DRAWING FROM MEMORY

1.      BIBLIOGRAPHY

Say, Allen. 2011. Drawing From Memory. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0545176866

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

Allen Say was born in a fishing village “by the seashore of Yokohama, Japan” just a few years before World War II began.  From early childhood throughout his life, his passion has been drawing, and that passion is on vivid display in Drawing from Memory, a story of Say’s own journey to becoming the beloved artist he is today. Though his pursuit of art was a disgrace to his father, Say found a mentor in his favorite cartoonist, Noro Shinpei.  Shinpei became a mentor to Say, and considered his disciple "the treasure of [his] life."  Allen Say walked the road less traveled as his dream of being an artist became a reality in his life.  

3.      CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Drawing from Memory is an autobiography that is like a good storybook, a graphic novel, and an informational text, all at the same time.  It is full of photos from Say’s journey, cartoons that help tell his story, and of course, his drawings from memory. The details of Say’s story are rich and inspiring, as his life has been one of courage and adventure.  The black and white photos provide a nice contrast to the color drawings and cartoons, and remind the reader that this is not just a good story, but the history of someone’s life.   The book is as artistic as its author, with so many visual details to catch the eye of the reader.  The double spread layout is attractive and inviting, with multiple images on every page, and the text is beautifully woven in. Highly readable, the style is like a graphic novel, and children are unlikely to think of this book as traditional “non-fiction.” It is not organized in a typical format for an informational book, and this provides a fresh experience for the non-fiction reader.  The author’s note pays a special tribute to Noro Shinpei and the “master/disciple relationship” shared between Shinpei and Say.  There are photos of “the master” at work as well as a priceless photo of the master with his disciple the last time they were together.  A very special “drawing from memory” is of Sensei’s first wife, Masako, drawn by Say for her two daughters who did not have recollection of their mother.  His writing honest and transparent, Allen Say has inspired countless children to pursue their dreams, artistic or otherwise, with his poignant memoir. 

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Kirkus Review:  “Exquisite drawings, paintings, comics and photographs balance each other perfectly as they illustrate Say’s childhood path to becoming an artist.”

5. CONNECTIONS

*Also from Allen Say is the Caldecott Medal book Grandfather’s Journey.

*Read A to Zen: A Book of Japanese Culture by Ruth Wells and Yoshi as a follow up book to Drawing from Memory.