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roseleaf24's review against another edition
4.0
Allen Say always conveys so much through his stories and illustrations. This book tells the story of his childhood and how he became the illustrator that he is. The love and respect for those who taught him and supported him shows through on every page, as does the personality of the author himself. It was fascinating to see the life of one child born in Japan shortly before World War II, and how he was affected.
hayleybeale's review against another edition
5.0
A really beautiful autobiography/comic book/graphic novel. Fascinating look at how Allen Say became an illustrator despite paternal disapproval, and the sensei who become his surrogate father. Kids will be fascinated by Say being given his own apartment at the age of 12!
thukpa's review against another edition
5.0
What a lovely autobiography by Portland author Allen Say. I cried.
jwinchell's review against another edition
4.0
I learned so much from Say's memoir--about life in Japan in the 30s & 40s, about art apprenticeship, about Say's life. Each page has a unique layout that combines photos, drawings, and drawings from memory. Sometimes those images combine to make bigger scenes. A well-told story, and now I'm intrigued by Say and need to read his children's books.
kelleemoye's review against another edition
4.0
Allen Say is brilliant and his story shows how we were able to be part of his brilliance.
brandypainter's review against another edition
4.0
Allen Say has combined words and pictures to tell the story of his young life in Japan and how he came to be the artist he is today. Using a mixture of photographs, art from his sensei, and pictures he drew from memory Say has given us a heartfelt story of a lonely and confused boy who found his passion early and was fortunate enough to also find a kind and sincere mentor to teach him his art. The power of this story for me came from the pictures and the words filled in the extra detail.
saidtheraina's review against another edition
3.0
Follows the childhood of illustrator Allen Say. I particularly appreciated the insiders perspective on Japan during and after World War II. He doesn't talk much about the war, but I will be keeping this in mind while I read [b:Ghosts in the Fog|11387314|Ghosts in the Fog The Untold Story of Alaska's WWII Invasion|Samantha Seiple|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51xjvA4ON-L._SL75_.jpg|16319277].
The thing I liked most about this is how he integrates photographs, his own illustrations in a variety of styles, text, and other people's illustrations. It's not quite a graphic novel (except for maybe one page). It's not quite a picture book. It's almost more in the illustra-novella, Diary of a Wimpy Kid vein.
Engagingly written, and a unique story. He doesn't go super deep or tell too many secrets, but this is a story which needs to be told anyway.
The thing I liked most about this is how he integrates photographs, his own illustrations in a variety of styles, text, and other people's illustrations. It's not quite a graphic novel (except for maybe one page). It's not quite a picture book. It's almost more in the illustra-novella, Diary of a Wimpy Kid vein.
Engagingly written, and a unique story. He doesn't go super deep or tell too many secrets, but this is a story which needs to be told anyway.
librariandest's review against another edition
4.0
Super talented Caldecott Medal winner Allen Say uses photography, his own art, and the art of others to tell the story of how he became an artist. Born in Japan in 1937, Say knew at a young age he wanted to be a cartoonist, but his parents were not at all happy about his interest in art. Then the war came, and his parents got divorced, and Say ended up living alone in Tokyo at the age of 13! He turned his apartment into an art studio, tracked down his cartoonist hero, Noro Shinpei, and asked to be his apprentice, and soon began his career as an artist. Wow. Though the text was a little disjointed at times, the art is obviously awesome and the story is inspiring. A recurring theme is "Let your dear child journey," which is an old Japanese saying.
I was especially touched by the afterward, in which Say confesses that he always wanted to write a book with his sensei, but Noro Shinpei passed away before he had the chance, so he sees this book as a posthumous collaboration fulfilling that dream.
I was especially touched by the afterward, in which Say confesses that he always wanted to write a book with his sensei, but Noro Shinpei passed away before he had the chance, so he sees this book as a posthumous collaboration fulfilling that dream.