The Boy in the Garden by Allen Say

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Say, Allen.  2010. THE BOY IN THE GARDEN. Boston:  Houghton Mifflin Hartcourt.  ISBN 9780547214108

PLOT SUMMARY

To celebrate the new year, Jiro and his father pay a visit to Mr. Ozu.  As the adults converse, Jiro escapes to the garden and spots what he thinks is a real-life crane, but is actually a bronze statue.  Embarrassed that the adults find his error "charming," Jiro runs away and finds refuge in a small, empty cottage, where he discovers a warm bowl of soup simmering over a fire as well as a kimono that's just his size.  A beautiful woman greets him by name and offers him food and shelter from the cold.  Jiro is sure this is the Crane Woman from his mother's mystical story and is afraid that she will disappear, just as she did in his mother's tale.  Soon Jiro finds himself in a strange fantasy world where he must determine what is real and what isn't.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Allen Say's book begins with the brief folktale "The Grateful Crane," in which a man frees a crane trapped in a snare; later that night, a beautiful woman knocks on his door seeking shelter from the cold.  The two end up falling in love and get married.  As the couple struggles to make ends meet, the woman weaves fabric that brings wealth to the family; however, each time she does, she tells her husband not to peek as she works.  However, one night, curiosity gets the better of him and discovers a crane doing the work.  It is revealed that it is the crane the man saved many years ago, but changed into a woman to be his wife.  By prefacing his own story with this folktale, Say preserves "The Grateful Crane" story for future generations to come. 

Although identification of a specific culture, a particular language or dialect is not referenced in the text, audience members gather that this story takes place in Japan by the descriptions of holidays and customs.  As the THE BOY IN THE GARDEN begins, readers learn that young Jiro and his father are visiting the wealthy Mr. Ozu for New Years, which is celebrated on the third day of January.  As a sign of prosperity, Mr. Ozu gifts Jiro with a red envelope containing money.  In the Asian American culture, the tradition of exchanging gifts in a red envelope symbolizes wishing others luck on a new start.   Other cultural details that clue readers in to the Japanese culture are found in the characters' names ( Jiro, Jiro-san, Mr. Ozu) as well as brief mention of a kimono and the obi. 

The Japanese culture is brought to life for young readers through Say's exquisite, detailed pencil and watercolor illustrations.  Accurate details consistent with the Asian American culture can be seen in the detailed illustrations depicting the various settings and architecture of the story.  For example, Mr. Ozu's lush tranquil garden contains a bamboo fountain, garden basins, and granite lanterns.  Wooden posts support a curved roof, which serve as the entrance to the property.  As Jiro wanders through the house and outside cottage, wooden beams and Shoji screens made of translucent paper panels on sliding doors section off different areas of the house and rooms.  In one particular image, readers see Jiro peering at the bronze crane statue through tall, latticework framed windows that reach the entire length of the wall.  The simplicity and tranquility found in these illustrations are reminiscent of the unobtrusive beauty found in Asian American culture.

Other cultural markers used in Say's illustrations can be found in the characters' attire and physical characteristics as well the everyday customs they are seen observing.  The varied skin tones of the characters range from Jiro's olive complexion to the Crane Woman's snow white skin, symbolic of the make-up  powder worn by Japanese geishas, who act as hostesses.  Also, the characters have  distinctive facial features, especially the eyes, as well as straight, black-colored hair.  As readers turn the pages, they see characters wearing traditional Japanese clothing:  Jiro is seen wearing a purple-lined blue-plaid flannel kimono with a pink-colored obi while the Crane Woman dons a pink-lined, white kimono with a green obi.  When Jiro first meets the Crane Woman, she is carrying a cream-colored, paper parasol umbrella.   As they share in their dinner, both are seen kneeling on the floor sitting seiza-style around an active fire pit.  These culturally authentic representations enlighten young readers and provide them with rich details that can be found in the Asian American culture.

REVIEWS AND AWARDS:

CHILDREN'S LITERATURE: "Say uses watercolors to create his full-page naturalistic scenes of the characters, buildings, and garden. Jiro is a curious, attractive youngster. The woman in her white robe and long black hair is convincingly magical. The visuals add significantly to the tone and emotions of the fantasy."

KIRKUS: "Say is at the height of his artistic achievement in this tale of a little boy named Jiro and the powerful impact that a story has on him... A series of dreamlike paintings done in the Caldecott winner's customarily precise and beautifully lit watercolors blurs the lines between reality and fantasy... This is a beautiful, moving, quietly mysterious read, ripe with possibilities for interpretation and contemplation."

CONNECTIONS

Have students listen to an interview by the Allen Say in which he discusses his experience in writing and illustrating children's  books.  The link can be found at http://www.readingrockets.org/books/interviews/say

Students may also read through an interview given by Allen Say discussing his writing and drawing process when creating a new book.  This interview may be found at http://www.rif.org/kids/readingplanet/bookzone/say.htm

Have students read other picture books by Allen Say:

Say, Allen.  EMMA'S RUG. ISBN 0618335234

Say, Allen.  GRANDFATHER'S JOURNEY.  ISBN 0547076800

Say, Allen.  TEA WITH MILK.  ISBN 0547237472

Say, Allen. TREE OF CRANES.  ISBN 054724830X