Tea With Milk

by Allen Say

After growing up near San Francisco, a young Japanese woman returns with her parents to their native Japan, but she feels foreign and out of place with the many traditions of her new home. By the author of Grandfather's Journey. 25,000 first printing.

Genres: Picture Books, Japan, Childrens, Cultural, Historical Fiction, Family, Realistic Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1999

About the author

Allen Say is one of the most beloved artists working today. He is the recipient of the Caldecott Medal for GRANDFATHER'S JOURNEY, and also won a Caldecott Honor and the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for THE BOY OF THE THREE-YEAR NAP (written by Dianne Snyder). Many of Allen’s stories are derived from his own experiences as a child. His other books include THE BICYCLE MAN, TEA WITH MILK, and TREE OF CRANES, hailed by The Horn Book in a starred review as “the achievement of a master in his prime.” Allen’s recent book, ERIKA-SAN, received a starred review in Publishers Weekly. He lives in Portland, Oregon.

Reviews

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Masako grows up in San Francisco, when she leaves high school her parents decide they will all move back to Japan. Masako is homesick and struggles to fit in and accept the constraints Japanese women are subjected to. Rejecting her parents matchmaking she tries to find a way she can find life more fulfilling in Japan.

The illustrations are wonderful and the afterword by the author makes this story all the more poignant.

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 5 out of 5]

How perfect this one is!
I totally loved it especially the realistic and colourful illustrations!
This is a story of a Japanese origin girl named Masaki who had to shift back to Japan after growing up in San Francisco.
The story talks about her trying herself to adapt to the ways of life in Japan as per the instructions of her strict mother.
But life ends beautifully for her unexpectedly👍
I really wonder how such a short story can be written and illustrated so perfectly!

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Say relates the story of his mother, a young woman torn between two cultures when her family moves back to Japan after living in San Francisco. A charming read to celebrate Tea for Two Tuesday.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raised in San Francisco by immigrant parents, May is unprepared for life in Japan when her family decide to return to their homeland. Now known as Masako, her dreams of college are dashed, as she is forced to attend high school a second time, in order to learn Japanese. Treated as a foreigner by her classmates, she has trouble making friends, or even finding someone who will speak with her. Her parents, in the meantime, arrange for the services of a matchmaker, despite Masako's declaration that she would rather have a turtle than a husband. Deciding that she must strike out on her own, she moves to Osaka and gets a job in a department store, eventually meeting a young man who, like herself, feels like a fish out of water...

In this biographical picture-book, celebrated Japanese-American children's author and artist Allen Say, who won the Caldecott Medal in 1994 for his Grandfather's Journey , chronicles the story of his mother's life. His depiction, in both text and image, of her sense of displacement upon her family's return to Japan, is immensely poignant, deftly capturing her loneliness and dismay. As is often the case with Say's work, the artwork in Tea with Milk is just lovely, with a luminous quality that makes the image truly shine. Say knows how to play with color and light, always producing art that really draws the reader in. I particularly liked the image of Masako in her kimono at the department store, as well as the final image of Masako and Joseph - Allen Say's parents! Recommended to fans of the artist, as well as to anyone looking for children's stories about moving, immigration, and feeling like a stranger in a strange land.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book to give to someone you know that is dealing with culture shock after a cross-cultural move.

[Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Tea with milk, Allen Say speaks eloquently about the cross cultural conflict between traditional Japanese values and American values.

Using his trademark beautiful watercolor images to support the text, Say tells the story of a young girl, May, who was raised in San Francisco but moves to Japan with her mother and father who are returning home. Young May struggles to find her place in her parents’ home and finally makes a friend who is enduring a similar struggle. Say surprises readers with a twist at the end of the plot line ensuring that the words remain with the reader long after.

[Lobstergirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Allen Say tells, in simple language, the story of his American-educated Japanese mother returning to Japan, adopting the clothing and manners of a traditional Japanese woman, and her parents' attempt to arrange a marriage for her. (It doesn't work.) Say's watercolor illustrations are lovely.

[Alondra Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is a realistic fiction written and illustrated by Allen Say. It's beautiful illustrations depict the story accurately and do a wonderful job of capturing Japanese culture. It is about a Japanese girl living in America who although she is familiar with aspects of her culture, she has really adapted to the American culture as well and has made friends in America. However her parents move back to Japan, and she had to go back to Japan with them. While there she misses her American friends and her life in America, and originally feels out of place in Japan. However, as time goes on she begins to find her own way in Osaka. Most of the time books focus on the feelings of people who come to America from another country, and adapt to American ways, so I found it interesting to see a book talking about a person going to another country and adapting to their new environment there. I believe the book promotes appreciation of culture, because by going back to the country where her culture originates from, she grew to appreciate her culture more and accept both her American and Japanese culture. The book also does a great way of displaying Japanese culture. I feel kids such as 3rd grade and up would appreciate the book more than the younger kids since it has larger harder to grasp concepts in it. If read in 2nd grade or younger it would require further breaking down and explaining.

[Audrey Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Allen Say retells his mother's childhood and young adulthood, from being an Japanese immigrant in San Fransisco, to moving back to Japan and being treated like an American immigrant. This story allows young readers to begin to understand cultural differences, especially some of the struggles females faced in the mid-1900s outside of the United States. I would recommend this book as a mentor text to 4th through 7th grade teachers.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Allen Say's illustrations have a unique atmosphere, a zen quiet filled with light and shadow. His books are breathtakingly beautiful, and Tea With Milk is no exception. The story relates another episode in his family saga of cultural displacement, when his mother and grandparents move back to Japan from the US. Masako finds her way home, learning that "it isn't a place or a building that's ready-made and waiting for you - you have to make it for yourself."

[Syntha Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a great story of how the author's parents met

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet story about what it really means to be home.

[Ruthie B · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very clear point of view story of a young Japanese girl and her struggles growing up feeling a part of two lands.

[Abdullahi Gelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

"This must be sweet" is what I said to myself when I saw the title of this book. I wasn't disappointed. This is a wonderful story and a great introduction to Allen Say.

[Esther · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published in 1999 by Houghton Mifflin/Walter Lorraine Books
Interest Level: 5th-8th Grade

The story of Allen Say's mother is a compelling, heartfelt story about immigration, culture-clashes, assimilation, and the meaning of "home". Through the depictions of May otherwise known as Masako and her cross-cultural experiences, the reader is transported to another time period and culture where being an independent woman was a much more difficult task than imagined. Contrasting with Say's "Grandfather's Journey", the style of illustrations is not photograph-like and portrays the action and hardships of May's life minutely and intuitively. There are illustrations that are full of action and those that are stills, like the cover, which ultimately convey the contemplative and dynamic portions of the story. Although short and precise, the story and illustrations convey a profound search for belonging and identity. Personally, I thought that this struggle and story were extremely understandable and thought-provoking. Overall, an interesting, dynamic story that brings the reader to a thought-provoking ending that questions the idea of what constitutes a home and how an identity can be formed.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I was reading this story, it seemed so familiar, as if I had read it before. Perhaps I have; my memory is not perfect. But what I think triggered the memory was the fact that I had also read Grandfather's Journey, which is a nice companion to this book. The illustrations are wonderful and I love that Allen Say put so much of his family's history into his stories. The story was filled with mixed emotions and conflicting desires, which is pretty complex for a children's picture book. I love that May was determined to be independent and work outside of the home and refused to marry until she was ready. This was mostly a product of her American upbringing and was considered scandalous and shameful in Japanese society at that time. And I can appreciate that she was able to prove her worth on her own and adopt some of Japanese culture, even if it felt strange and uncomfortable at first. Finally, it's heartwarming to see that she was able to find true love with someone who felt like he was as much of an outsider as she was.

[Tatiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tea with Milk is an eloquent look at the struggle to live in two worlds. May grew up in America, but her parents always maintained old-world Japanese values. When they decide to move back to their homeland, May finds herself out of place and homesick for America. Her journey to find where she belongs is inspiring and ultimately speaks to perseverance, being true to one's self, and striking a balance between traditional and modern values.

I think one of the reasons this story was so engaging was the use of demand and offer in the illustrations. Early on, May was looking directly out at the readers, creating that connection, and also highlighting her isolation, but as her life takes off, she is interacting with more people and her focus is on them. I also liked that several of the illustrations felt like photographs, which was in line with this being based on the true story of the author's mother.

In the classroom, this would be a lovely multicultural and historical fiction selection. I would use it with upper elementary grades (3-5) because it would make more impact if the students could understand the oppression that May feels by not being able to live by her own choices.

[Karli Eller · Rating 4 out of 5]

What is it like to feel like you do not belong? To stick out? To be ripped from your birthplace and forced to adapt to a new country, a new culture and new people? These questions and more are answered in Allen Say’s phenomenal book Tea with Milk.

Every year my class has numerous students whose family originated from another country. Now these students will be the experts, being able to explain how it feels to be the new one, adapting to new rules and customs, a new language and way of life. They will be the ones that understand May, her feelings, her fears and her desires.

May is Japanese and yet for all intents and purposes, she is an American. Born and raised in San Francisco, moving to Japan brings quite the culture shock. Flower arranging, calligraphy and afternoon tea become daily staples. How can May adapt and fit in in her new country without losing who she is? Allen Say explores this question in this nonfiction story of his own mother finding herself in the middle of a new world, adjusting to Japanese culture while still keeping remnants of her former life in California. May will grow and adjust and adapt, but she will always take her tea with milk.

[Shannon Collyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masako was born in California. All of her California friends called her May. One day, May’s parents decided they were homesick and wanted to move back to Japan. This was devastating for May, in Japan, she had to wear kimonos, take high school again, and drink her tea with out milk. Her parents tried to console her and even attempted to arrange a marriage to a nice banker for her, but May would have none of it. She missed the hustle and bustle of the city. She finally found what she had been looking for in a city called Osaka. There, she got a job and met a handsome stranger. The two quickly became friends but soon found out that his job would take him elsewhere. What will become of the friendship? Will May ever get to go back to California? Read this love story to find the answer! The story of May keeps the reader on her toes through out the novel. The descriptive sentences and elaborate pictures allow the reader to experience May’s heartbreak and excitement alongside her. This book is a great story of self-discovery and love.

[Linda Lipko · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an incredible artist! This is yet another story based on Allen's life and the immigration experience of his grandparents and parents.

The images are soft and beautiful. They make me want to slowly drift into the book and sit at the sideline watching the slow, every day pace of Allen's family.

This is the story of May (Allen's mother) who lived in California. Missing Japan, her family moved back when May was a teen aged young, beautiful lady.

The difference in cultures is severe and May has a difficult time adjusting. Subservience is not in her personality. She is very independent and finds living in rural Japan very binding and too traditional.

Moving into a large city and finding a job in a department store, she eventually meets a Japanese man who speaks English.

Slowly they develop a relationship and marry.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Allen Say tells the tale of May and American born girl forced to move back to Japan with her parents after she graduated from high school. She immediately faced a cultural backlash when she arriver. Her parents wanted her to become something she was not willing to become. In an attempt to break free May moved to the city of Osaka and began to work at a department store. The story of her finding her independence while fitting into the traditional Japanese culture evolves when she finds love after she settles into her daily work routine in Osaka. Say paints an amazing tale of culture clashing with modern life in Tea with Milk.

The illustrations are wonderfully done. They coloring is soft creating the feeling of a past memory. Additionally, the muted color takes down the energy of the book and helps create a more serious feel overall. Worth the read.

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tea With Milk follows a young woman stuck between the Japanese and American cultures of what appears to be the late 1920s. Masako, who prefers her American name May, is reluctantly taken back to Japan by her Japanese born parents. She hates the men her parents arrange for her, she hates the traditional arts she's forced to learn, and she resents having no one to connect with. She runs away to Osaka to work as a lowly elevator operator. However, eventually her talents set her on a path towards happiness.

This is a great take for learning about Japanese culture, but more importantly it's about finding your own happiness. May is resentful of her situation at first, but through hard work and acceptance she makes a place for herself that she can call home. Say's water colors are gorgeous and it's a beautiful way to share how his parents met.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a lovely heartwarming story about a Japanese girl (the author’s mother) raised in America. She is taught Japanese at home and English at school until her parents decide to move back to Japan and assume the Japanese culture and language at all times. She loves and misses the American part of her heritage as well as her parents had missed Japan while living in America. I’m so glad the story resolves itself with a happy ending and May/Masako finding a home with her husband where she can be the woman she wants to be with a combination of cultures. Love this one as much as Grandfather’s Journey. The author, Allen Say allows you to walk in someone else’s shoes and better understand people from other cultures and countries.❤️

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very eye opening for me. Consider feeling like an outsider in a place where people assume you should fit in. This book would help someone feel as though they were not alone in feeling like a cultural outsider. The story and the images balanced each other well. The illustrations held a lot of emotion in their stillness. I also felt that the complex feelings of being an outsider would be accessible to anyone reading this book. It could help children get a better understanding that people feel outside all over, which could be used for a discussion about doing your best to include people.

[Robert Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this along side Stranger in the Mirror also by Allen Say, and it is interesting to compare their structural similarities. Although the two stories are quiet different, they follow the same format pattern, i.e. size, paging, image placement. Both books are almost identical in how they were constructed, and as I think on all of Says books I've read in the past, they also follow this pattern. Say seems to have a pattern for constructing his books, which leads to a repetition in pattern.

[Ashley B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book talks about the struggle of growing up in America with a different cultural background. This book shares the challenges a young woman faced as she was growing up with Japanese family members in the United States. She talks about how traditional her parents expect her to be at home, such as speaking Japanese and drinking tea without milk and sugar. When she is at her friend's house she has spaghetti and drinks her tea how she wants to. Allen Say does a great job of showing the reader how difficult it can be to balance both cultures. He also emphasizes how home is a feeling and home can be what you make it. This is really inspirational for readers.

[LauraW · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually read this book before the other Say book I have just reviewed. I like this one, but it didn't fascinate me as much as Drawing from Memory. The art work is great, though, and I continue to be surprised at how much I actually like it. It is sort of like the Japanese gardens we visited in Kyoto and Tokyo. I was pretty sure I would find them boring and repetitive, but instead found them surprisingly appealing and engaging.

[Emma G · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a spontaneous book of ironic "Deja vu". A little Japanese american goes to Japan at a young age and doesn't feel at home at all, even though her parents are happy. Eventually, she learns to work in Japan,in which many women don't work at all! Since she speaks English, she finds a nice job based off and can support herself. This is her emotional story, rewritten to be a classic.

[Donna Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful story, and a brilliant teaching device. Tea with milk is a metaphor for a Japanese-American child, culturally most familiar with the United States, but with the face of an Asian girl. A forced return trip to live in Japan proves alienating...and an important lesson is learned. Highly recommended, not just for Japanese or Japanese-American children, but for all children.

[R.J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely,melancholy reflection on what makes a home. Biography-as-fiction as an exercise in honoring parents/ancestors.