There are many ways that we build our histories. Certain particulars might be largely out of our power, our parentage, or parts of our personalities, but how we choose to remember our histories tends to create something real and true, however fictional, like an old folktale. Our histories, whether real or imagined, memory or fiction, give us a greater understanding of who we are and our place in the world.

In this episode, Melissa Iwai joins Allen Say to celebrate the 30th anniversary of his classic, Grandfather’s Journey. In the last couple of decades, children's literature in the U.S. has become increasingly populated with diverse characters, authors, and illustrators. But 30 years ago, Allen was making diverse characters and stories when few authors and illustrators were. The broadened representation in children’s literature we see today is owed to artists like Allen and Melissa.

To learn more about Allen Say’s, or Melissa Iwai’s books, visit https://www.harpercollins.com/search?q=allen+say

https://www.harpercollins.com/search?q=melissa+iwai

Do you have a story about how a classic book changed your life? Tweet @readingpod or email us at [email protected]. Learn more at rememberreading.com. And, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.

[1:26] Allen reflects on Grandfather’s Journey as a timeless, real-life story reminiscent of a folktale.

[6:54] Allen’s sense of outsiderness is the thread that creates a deep connection for Melissa.

[11:18] Melissa’s book, Gigi and Ojiji, was inspired by a childhood memory of a visit with her Japanese grandfather.

[13:42] Allen shares his journey, as both author and artist.

[25:38] Authors use illustrations for different purposes, as Melissa learned working on Marc Tyler Nobleman’s Thirty Minutes Over Oregon.

[30:11] What the ending of Kozo the Sparrow means to Allen.

[35:07] Allen shares his thoughts about memories and distinguishing fact from fiction.

Continue Your Journey:

Melissa Iwai

HarperCollins

Remember Reading Podcast

@ReadingPod on Twitter

Shareables:

“I didn’t think that the book would sell at all when I was working on it. It was something I simply had to do. I had given up my long career, a 25-year career in photography and I just painted a picture. I realized that I'm really a painter, which I have been in denial of most of my adult, young-adult life because I got tired of poverty.” — Allen Say, author of Grandfather’s Journey

“I thought I was following the old Japanese tradition of a young boy going out into the world looking for a master… but that's not what I was doing… I was actually trying to replace my father with a man that I could admire and love, and I was lucky.” — Allen Say, author of Grandfather’s Journey

“Drawing it is a different thing. It’s coming straight out of your head, from your dream life. And, I find a story there.” — Allen Say, author of Grandfather’s Journey

“I have a hard time distinguishing between fiction and real life, to begin with. As I always had difficulty distinguishing my dream life from waking life. I much rather prefer to be in the fantasy world, of course.“ — Allen Say, author of Grandfather’s Journey

“Books were a refuge for me because I was shy and quiet and I loved to read. But even in my childhood books, I don’t remember having any books with Asian-American characters in them.” — Melissa Iwai, author of Gigi, and Ojiji

“I was raised in just a small town where there weren't very many Asian Americans at the time and I just always felt like I stood out and I was different.” — Melissa Iwai, author of Gigi, and Ojiji

“I think it's very important for kids to feel seen and I want to create the kind of books that I would have loved when I was a kid.”— Melissa Iwai, author of Gigi, and Ojiji