The Kamishibai man used to ride his bicycle into town where he would
tell stories to the children and sell them candy, but gradually, fewer
and fewer children came running at the sound of his clappers. They were
all watching their new televisions instead. Finally, only one boy
remained, and he had no money for candy. Years later, the Kamishibai man
and his wife made another batch of candy, and he pedaled into town to
tell one more story--his own. When he comes out of the reverie of his
memories, he looks around to see he is surrounded by familiar faces--the
children he used to entertain have returned, all grown up and more eager
than ever to listen to his delightful tales.
Using two very different yet remarkable styles of art, Allen Say tells a
tale within a tale, transporting readers seamlessly to the Japan of his
memories.