Grandfather's Journey

Say, A. (1993). Grandfather’s Journey. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin.

Brief Annotation: The author recounts the journey of his grandfather as he immigrates to the United States from Japan in the early 1900’s. His grandfather settles in San Francisco, CA. where he is captivated by the beauty and serenity of the landscape. As much as he has become a part of his new country, he can never forget the country that he left behind and returns to Japan after his daughter, the author’s mother, is grown. As a young man, the author, born in Japan, leaves to see the California he has heard so much about and comes to love it in the same way that his grandfather did. He stays in the United States, but always remembers his past with fondness and now understands the love his grandfather always felt - his heart torn between two countries.

Genre: Historical Fiction, picturebook

Grade Level: Grade 3 through Grade 8

Readers who will like this: Children who are interested in historical fiction books, children who would benefit from a story chronicling the immigrant experience

Response/Rating (1-4): 4, In this beautifully written autobiographical story, the author shares his grandfather’s experiences in immigrating to a new country and the longing he will always feel for the country he left behind. The watercolor illustrations capture the essence of the story and children will benefit from this tale of discovery.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: How would you or did you feel if you immigrated to or from another country?