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Drawing From Memory
Last updated Tuesday, September 9, 2025
Author: Allen Say
Date of Publication: 2011
ISBN: 0545176867
Grade Level: 4th (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: Sep. 2025
Synopsis:
Drawing From Memory is Allen Say's own story of his path to becoming the renowned artist he is today. Shunned by his father, who didn't understand his son's artistic leanings, Allen was embraced by Noro Shinpei, Japan's leading cartoonist and the man he came to love as his "spiritual father."
As WWII raged, Allen was further inspired to consider questions of his own heritage and the motivations of those around him. He worked hard in rigorous drawing classes, studied, trained - and ultimately came to understand who he really is. Part memoir, part graphic novel, part narrative history, Drawing From Memory presents a complex look at the real-life relationship between a mentor and his student.
| Note to readers: |
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Probably the kids (and maybe you! depending on your age) have never read the funny papers or cartoon books (although the descendents of cartoon booklets are GRAPHIC NOVELS). So my first suggestion in the discussion before you start reading has to do with what is a cartoon, the evolution of cartoon characters, maybe backwards from the present to pre-World-War 2 times.
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This book was written and illustrated by the author with a combination of cartoon art and delicate, sensitive line drawings and watercolors. Think about whether you want to do a picture walk-through before you start reading. Note that he was "drawing from memory" - that's what the book is about!
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| Discussion topics for before reading: |
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Who here knows Superman? Which version do you like more, the animated version or the live action version? The animated version today was preceded by a couple of television shows and several movies, both animated and live action. Before the movies and before television was even invented, the stories were told in CARTOONS - like MANGA (which is actually Japanese for "cartoons") or graphic novels today.
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Who wrote and drew cartoons? ARTISTS! Like Walt Disney and in Japan, Noro Shinpei (pronounced SHIN - PAY, like pay a bill). See if anyone in the group has any other favorite cartoonists.
Vocabulary
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ploy - clever trick or secret plan someone makes to get something they want or to have an advantage
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scruffy - something is messy, dirty, or not neat. It describes something that looks untidy or a little bit worn out, like a person's uncombed hair, a dog with muddy fur, or old clothes that aren't clean
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stingy - not willing to share or give much, whether it's money, toys, or even compliments. It's the opposite of being generous, like when a friend has lots of candy but won't give you any, even a small piece.
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apprentice - a person who is learning a trade or art by experience under a skilled worker
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| Discussion topics for during/after reading: |
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When and where is this book set? Pre-WWII Japan. See if you can find Japan on a map or globe in the classroom. Page 6 in the book (at the very beginning) shows the locations within Japan that are discussed later in the book. Maybe flip back to that page when you are reading where he was born and grew up (Yokohama, page 7), where his father went to work every day (Tokyo, page 10), and where they moved after Japan entered WWII (a village named Tabuse between Hiroshima and Iwakuni, also on page 10).
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"We never went home again." He doesn't say too much about the trauma of not ever going home again, but thick books have been written on that very subject. The kids may have some thoughts on that.
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Allen Say, the author, was not able to go to school during the war, so when he was 8 years old, he was put in 1st grade. How do you think he felt about that? How would you feel about that?
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Allen Say, fell in love with drawing and painting before he went to school, ever, so maybe 4 or 5 years old. Did you pick out something you wanted to do or be when you were little? Do you still want to do or be that thing? What changed for you?
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Have you thought about what you might like to do when you grow up?
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What will you have to do so you can be successful in getting the job you want? If you want to be a professional athlete, you will have to spend many hours practicing your sport. If you want to be a veteranarian, you will have to go to college for more than 4 years. Maybe you don't know yet and that's okay!
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At age 12 Allen apprenticed himself to his favorite cartoonist, Noro Shinpei, for four years. During that time he live alone in an apartment. How would you handle that? He did live close to his grandmother.
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| Craft ideas: |
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Start your illustrated autobiography. Step 1: Make a cover: "Your name" plus a self-portrait or symbol is page 1. Step 2: Page 2-3 "Early life" Page 2: When and where did you live? How does your story start? Page 3: What were your influences? What makes all this interesting? Page 4 and 5: "Main Events in my Life." 1-2 most important scenes or events (when, where, how, why?), Decisions, Actions. Supplies needed: White paper (3 sheets, folded in half to make a booklet), narrow pens, crayons. A template is provided to get you started.
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| Special activities: |
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Do the word search.
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*Note: These craft ideas are just suggestions.
You can use them, but you don't have to use them.
You can expand upon them, or add your own twist.
Remember, though, that the focus of your time should
not be on the development and execution of a craft;
the focus should be on the read-aloud and the
enjoyment of the book!
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