Allen Say List of Books and Annotations

The Sign Painter (to be released October 30, 2000)

Allen Say told of his problem of separating his dreams from reality in his acceptance speech for the Caldecott Medal for Grandfather's Journey . In The Sign Painter, Allen Say tells a story of dreams and choices for readers of any age.

Tea with Milk 1999

Tea with Milk is the story of May, Allen Say's mother and then of his parents. May is born in California and lives there until she is eighteen, when her parents decide to move back to Japan. May is very unhappy since everything is so foreign. Finally, she moves to to Osaka where a young man, Joseph, notices her speaking English in the department store where she works.

Allison 1997

Allison looks more like her Chinese doll in the red kimono that her grandmother sends her than she looks like her parents. This makes Allison uncomfortable, especially after her parents tell her that she is adopted. She wonders why her birth mother gave her up, what her name was then, and if other children have parents who gave them up. Along the way, Allison learns the true meaning of adoption and parental love.

Emma's Rug 1996

Emma receives a fluffy white rug when she is born. She loves the rug; she lays on it and sits on it and carries it around when she is little. When she approaches school age, she stares at it for long periods of time. Emma starts to draw and paint and becomes very good at it. She says that she copies her ideas! Emma looks to the rug for her inspiration. Emma's mother washes her rug, and she is devastated. How will she draw and paint, now?

Stranger in the Mirror 1995

What would happen if a child were to wake up one morning looking like an old man, perhaps his grandfather? This is exactly what happens in The Stranger in the Mirror. His parents take him to several doctors who say that nothing is wrong, but he is ostrasized by everyone. His world will never be the same.

Grandfather's Journey 1993 Calcedott Medal - 1994

A Japanese-American man lovingly retells his grandfather's life, from the time that he leaves his home in Japan as a young man and goes off to see the world. He is utterly fascinated with all of the people and places that he sees. He loves California best. He longs for Japan when he is in California and California when he is in Japan.

Tree of Cranes 1991

A young boy living in Japan is able to experience his first Christmas. The boy's mother had previously lived in California and is nostalgic for this special holiday. She proceeds to dig up a small tree from the yard and brings it into their home. She explains the holiday to her young son as she decorates the tree with candles and paper cranes. The boy is thrilled to find a special gift left next to the tree the following morning...his first Christmas gift!

El Chino 1990

A biography of Bill Wong, a Chinese American who became a famous bullfighter in Spain. He believes what his father tells him, "In America, you can be anything you want to be."

The Lost Lake 1989

Luke now lives with his father in the city. Because Luke is lonely and bored, he cuts out pictures of mountains and lakes to decorate his bedroom. One day, Luke and his father decide to go camping at Lost Lake, a special place for Luke's father. When they finally arrive at Lost Lake, they are disappointed to find it crowded with people. Luke suggests that they find their own Lost Lake. The next morning, they do just that and end up having a very special camping trip.

A River Dream 1988

Mark is sick in bed with a high fever. He receives a small metal box for trout flies from Uncle Scott for his birthday. As he opens the box, out fly a group of mayflies. He watches them fly out of the window into a peaceful scene of forest and a lake. He goes out quickly, climbs in a rowboat and rows downstream. He sees his uncle fishing in the river and has quite an adventure!

The Boy of the Three-Year Nap 1988 Caldecott Honor Book - 1989

A poor Japanese woman maneuvers events to change the lazy habits of her son.

How My Parents Learned to Eat 1984

An American sailor courts a Japanese girl and each tries, in secret, to learn the other's way of eating. The story is told from their daughter's point of view.

The Bicycle Man 1982

On the southern island of Japan shortly after the end of World War II, the children of an elementary school celebrate their sportsday. They all arrive early to clean the playground and then enjoy all of the sports in front of their parents. Two American servicemen appear at the gate. One performs tricks on the principal's bicycle while the other acts as ringmaster, to the delight of all.

Under the Cherry Blossom Tree 1982

In this retelling of an old Japanese folktale, everyone is happy about the coming of spring except the old landlord. He accidentally swallows a cherry pit and a cherry tree starts growing out of his head!

The Ink-Keeper's Apprentice 1979

Allen Say tells his own story as he apprentices himself to the great Japanese cartoonist, Noro Shinpei, and learns the art of drawing and painting during the happiest four years of his life.

I would like to thank Houghton Mifflin for the use of the book covers on this page.
I hope that this will entice young readers to choose these books to read.