Allen

Allen Say's Life

  • Born

    Born
    Allen Say was born in Yokohama, Japan, in 1937.
  • Dreams

    Dreams
    Say decided he wanted to be a cartoonist at the age of 6.
  • Off On His Own

    Off On His Own
    Allen Say moved to Tokyo when he was 12 to attend a prestigious school in the city. Instead of doing this, he apprenticed himself to the famous cartoonist, Noro Shinpei, and spent the next four years learning to draw and paint.
  • Emigration

    Emigration
    At age 16, Say and his father emigrated from Japan to California.
  • Graduation

    Graduation
    Say graduated from Citrus Union High School.
  • Draft

    Draft
    Say is drafted into the army during the Vietnam War.
  • Inspiration

    Inspiration
    Say was illustrating The Boy of the Three Year Nap when he realized that to make a full commitment to writing and illustrating children's books.
  • Caldecott Award Winner

    Caldecott Award Winner
    Allen Say was awarded the Caldecott Medal in 1989 for The Boy of the Three Year Nap.
  • Grandfather's Journey

    Grandfather's Journey
    Grandfather's Journey was first published on October 25, 1993.
  • Caldecott Award Winner

    Caldecott Award Winner
    Allen Say was awarded the Caldecott Medal for his book, Grandfather's Journey
  • Induction

    Induction
    The Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles held the first retrospective of Say's work in children's literature. Fifty-five of his original drawings and paintings were featured along with original sketchbooks and autobiographical artifacts.