Children's Books and Family History: A Grandfather's Journey

 One of the reasons I love children's books is that they help us see family history through the eyes of a story. Facts and dates tell us when someone lived, but stories help us understand who they were and the choices they made.

A Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say tells the story of the author's grandfather, who left Japan and traveled to the United States. Along the way, he fell in love with different places, experienced new opportunities, and eventually built a life between two worlds. Although he loved America, he also missed his home in Japan. Throughout his life, he found himself longing for whichever place he was not currently living.

One of my favorite parts of A Grandfather's Journey comes at the end of the book. As the grandson grows older, he finds himself following in his grandfather's footsteps. He too travels between Japan and the United States and discovers that he loves both places. Through his own experiences, he begins to understand his grandfather more deeply.

"After a time, I came to love the land my grandfather had loved, and I stayed on and on until I had a daughter of my own. But I also mis the mountains and rivers of my childhood. I miss my old friends. So I return now and then, when I cannot still the longing in my heart. 

The funny thing is, the moment I am in one country, I am homesick for the other. 

I think I know my grandfather now."

In high school, people would often ask me why I would ever leave England to live in America. Then, whenever I returned to England to visit family and friends, they would ask why I would ever want to come back when I lived in sunny California.

For a long time, I felt torn between two places. Part of my heart belonged to England—the countryside, the familiar accents, and the people I loved. Another part belonged to America, where I was building a life and creating new memories. It often felt as though I was standing between two worlds, never fully belonging to one or the other.

Reading A Grandfather's Journey helped me put those feelings into words. Like Allen Say and his grandfather, I understand what it feels like to love two places at once. There are things I miss about England—the countryside, the history, the familiar grey skies, and the people I grew up with. Yet America has become home too. It is where I met my husband, where my children were born, and where many of my most treasured memories have been made.

One of the gifts of family history is that it helps us move beyond simply knowing facts about our ancestors. As we experience life, we often find ourselves walking paths similar to theirs. Through those experiences, we gain empathy and understanding. We begin to see the world through their eyes.

Sometimes family history is not just about discovering our ancestors. It is about discovering ourselves and realizing that their stories continue in us.

ACTIVITY: A JOURNEY MAP

In A Grandfather's Journey, Allen Say's grandfather left Japan and traveled to the United States. His journey shaped not only his own life but also the lives of future generations.

Think about a parent, grandparent, or ancestor who moved from one place to another. Using a map, trace their journey from where they began to where they eventually settled. Mark important locations and include any details you know about their experience.

As you create your map, discuss the following questions:

• Why do you think they decided to move?
• What opportunities were they hoping to find?
• What might they have missed about the place they left behind?
• What challenges do you think they faced?
• How has their journey influenced your life today?

If you do not know of an ancestor who traveled a long distance, create a journey map of your own family. Perhaps your parents, grandparents, or even you have moved from one place to another. Every journey becomes part of a family's story.

Remember, the journeys of one generation often become the stories shared by the next.

to download/print the activity simply click here or on the image below

Not every meaningful journey involves crossing an ocean. Some journeys happen across countries, states, or even towns. Yet every move, big or small, influences the generations that follow. Think about an ancestor whose journey changed the course of your family story and trace where their journey led.

to download/print the United States map simply click here or on the image below