Allen Say was born on August 28, 1937 in Yokohama, Japan. He was a soldier,
sign painter, photographer, illustrator, and author of children's books. He has
written and/or illustrated more than 25 books.
Grandfather's Journey was published in 1993. It was both written and illustrated
by Say. It won the Caldecott Medal for illustration in 1994. The story begins in
the early 1900s when a young man from Japan travels to California and
eventually settles down there with his new bride. But when his daughter is
almost grown up, they return to Japan because they all miss their home.
World War II prevents the man from returning to California. But eventually,
his grandson is able to make the journey without him. Horn Book said:
"the immigrant experience has rarely been so poignantly evoked."