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The Sign Painter
In his Caldecott acceptance speech for GRANDFATHER'S JOURNEY, Allen Say told of his difficulty in separating his dreams from reality. For him this separation was not as important as finding a meaning behind the contradictions and choices we all must make in life and their consequences.
Early one morning a boy comes into town, hungry, and looking for work. He meets a sign painter who takes him on as a helper. The boy yearns to be a painter. The man offers him security.
The two are commissioned to paint a series of billboards in the desert. Each billboard has one word, Arrowstar. They do not know its meaning. As they are about to paint the last sign, the boy looks up and sees in the distance a magnificent structure. Is it real? They go to find out.
Through a simple text and extraordinary paintings, the reader learns of the temptation of safe choices and the uncertainties of following a personal dream. Here Allen Say tells a haunting and provocative story of dreams and choices for readers of all ages. This title has been selected as a Common Core Text Exemplar (Grades 2-3, Read-Aloud Story)
Early one morning a boy comes into town, hungry, and looking for work. He meets a sign painter who takes him on as a helper. The boy yearns to be a painter. The man offers him security.
The two are commissioned to paint a series of billboards in the desert. Each billboard has one word, Arrowstar. They do not know its meaning. As they are about to paint the last sign, the boy looks up and sees in the distance a magnificent structure. Is it real? They go to find out.
Through a simple text and extraordinary paintings, the reader learns of the temptation of safe choices and the uncertainties of following a personal dream. Here Allen Say tells a haunting and provocative story of dreams and choices for readers of all ages. This title has been selected as a Common Core Text Exemplar (Grades 2-3, Read-Aloud Story)
32 pages, Hardcover
First published October 30, 2000
1 person is currently reading
115 people want to read
About the author
Allen Say
45 books234 followersAllen 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
August 15, 2010
A young man with artistic aspirations becomes a billboard painter but gets tired of painting the same ad over and over. He'd like to be painting landscapes and such. Then he finds something strange in the desert that forces him to wonder if dreams are achievable. Those familiar with Edward Hopper will notice that the first illustration has a backdrop of Early Sunday Morning, and the last illustration, Nighthawks, without the customers. I wondered if the other illustrations had similar inspirations; a couple seem kind of Norman Rockwellish.
Update: Booklist says it's "a tribute to many modern artists, including Hopper, Warhol, and Magritte." Have to say, I didn't see Warhol or Magritte...
Update: Booklist says it's "a tribute to many modern artists, including Hopper, Warhol, and Magritte." Have to say, I didn't see Warhol or Magritte...
April 4, 2019
A young man who dreams of being a painter arrives in a small western town early one morning, and finds a job as an assistant roadside sign painter. Each sign that he and the man who hired him paint is the same: an image of a woman on the left, with the word Arrowstar on the right. The young man grows restive, longing to paint the desert landscapes through which they are passing, but the head sign painter reminds him that he is being paid to paint something specific. Can the young man find a way to balance his dreams with the practicalities of earning a living? Perhaps when he discovers what Arrowstar is, he will find inspiration...
A tribute to the struggle that an artist goes through, trying to stay true to their vision while also surviving in the work-a-day world, The Sign Painter presents a quiet but thoughtful tale. Given that so many of Allen Say's books - Grandfather's Journey , Tea with Milk , The Favorite Daughter - are autobiographical in nature, I couldn't help but wonder whether the young man here is Say himself. However that may be, I enjoyed the tale, and found the artwork lovely. The juxtaposition of desert vistas with billboard signs was striking, and I appreciated the nod to Edward Hopper at the end. I don't know that the story is as strong as some of Say's others, and if half stars were permitted, this would be more of a three-and-a-half-star title, but as they're not, I rounded up, on account of my enjoyment of the illustrations. Recommended to anyone who is looking for children's stories about artists and/or finding one's way in the world, as well as to fans (like me) of Allen Say's work.
A tribute to the struggle that an artist goes through, trying to stay true to their vision while also surviving in the work-a-day world, The Sign Painter presents a quiet but thoughtful tale. Given that so many of Allen Say's books - Grandfather's Journey , Tea with Milk , The Favorite Daughter - are autobiographical in nature, I couldn't help but wonder whether the young man here is Say himself. However that may be, I enjoyed the tale, and found the artwork lovely. The juxtaposition of desert vistas with billboard signs was striking, and I appreciated the nod to Edward Hopper at the end. I don't know that the story is as strong as some of Say's others, and if half stars were permitted, this would be more of a three-and-a-half-star title, but as they're not, I rounded up, on account of my enjoyment of the illustrations. Recommended to anyone who is looking for children's stories about artists and/or finding one's way in the world, as well as to fans (like me) of Allen Say's work.
November 13, 2012
Okay--so this is a rather strange book. I really like Allen Say's other books, so this one kind of surprised me. I didn't dislike it, but... In an impulsive moment, I grabbed it for a read aloud to talk about character traits. I figured there was a good chance that there were strong characters since it was named after a person. The kids were completely enthralled in the book as was I, because we had so many big questions, and so many ideas about where our questions would go--yet, the book went to none of those places. Part of the beauty of it, was for the kids to see me make inferences that just fell flat.
We were also talking about backing up their thinking about the book with evidence from the text. I kept randomly inserting things about doughnuts, because it was one of my first random guesses, and the kids thought it was hilarious, but also helped cement the idea that our guesses have to be rooted in evidence from the text.
It was a strange little read, and I am glad we read it as a class. Now that I have read it, will I read it to another class? I really don't know.
Hard to rate this one--what I would give our reading experience as a class--4.5 stars, but the book itself? Maybe a 2. Maybe I will meet in the middle with a 3. (We are studying average in math :) )
We were also talking about backing up their thinking about the book with evidence from the text. I kept randomly inserting things about doughnuts, because it was one of my first random guesses, and the kids thought it was hilarious, but also helped cement the idea that our guesses have to be rooted in evidence from the text.
It was a strange little read, and I am glad we read it as a class. Now that I have read it, will I read it to another class? I really don't know.
Hard to rate this one--what I would give our reading experience as a class--4.5 stars, but the book itself? Maybe a 2. Maybe I will meet in the middle with a 3. (We are studying average in math :) )
March 16, 2022
As much as I love reading about Allen Say's life and I enjoy his art this book was just weird! I know it was supposed to be sort of dreamscapey but I thought for the picture book market it really missed the mark.
May 4, 2013
Is there such a thing as picture book discussion for high school students? If not, there should be because Allen Say's "The Sign Painter fits into that category. The use of allegory, images, and the subtle meandering and symbolic interpretations of the art and text are clearly more suited to high school art and language art classes and their students than the K-8 crowd. Their are large doses of dream fantasy intermixed with reality in this picture book which are interesting and confusing for the reader, but I believe that discussing the interaction between text and art is well worth the effort.
Allen Say was a billboard sign painter before he ever became a literary picture book sensation. There are several themes here which Say explores: follow your dreams, life is about making choices, expect obstacles, ups and downs (the roller coaster), and joys in your pursuit of your dreams. Most of all you may meet people who provide guidance or resist your efforts in pursuing that dream (clouds in frame?), but ultimately the only individual that can make this life real as in paint on a canvas is...you! There is much beauty and mystery in Say's art. The expansiveness of these western landscapes and their dusty and desolate depictions by Say just adds to the theme that although the young man works with the older man on the billboards, his choice to work for Arrow Star or be an individual artist pursuing his unique vision is solely his own.
As for the multicultural elements of this book, obviously Say's
"Grandfather's Journey" about the challenges of how one moves to America and embraces it while trying to retain his Japanese heritage would have been a more a better choice. In "The Sign Painter" Say depicts the young man as having possibly Asian American ancestry, but the author does not directly discuss his cultural heritage as a theme or topic in the story telling. Rather, the white man in the white suit talking on the phone at the end of the story and the two outsiders, the young and older man sitting outside the home's doorway or the young white woman driving in the classic American 50's era auto of power, style, and speed is more symbolic; what dreams does the young man pursue the American business model with its flash and fame or unique outsider's view and American vision of his artistic destiny?
In many ways last page is clearly a homage to American artist Edward Hopper's 1942 "Nighthawks" painting depicting a quiet diner in New York. Take a look at Hopper's painting, see link, and compare it to Allen Say's interpretive rendering.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nighthawks
In Allen Say's vision of Hopper's painting, the young man gets off the bus and looks into an empty diner saying "Just passing by...." One senses that the young sign painter isn't entirely convinced that he wants to engage entirely in that "lonely" American life.
Allen Say was a billboard sign painter before he ever became a literary picture book sensation. There are several themes here which Say explores: follow your dreams, life is about making choices, expect obstacles, ups and downs (the roller coaster), and joys in your pursuit of your dreams. Most of all you may meet people who provide guidance or resist your efforts in pursuing that dream (clouds in frame?), but ultimately the only individual that can make this life real as in paint on a canvas is...you! There is much beauty and mystery in Say's art. The expansiveness of these western landscapes and their dusty and desolate depictions by Say just adds to the theme that although the young man works with the older man on the billboards, his choice to work for Arrow Star or be an individual artist pursuing his unique vision is solely his own.
As for the multicultural elements of this book, obviously Say's
"Grandfather's Journey" about the challenges of how one moves to America and embraces it while trying to retain his Japanese heritage would have been a more a better choice. In "The Sign Painter" Say depicts the young man as having possibly Asian American ancestry, but the author does not directly discuss his cultural heritage as a theme or topic in the story telling. Rather, the white man in the white suit talking on the phone at the end of the story and the two outsiders, the young and older man sitting outside the home's doorway or the young white woman driving in the classic American 50's era auto of power, style, and speed is more symbolic; what dreams does the young man pursue the American business model with its flash and fame or unique outsider's view and American vision of his artistic destiny?
In many ways last page is clearly a homage to American artist Edward Hopper's 1942 "Nighthawks" painting depicting a quiet diner in New York. Take a look at Hopper's painting, see link, and compare it to Allen Say's interpretive rendering.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nighthawks
In Allen Say's vision of Hopper's painting, the young man gets off the bus and looks into an empty diner saying "Just passing by...." One senses that the young sign painter isn't entirely convinced that he wants to engage entirely in that "lonely" American life.
April 14, 2015
Say, Allen The Sign Painter. PICTURE BOOK. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2000. $17.99. Content: G.
A boy rolls into town, hoping to work as a landscape painter. He has to make a living, though, so he hooks up with a billboard painter instead. The two of them set out across the desert, painting billboard after billboard according the strict specifications of the man who hired them. As they paint, the boy tries to guess what the esoteric messages on the billboards will lead to, but he never would have guessed what he and his fellow painter would find at the end of the trail.
I expected to like this one more because of the author/illustrator, but the story was pretty depressing and ultimately felt pointless, and much of the meaning is likely to go over students' heads without a lot of adult guidance. It's fairly text-heavy, as well, which makes it a much longer read. It may work well for an art class, however, as many of the illustrations allude to paintings by such greats as Edward Hopper and Georgia O'Keefe.
EL -- OPTIONAL. Reviewer: Caryn
A boy rolls into town, hoping to work as a landscape painter. He has to make a living, though, so he hooks up with a billboard painter instead. The two of them set out across the desert, painting billboard after billboard according the strict specifications of the man who hired them. As they paint, the boy tries to guess what the esoteric messages on the billboards will lead to, but he never would have guessed what he and his fellow painter would find at the end of the trail.
I expected to like this one more because of the author/illustrator, but the story was pretty depressing and ultimately felt pointless, and much of the meaning is likely to go over students' heads without a lot of adult guidance. It's fairly text-heavy, as well, which makes it a much longer read. It may work well for an art class, however, as many of the illustrations allude to paintings by such greats as Edward Hopper and Georgia O'Keefe.
EL -- OPTIONAL. Reviewer: Caryn
July 25, 2018
We wanted to like this book, my 9yo daughter and I. We really did. The illustrations are the high point of this book. The storyline starts off fine enough. However, once the storyline has taken off that's really about it; it goes nowhere. Oh, sure, the characters actually go to the desert (painting billboards) but plot-wise it does nothing. A rollercoaster pops up on one site and we really never get to know the story behind that. A broken, overheard phone conversation is just that- broken. Not only in the snippets of dialogue but also with it not lending anything whatsoever to move the story along.
My daughter and I both felt this was a dud of a story, a waste of time. She actually wanted me to give a review of zero stars. I gave it one because the illustrations were lovely.
We do NOT recommend this book at all.
My daughter and I both felt this was a dud of a story, a waste of time. She actually wanted me to give a review of zero stars. I gave it one because the illustrations were lovely.
We do NOT recommend this book at all.
April 4, 2015
A young man gets off a bus in a strange town and finds a job painting advertisements. But he considers himself a real artist and finds his work somewhat boring. However, he still goes ahead and paints the same ad over and over on a series of giant billboards in the desert. I'm not sure what the point of this story is, but I liked the pictures. I don't know if most kids would enjoy it.
December 13, 2018
Beautifully illustrated with intriguing text, this story about a young man who wants to be an artist and ends up in the desert painting signs, is thought provoking and atmospheric. This picture book will appeal to older children who can grasp larger issues, such as following their dreams even if it means giving up on a sure thing.
September 10, 2009
I read this book and I was left scratching my head. I don't think my kids got it either. Beautiful illustrations.
April 7, 2011
A starving young artist takes a job painting billboard signs. For the longest time, thoough, he doesn't even know what the billboard advertises. Then he finds out "that dreams come in all sizes."
September 3, 2018
A boy walked into a strange town looking for a job. He loved to paint so he went into a sign painting store. He proved he was good at painting so the owner hired him and took him on his billboard painting trip. They drove all around the desert painting a woman’s face for a upcoming amusement park. The boy was tired of painting faces. Instead, he wanted to paint landscapes and didn’t understand why he couldn’t do that. After almost completing the project, the two men saw the amusement park woman driving away. Out of curiosity, they followed her trail to where she left from, only to find out the amusement park was struggling because the woman left. I would read this to a third or fourth grade class because it is a little bit of a harder concept for younger children to grasp.
April 9, 2025
I finished this book and thought, 'what the heck what that?' I recognized the homage to Edward Hopper's Nighthawks at the end, but didn't understand why it appeared in the story. Was this book a true story about how Edward Hopper got his start?
Nope. The inside flap explained the book to me. I'm grateful as I don't think I would have gotten the point on my own, which is why I only gave it three stars. The inside flap said, 'through a simple text and extraordinary paintings, the reader learns of the temptations of safe choices and the uncertainties of following a personal dream."
Ooooooooohhhhh. Now I get it. This would be a great book for the IB Learner Profile: risktaker trait.
Nope. The inside flap explained the book to me. I'm grateful as I don't think I would have gotten the point on my own, which is why I only gave it three stars. The inside flap said, 'through a simple text and extraordinary paintings, the reader learns of the temptations of safe choices and the uncertainties of following a personal dream."
Ooooooooohhhhh. Now I get it. This would be a great book for the IB Learner Profile: risktaker trait.
June 13, 2017
Again, Say writes a children's book focusing on following your dream. This story follows a young man, an artist, who takes on sign painting in order to make a living. He quickly learns that even as an artist, he wouldn't be happy without the freedom to make the art of his choosing.
One of my favorite quotes is "Goes to show that dreams come in all sizes." And the observation of a cloud, something the man wanted to paint, "There it goes, just passing by, like you and me." The young man makes a new choice to follow his dream, to follow it again, when he chooses to move on from painting signs.
One of my favorite quotes is "Goes to show that dreams come in all sizes." And the observation of a cloud, something the man wanted to paint, "There it goes, just passing by, like you and me." The young man makes a new choice to follow his dream, to follow it again, when he chooses to move on from painting signs.
September 5, 2017
This book is about a young man who loves to paint and finds a job painting billboards. The young man and his boss get sent on an assignment to paint billboards in the middle of the desert. At first, the young man is happy to help, but as they continue painting, he begins to wonder why they are painting the billboards, there is nobody there to see it. The young man wants to paint his own thing, but the boss says to do what the paying customer wants. Eventually, though the young man gets to see a billboard that shows off the natural beauty of the desert landscape.
January 17, 2023
The Sign Painter took you on a journey to nowhere basically. It was a buildup with no payoff and left the reader with many questions. It felt incomplete and you were detracted from the main character's story line because you were left wondering about the mysterious "Arrowstar". We are on a Allen Say kick and I have checked out all of his books from the library. We enjoyed Grandfather's Journey and Tree of Cranes so far but this one seemed incomplete and lacking in story. Two stars for the illustrations only.
December 22, 2019
I really disliked using this book as a read-aloud for my 4th grade class, even though I really liked Allen Say's other books. It's too cryptic and requires too much inference/symbolic knowledge for an elementary audience. You would honestly get a better discussion out of high school students with a book like this.
September 9, 2019
This book was difficult to follow and very different. The moral of the story is that all dreams comes in all shapes and sizes. We are tempted to do what we want to do, yet their are consequences for our actions and choices.
December 29, 2019
IRA book. Enjoyed other books by Allen Say (Grandfathers Journey), but I didn’t care for this one. The premise is to follow your dreams. The plot and characters are so under-developed that it’s hard to enjoy.
July 2, 2023
BEAUTIFUL art... absolutely didn't understand the story. *Shrug.*
Booklist says it's "a tribute to many modern artists, including Hopper, Warhol, and Magritte." While I saw Hopper, I didn't see Warhol or Magritte at all... *Shrug.*
Booklist says it's "a tribute to many modern artists, including Hopper, Warhol, and Magritte." While I saw Hopper, I didn't see Warhol or Magritte at all... *Shrug.*
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September 30, 2023This book is over showing how the life in Japan is over time. you can use "The Sign Painter" to teach students about different art techniques and styles. Encourage them to create their own artwork inspired by the book's illustrations.
September 15, 2024
Another book that looks like a children's picture book. Perhaps somewhat autobiographical. It's good to know what you want to do. It's nice to get paid to do it. And sometimes its just a job and you are just passing through. Beautiful art as always.
October 20, 2017
I found this a beautiful book about a dream, that is not presented to be a dream yet it is one. It's a beautifully illustrated story that makes one think about dreams and aspirations.
December 13, 2017
I'm not quite sure I got the entire message, but the story and illustrations were nice.
October 11, 2018
I loved the illustrations. I believe it was about following your dreams. A sign painter who wanted to be a artist.
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August 9, 2019Beautiful and surreal.
Want to read
September 1, 2019CURRICULUM: RR/Classics
March 23, 2020
Wonderful story and illustrations!
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December 1, 2022A wandering boy finds a job painting signs...for a while.
February 13, 2023
An amazing compilation of words, color illustrations and imagination. Is the story an account of actual events or is it all a dream?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews