Allan Say Describes Having One Foot in Two Worlds in Grandfather's Journey

“Leavin’, it never is easy. There’s no place like home’s what they say…” So begins Ryan Kelly’s The Village That They Call the Moy, a wistful song about emigration and love of one’s hometown. Homesickness is a thread weaving its way through much of Irish folk music, but it’s certainly not unique to immigrants from the Emerald Isle. In the picture book Grandfather’s Journey, Allen Say poignantly describes his grandfather’s experience of exploring the world and making a home in two different countries, with the result that he always was yearning for one while he was in the other.

Say has written other books reflecting his Japanese-American heritage, including Tree of Cranes, which describes a Christmas celebration that incorporates Japanese traditions. In Grandfather’s Journey, Say presents his grandfather as an adventurous young man eager to experience all that America had to offer. With just a sentence or two per page, he conveys the exhilaration of discovery that his grandpa experienced. Eventually, that gives way to nostalgia, to longing for the land of his childhood. So throughout the book there is a gentle tug of war, with both Japan and the United States – particularly California – staking a claim on his heart.

Say’s paintings are realistic and rich in detail. In the first portion of the book, we feel as though we are making the thrilling journey along with his grandpa, with windswept fields, shadowy mountains and towering cliffs all capturing the imagination. America feels wild and unexplored, while there’s a sense of familiarity in the paintings set in Japan. Say does an excellent job of portraying the sense of returning to one’s roots. In addition to the beautiful landscapes, there is his grandfather himself, who we see grow older and whose face often betrays a sense of wistfulness.

This is a finely crafted book that is a bit on the tall side, so it might not fit easily on some shelves, but it would make an excellent addition to a classroom or school library. It has educational value as it provides a glimpse into the immigrant experience, and it does so by encouraging children to see the world through the eyes of Say’s grandfather. Additionally, the connection between the author/narrator and the main character might inspire young readers to talk to their grandparents or other elderly relatives and friends about their experiences.

In Grandfather’s Journey, Say has created a succinct but lovely tribute to his grandfather and, by extension, to all those who have loved more than one home and find themselves forever torn in two. No matter what your cultural background, this Caldecott Award-winning book is an excellent exploration of the ties one immigrant feels to each place he has lived.