Allen Say

Visiting the home of famed gardener Mr. Ozu at the new year, young Jiro, who had always loved the traditional Japanese tale of The Grateful Crane (also sometimes known as The Crane Wife), is attracted to a crane he sees standing in the grounds. Embarrassed when he is observed by Mr. Ozu and his father creeping up on the bird, which turns out to be a statue, rather than a living creature, Jiro runs off, eventually finding his way to a seemingly deserted cottage. Here he meets a beautiful show more woman who seems like she might be the transformed crane of his favorite story. Has Jiro entered the world of folklore, or is there another explanation...?

As someone who loved folk and fairy-tales as a girl, and often imagined myself into the world of whatever story I was reading, I enjoyed The Boy In the Garden immensely. It offers a tribute to the power of childhood imagination, which makes anything seem possible, and through which the everyday world is remade in fantastic ways. I appreciated the juxtaposition of modern and traditional Japanese life shown here, as well as the inclusion of the original folktale that inspired Jiro's adventures at the beginning of the book. As always with Allen Say's books, the artwork was simply beautiful, with excellent use of color and light to create paintings that draw the reader into their world. Recommended to young folk and fairy-tale enthusiasts, and to anyone looking for stories about children and their imaginative world. show less

Raised in San Francisco by immigrant parents, May is unprepared for life in Japan when her family decide to return to their homeland. Now known as Masako, her dreams of college are dashed, as she is forced to attend high school a second time, in order to learn Japanese. Treated as a foreigner by her classmates, she has trouble making friends, or even finding someone who will speak with her. Her parents, in the meantime, arrange for the services of a matchmaker, despite Masako's declaration show more that she would rather have a turtle than a husband. Deciding that she must strike out on her own, she moves to Osaka and gets a job in a department store, eventually meeting a young man who, like herself, feels like a fish out of water...

In this biographical picture-book, celebrated Japanese-American children's author and artist Allen Say, who won the Caldecott Medal in 1994 for his Grandfather's Journey, chronicles the story of his mother's life. His depiction, in both text and image, of her sense of displacement upon her family's return to Japan, is immensely poignant, deftly capturing her loneliness and dismay. As is often the case with Say's work, the artwork in Tea with Milk is just lovely, with a luminous quality that makes the image truly shine. Say knows how to play with color and light, always producing art that really draws the reader in. I particularly liked the image of Masako in her kimono at the department store, as well as the final image of Masako and Joseph - Allen Say's parents! Recommended to fans of the artist, as well as to anyone looking for children's stories about moving, immigration, and feeling like a stranger in a strange land. show less

A young Japanese boy, having disobeyed his mother and visited a nearby carp pond, gotten wet and then taken a chill, is given a steaming bath and put into his pajamas by that disapproving parent in this lovely picture book from author/illustrator Allen Say. The boy's mother seems oddly distant, and at first he thinks it must be because of his behavior, but in truth she is consumed with memories of her childhood in a far-off land called California, where, on this day, she recalls seeing the show more most beautiful decorated trees. Digging up the boy's pine tree, she decorates it with origami cranes and candles, and shares some of her memories of this special day with her son...

As with all Allen Say titles, Tree of Cranes is a lovely book, one which pairs a gentle but deeply moving narrative with beautiful watercolor artwork. Although I first read it years ago, and many times since, it appears I never listed or reviewed it online, something I am rectifying this holiday season. The words and visuals here work seamlessly together, creating a warm, inviting feeling for the reader—an atmosphere of quiet joy and contemplation, and a sensation of sinking into someone else's memories. How appropriate, for as the boy shares his mother's memories, we share his! Highly recommended to any picture book readers looking for Christmastime stories with a somewhat different setting, or for stories about memory, cross-cultural experiences, and the bond between mothers and sons. show less

In this picture-book biography Allen Say explores the life story of Bong Way Wong, a Chinese-American man raised in Arizona and known to his siblings as "Billy." A natural athlete, Billy had hoped to become a great basketball player, only to find that he was barred by his lack of height from playing in college. Eventually settling for a more conventional path, he studied engineering and found a 'safe' job as a highway engineer. But on his very first vacation, a trip to Spain, Billy show more discovered bullfighting, and realized that this was what he truly wanted to do. But how could a man of Chinese ancestry become a matador, and would the Spaniards ever accept him...?

Although a great fan of Allen Say, whose many wonderful picture-books never fail to deliver both engaging stories and beautiful artwork, I did have some mixed feelings about El Chino. On the one hand, I appreciated the fact that Billy Wong persevered in following his dream, never letting the obstacles of national and racial background stand in his way. His father had always said he could be whatever he wanted, and he lived out that maxim. I also appreciated the illustrations, which were just lovely, capturing a sense of light and of motion in each scene. On the other hand, as someone who abhors blood sports - although not a vegetarian, and therefore not opposed to either animal husbandry or subsistence hunting, I think the idea of killing for entertainment is morally indefensible - I had trouble sympathizing with the idea that becoming a matador was a desirable thing, regardless of who so desired. Recommended primarily to admirers of Allen Say's artwork, and to those looking for biographies of Chinese-American trailblazers, with the proviso that the should be aware of the animal welfare issues raised (but unresolved) within the story. show less