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Erika-San (by Allen Say)

common sense media says

The simple beauty of home and a girl's dream of finding it.

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this touching story with sensitive watercolors and a soft sense of home was created by Allen Say, who won the 1994 Caldecott for his book My Grandfather's Journey. Say has written and illustrated many award-winning books, and is well-known for the strength and power of his artistry.

Positive messages: All characters are kind and helpful, and they help the young girl follow her dream.
Violence & scariness: Not applicable.
Language: Not applicable.
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More on Erika-San

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about Japan, find it on a map, and discuss what kind of place it might be. Then they might want to talk about the painting and how much it meant to the young girl. What do you think she saw in the watercolor that made her so sure she wanted to find "Old Japan." Why was she not satisfied when she got to Tokyo, and to the other town with its football stadium crowd? What was she searching for that she finally found in the teahouse?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Inspired by a watercolor hanging on her grandmother's wall, a young American girl follows her dream to find "Old Japan." Her grandmother's stories and the folktales add to her interest until, finally, after studying Japanese in school, she goes to Japan to teach English as a second language. The bustle of Tokyo city life drives her further into the country, and ultimately her search for the house in the painting leads her to much more than she ever expected.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
The story, based on a true one, is authentically heartwarming and amazingly simple. From the moment the girl is first drawn in by the magical painting, her story is told in a way that expresses the quiet, solid pace of her journey. The text is clear and absorbing, and Say's watercolors add even greater resonance to the gentle tone of the story.

Book themes & details

Book Details
Author: Allen Say
Illustrator: Allen Say
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Children's Books
Publication date: January 26, 2009
Number of pages: 32
Hardcover price: $17.00
Read Aloud: 4
Read Alone: 8
This review was written by Patricia Tauzer
 
 

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ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
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