Companion Biographies by Allen Say

In his speech at the 2011 National Book Festival, Allen Say mentioned two autobiographies. The Ink-Keeper’s Apprentice (1994, Houghton Mifflin Company) is for readers in middle school and above. It’s a chapter book of 149 pages and has no illustrations. Drawing From Memory (2011, Scholastic Press) is for the older elementary school age student. It has 63 pages and includes many drawings and photographs. I enjoyed reading them as a series, one right after the other. One book provided depth while the other provided a pictorial complement.

Both books focus primarily on the time Allen Say lived alone in Tokyo from the ages of 12 to 15.  He told his grandmother that he would study hard and apply to the Aoyama Middle School, a prestigious private school. He was accepted, so his grandmother and mother supported his independence. Alan had been drawing since early childhood and decided at a young age to become a cartoonist. So, when he arrived in Tokyo, he visited the studio of Noro Shinpei, one of the most famous cartoonists in Japan. Noro Shinpei became Alan’s mentor for three intense years of drawing and painting. It’s a remarkable story of dedication by teacher and student, and it’s heartwarming to see a photograph of them reunited late in life.

These books may inspire young artists who dream of a future in art. It seems a career in art is not for the faint hearted. Although the works of artists are all around us, they may need to survive on self-respect. Allen Say’s father and grandmother relentlessly discouraged his interest in art. “‘Artists are lazy and scruffy people—they are not respectable,’” said Allen’s father. When Allen’s grandmother saw him drawing, she said, “‘You’ll  never amount to anything!’” However, his first-grade teacher recognized his  talent and entered one of his drawings in a contest. It won first prize.

Allen Say planned to be an artist, no matter what. He won Caldecott awards for The Boy of the Three-Year Nap and Grandfather’s Journey. I was so captivated by The Sign Painter that I sought to learn more about his life.