Allen Say

Allen Say, born James Allen Koichi Moriwaki Seii in 1937 in Yokohama, Japan, is a Japanese-American writer and illustrator. His mother was American, and his father was born in Korea. Say's childhood involved significant relocation, including a period living alone after his parents divorced and he moved in with his grandmother. He apprenticed for many years with cartoonist Noro Shinpei, whom he considered a mentor and spiritual father, an experience he later depicted in his writings.

Say's journey to the United States involved attending military school, which he disliked, and later graduating from Citrus Union High School, where he continued his art studies. Before becoming a full-time author, he worked as a sign painter, photographer, and served in the U.S. Army, where his photography was published. His early life in America is detailed in "The Inker's Shadow." He eventually transitioned to illustrating children's books, beginning with a retelling of a Japanese folktale.

His most acclaimed work, "Grandfather's Journey," earned the 1994 Caldecott Medal for illustration. This book, like many of his others, draws from his personal experiences and focuses on themes of Japanese and Japanese-American identity, heritage, and the immigrant experience. Say has lived in Portland, Oregon, since 1999 and received an Oregon Book Award in 2013 for "Drawing from Memory."

Born in Japan in 1937 to a Japanese-American mother and a Korean-born father, Allen Say's early life was marked by significant transitions. Following his parents' divorce when he was eight, he eventually lived with his maternal grandmother, though he soon gained permission to live independently. A pivotal influence was his apprenticeship with cartoonist Noro Shinpei, a period lasting many years. Say viewed Shinpei not only as a teacher but as a "spiritual father," a relationship that deeply shaped his artistic development and later inspired his autobiographical works like "Drawing from Memory" and "The Ink-Keeper's Apprentice."

Say's move to the United States included a brief, negative experience in military school, from which he was expelled. He continued his art education at Citrus Union High School, graduating in 1956. His formative years in America were chronicled in "The Inker's Shadow." Prior to establishing himself as an author and illustrator, Say pursued various trades, including sign painting and photography. His photographic work gained recognition during his U.S. Army service in Germany, appearing in "Stars and Stripes." Encouraged to pursue illustration, he began his career in children's literature with a retelling of a Japanese folktale.

Allen Say is widely recognized for his children's picture books, many of which are autobiographical and explore themes of Japanese and Japanese-American identity, heritage, and the immigrant experience. His 1994 Caldecott Medal-winning book, "Grandfather's Journey," which recounts his grandfather's migration from Japan to the United States and back, exemplifies this focus. His work often delves into the complexities of personal history and cultural belonging. In 2013, "Drawing from Memory" received an Oregon Book Award for children's literature. Say has resided in Portland, Oregon, since 1999.

“I learned bad English from rich juvenile delinquents and developed a lifelong loathing for uniforms and professional soldiers.”