Review of Kamishibai Man
A. Book Information
Say, Allen. 2005. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company Books. ISBN 0-618-47954-6.
B. Plot Summary
Despite being rejected for the more current television by the youth he love so much, the Kamishibai man decides to give it another go many years later. Upon returning to the bustling city the storyteller finds his audience mature and willing. They applaud his art and devour his wife’s sweets. This is a charming story of a lost art.
C. Critical Analysis
This book begins in the serene countryside of Japan, an old man and his wife sit in their modest home passing time. The old man misses making his rounds as a Kamishibai man. His legs and bicycle still work, so he decides to go into the city and give it a try.
The setting of this book dramatically changes from the peaceful countryside to the bustling city. As the old man enters the city he is greeted by blasts of horns and other city noise. The simple noodle house he remembers has been replaced by a large supermarket.
The author and illustrator, Allen Say does a remarkable job making the illustrations come to life. This book is a story within a story. The illustrations reflect this, the pictures are very realistic as the story unfolds, but when the Kamishibai man begins telling his story to the audience the pictures have a more cartoon feel as we see the scenes of his memory. This helps the transition, making it easier for the reader to follow his story. The illustrations of the city reveal Say’s knowledge of the setting and attention to detail. Signs are written in Japanese, and most of the city dwellers are realistically dressed in western style clothes as is seen on the streets of Japan today. The Kamisibai man himself changes from traditional clothes to western clothes for his ride into the city. The people in the story are accurately portrayed with skin tones that vary from pale to a dark tan, the eyes of the people are distinct ably Asian and done with expression.
The nice thing about this book is it gives us a glimpse of Japanese culture past and present. The forward by Allen Say is short and well done. We are introduced to what a Kamishibai man is before we meet the lovable character. In this book we see both country and city Japan, traditional and modern dress, and attitudes past and present. It is a charming story, one that has many parallels in American culture.
D. Review Excerpts
From School Library Journal
Starred Review. Grade 1-5–An elderly kamishibai (paper theater) man decides to return to the city and spend the day on his former rounds. His wife makes candies for him, just as in the past, and he sets off on his bicycle. Things have changed–there's traffic with honking horns and he wonders, Who needs to buy so many things and eat so many different foods? when he sees the shops and restaurants replacing beautiful trees that have been cut. He sets up his theater and begins to tell his personal story of being a kamishibai man in a flashback sequence. Soon he is surrounded by adults who remember him and his stories from their youth. Ironically, that night he is featured on the news on television–the very technology that replaced him. Say's distinctive style and facial expressions are especially touching. A foreword gives readers a glimpse of the importance of the kamishibai man in the author's early life, and an afterword provides a historical look at the forgotten art form. The power of the story and the importance of the storyteller are felt in this nostalgic piece that makes readers think about progress. Those interested in storytelling and theater will be especially impressed with this offering, but it will have broad appeal.–Helen Foster James, University of California at San Diego
Copyright © Reed Business Information
From Booklist
*Starred Review* Gr. 1-3. In a foreword, Say explains that Kamishibai means "paper theater" and that years ago Kamishibai men were itinerant storytellers who traveled around Japan on bicycles with a big, wooden box mounted on the back seat. The box contained a miniature theater, and beneath it were drawers of candy that the performer sold to eke out a living. As a storyteller spun his tale, he used picture cards to illustrate dramatic points, finishing each time with a cliffhanger designed to entice the children in his audience to come back another time to hear the continuation of the story. Say's lovely new book is about an elderly Kamishibai man, long retired, who, missing his rounds, decides to pedal back to the old neighborhood for one last performance. The story-within-a-story that emerges reveals why this unique type of performance art has all but disappeared. The quietly dramatic, beautifully evocative tale contains a cliffhanger of its own, and its exquisite art, in the style of Kamishibai picture cards, will attract even the most jaded kid away from the TV to enjoy a good, good book. Michael Cart
Copyright © American Library Association.
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E. Connections
Other books for young people by Laurence Yep.
· Grandfather's Journey. ISBN 978-0395570357
· The Bicycle Man. ISBN 978-0395506523
· Stranger in the Mirror. ISBN 978-0395938836
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