. For him this separation was not as important as finding a meaning behind the contradictions and choices we all must make in life and their consequences. Early one morning a boy comes into town, hungry, and looking for work. He meets a sign painter who takes him on as a helper. The boy yearns to be a painter. The man offers him security. The two are commissioned to paint a series of billboards in the desert. Each billboard has one word, Arrowstar. They do not know its meaning. As they are about to paint the last sign, the boy looks up and sees in the distance a magnificent structure. Is it real? They go to find out. Through a simple text and extraordinary paintings, the reader learns of the temptation of safe choices and the uncertainties of following a personal dream. Here Allen Say tells a haunting and provocative story of dreams and choices for readers of all ages.

After growing up near San Francisco, a young Japanese woman returns with her parents to their native Japan, but she feels foreign and out of place.

While sick in bed, a young boy opens a box from his uncle and embarks on a fantastical fishing trip.

The amazing tricks two American soldiers perform on a borrowed bicycle are a fitting finale for the school sports day festivities in a small village in occupied Japan.

A young artist finds that her creativity comes from within when the rug that she had always relied upon for inspiration is destroyed.

When Allison tries on the red kimono her grandmother has sent her, she is suddenly aware that she resembles her favorite doll more than she does her mother and father. When her parents try to explain that she is adopted, her world becomes an uncomfortable place. She becomes angry and withdrawn. She wonders why she was given up, what her real name is, and whether other children have parents in faraway countries. Allison''s doll becomes her only solace until she finds a stray cat in the garden and learns the true meaning of adoption and parental love.

The Kamishibai man used to ride his bicycle into town where he would tell stories to the children and sell them candy, but gradually, fewer and fewer children came running at the sound of his clappers. They were all watching their new televisions instead. Finally, only one boy remained, and he had no money for candy. Years later, the Kamishibai man and his wife made another batch of candy, and he pedaled into town to tell one more story—his own. When he comes out of the reverie of his memories, he looks around to see he is surrounded by familiar faces—the children he used to entertain have returned, all grown up and more eager than ever to listen to his delightful tales. Using two very different yet remarkable styles of art, Allen Say tells a tale within a tale, transporting readers seamlessly to the Japan of his memories.

As a young Japanese boy recovers from a bad chill, his mother busily folds origami paper into delicate silver cranes in preparation for the boy''s very first Christmas.

Luke and his father, who is disgusted by the tourists surrounding the once secluded lake of his childhood, hike deeper into the wilderness to find a "lost lake" of their own.

As a girl, Alice loved to dance, but the rhythms of her life offered little opportunity for a foxtrot, let alone a waltz. World War II erupted soon after she was married. Alice and her husband, along with many other Japanese Americans, were forced to leave their homes and report to assembly centers around the country. Undaunted, Alice and her husband learned to make the most of every circumstance, from their stall in the old stockyard in Portland to the decrepit farm in the Oregon desert, with its field of stones. Like a pair of skilled dancers, they sidestepped adversity to land gracefully amid golden opportunity. Together they turned a barren wasteland into a field of endless flowers. Such achievements did not come without effort and sacrifice, though, and Alice often thought her dancing days were long behind her. But as her story testifies, life is full of changes . . . In this striking book, Allen Say introduces readers to the remarkable story of the life of a woman whose perseverance and resilience serve as an inspirational reminder that dreams can be fulfilled, even when least expected.

In dreamlike sequences, a man symbolically confronts the trauma of his family’s incarceration in the Japanese internment camps during World War II. This infamous event is made emotionally clear through his meeting a group of children all with strange name tags pinned to their coats. The man feels the helplessness of the children. Finally, desperately he releases the name tags like birds into the air to find their way home with the hope for a time when Americans will be seen as one people—not judged, mistrusted, or segregated because of their individual heritage. Sixty years after thousands of Japanese Americans were unjustly imprisoned, the cogent prose and haunting paintings of renowned author and illustrator Allen Say remind readers of a dark chapter in America’s history.

Miss Irwin is a luminous and heartwarming story about the importance of capturing the light of precious memories before all is forgotten, from Caldecott Medalist Allen Say. As a young woman, Miss Irwin was a kindergarten teacher who loved introducing the world of discovery to her students. As a grandmother, she often reflects on her wonderful days exploring with her students. When her grandson asks her about a mysterious box on the shelf, she gets lost in memory and her mind transports her back in time to when she was Miss Irwin. At first her grandson is confused, but remembers his grandmother''s forgetfulness and plays along as the student who made the bird''s nest inside the white box. Allen Say''s breathtaking artwork and emotionally powerful and thoughtful text gently weave a touching story about memory and family. Together, the grandmother and grandson rejoice in the meaning and beauty of memory before all is lost. Miss Irwin helps readers of all ages better understand and interact with loved ones who are experiencing memory loss. AUTHOR''S NOTE The teachers I loved and admired are figures of light in my memory. Miss Irwin is especially luminous. She was my daughter''s kindergarten teacher. The children''s words and drawings and dancing made her blush with excitement. And by trying to keep her blushing, the children learned the astonishment of discovering. I hope she will forgive me for casting her as a forgetful grandmother in this story -- it''s an attempt to capture her light before all is forgotten. -- Allen Say Alzheimer''s changes the lives of everyone it touches.u200b You are not alone. When a friend or family member has Alzheimer''s disease, you may feel upset, confused or scared. Some people with early-stage Alzheimer''s may forget words or not remember your name from time to time. But, when you spend time with people with late-stage Alzheimer''s, it is easy to see that something serious is going on. People with Alzheimer''s disease are not acting like this because they don''t care about you. Changes deep inside their brains are destroying the centers that control remembering, thinking, and feeling. Learning about Alzheimer''s disease can help you understand what to expect and how to connect with the person you care about. -- Alzheimer’s Association

After growing up, Erika becomes a teacher and fulfills a childhood dream by moving to Japan.

When a young Asian-American boy wakes up one morning with the face of an old man, he has trouble convincing people that he is still himself.

Thirteen-year-old Kiyoi, an apprentice to the famous cartoonist, Noro Shinpei, tries to develop his talent and become self-reliant, in this novel based upon the author''s own boyhood in Japan.

There were eggs in every bird’s nest, the air buzzed with honeybees, and cherry trees blossomed all at once. The poor villagers forgot their cares and gathered in the meadow to sing and dance their time away. But their miserly landlord refused to be happy. Mumbling and grumbling, he sat all alone eating a bowl of cherries and glaring at the merry villagers. Then, quite by accident, he swallowed a cherry pit. The pit began to sprout, and soon the landlord was the wonder of the village—a cherry tree was growing out of the top of his head! What happened to the cherry tree and to the wicked landlord is a favorite joke in Japan. Allen Say tells the story with wit and vitality, and his beautiful drawings complement this classic Japanese tale.

"A young boy recounts his friendship with a little sparrow"--

In this semiautobiographical story told through the eyes of a man who ages backward, Caldecott medalist Allen Say reveals the power of memory to shape one''s art. As an old man takes a morning walk, he is startled by a paper airplane overhead. He follows it to a strangely familiar town. There he meets a man who calls him "son" and high school boys who ask him to play catch. When he sees a glimpse of his reflection, he realizes a shocking fact: He is a young man. Could it be that he is getting younger and younger with each person he meets? As he searches for the plane, he is led deeper into his memories. Where will he find the plane? And what will he discover? Lushly rendered in oil paintings that nod to the American realist movement, Tonbo will encourage a new generation of artists to take up the creative path. Don''t miss these titles by Allen Say: Grandfather''s Journey Kozo the Sparrow Stranger in the Mirror Miss Irwin The Sign Painter

Yuriko, teased at school for her unusual name and Japanese ancestry, yearns to be more ordinary until her father reminds her of how special she is.

Album - voyage - Japon - Etats-Unis - grands-parents - nostalgie.

While sick in bed, a young boy opens a box from his uncle and embarks on a fantastical fishing trip.

Sam ne veut pas devenir vieux comme son grand-père. Voilà qu''un matin, il se lève avec la tête de ce dernier. On ne le reconnaît plus. Les médecins sont impuissants. Un bien mauvais rêve! [SDM].

During a hunting trip in the jungle, a man is befriended by animals whose fears convince him to give up guns forever.

Two young brothers living in a fishing village on a small Japanese island steal their uncle''s boat to visit the mainland for the first time.

Album - théâtre d''images.