Genre Category: Contemporary realistic fiction/Picture book
Source: Caldecott Medal, 1994.
Age range: Ages 5 to 9
Source: Caldecott Medal, 1994.
Age range: Ages 5 to 9
Assessment of the book’s quality: Told by a young boy, the book stands out for its exquisite and realistic watercolor paintings and for its simple and direct narrative written with a sense of realism and authenticity.
Assessment of the book’s potential use: The book can be suggested to be potentially used as a curriculum support in a classroom setting to teach about immigration, Japanese-American culture, and transportation, where they can share their stories and locate destinations on the map.
Assessment of the book’s child appeal: A story for looking at the family links with the past and present and the future, which realistically portrays multiculturalism and immigration, inviting children to ask parents about their journeys and ancestors, struggling with leaving their home country to adopt a life in another country.
Summary:
The story is about bi-cultural conflicts and is about this Japanese boy’s (the author) grandfather who leaves Japan as a young boy and comes to America on a steamship across the Pacific Ocean. With realistic and colorful illustration, his visit to the US is described in two perspectives: 1) everything that he sees is new to him and 2) American natural beauty and traditions are rendered and introduced in the book. He sees fields and mountains (Grand Canyon and corn/wheat/agricultural fields are referred). He also sees various people. Then his visit to California is presented which he likes the best. He loved the ocean. Then he returns to Japan, marries and comes back to California with his wife. While in Japan, he misses California. And while in California he misses Japan but cannot be in two places at once. So he keeps songbirds to remind him of his homeland – Japan. After his years of stay in California he moves back to Japan with his family and keeps songbirds in Japan to remind him of California. He tells stories about California to his grandson and wants to visit California again. But a breakout of a war does not permit him to and he never sees California again. He also does not want to keep songbirds anymore. When his grandson, Allan Say grew up, he visited California and loves it as his grandfather did. Unlike his grandfather, however, he stays and marries in California. And like his grandfather, he visits Japan and misses California and while in California misses Japan.
Reaction and Impressions:
The book is a good source to learn about a different culture and their experiences as immigrants into a new culture. This picture book especially stands out for its exquisite and realistic watercolor paintings and for its simple and direct narrative written with a sense of realism and authenticity.
Gr 3 Up-A personal history of three generations of the author's family that points out the emotions that are common to the immigrant experience. Splendid, photoreal watercolors have the look of formal family portraits or candid snapshots, all set against idyllic landscapes in Japan and in the U.S. (Sept., 1993)" _School Library Journal
Assessment of the book’s potential use: The book can be suggested to be potentially used as a curriculum support in a classroom setting to teach about immigration, Japanese-American culture, and transportation, where they can share their stories and locate destinations on the map.
Assessment of the book’s child appeal: A story for looking at the family links with the past and present and the future, which realistically portrays multiculturalism and immigration, inviting children to ask parents about their journeys and ancestors, struggling with leaving their home country to adopt a life in another country.
Summary:
The story is about bi-cultural conflicts and is about this Japanese boy’s (the author) grandfather who leaves Japan as a young boy and comes to America on a steamship across the Pacific Ocean. With realistic and colorful illustration, his visit to the US is described in two perspectives: 1) everything that he sees is new to him and 2) American natural beauty and traditions are rendered and introduced in the book. He sees fields and mountains (Grand Canyon and corn/wheat/agricultural fields are referred). He also sees various people. Then his visit to California is presented which he likes the best. He loved the ocean. Then he returns to Japan, marries and comes back to California with his wife. While in Japan, he misses California. And while in California he misses Japan but cannot be in two places at once. So he keeps songbirds to remind him of his homeland – Japan. After his years of stay in California he moves back to Japan with his family and keeps songbirds in Japan to remind him of California. He tells stories about California to his grandson and wants to visit California again. But a breakout of a war does not permit him to and he never sees California again. He also does not want to keep songbirds anymore. When his grandson, Allan Say grew up, he visited California and loves it as his grandfather did. Unlike his grandfather, however, he stays and marries in California. And like his grandfather, he visits Japan and misses California and while in California misses Japan.
Reaction and Impressions:
The book is a good source to learn about a different culture and their experiences as immigrants into a new culture. This picture book especially stands out for its exquisite and realistic watercolor paintings and for its simple and direct narrative written with a sense of realism and authenticity.
Gr 3 Up-A personal history of three generations of the author's family that points out the emotions that are common to the immigrant experience. Splendid, photoreal watercolors have the look of formal family portraits or candid snapshots, all set against idyllic landscapes in Japan and in the U.S. (Sept., 1993)" _School Library Journal
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