“Kamishibai” means “paper theater” in Japan. The kamishibai man once traveled by bicycle with his theater and homemade sweets, telling stories to the crowds of children who would gather around when they heard him call. Allen Say’s story opens with an elderly kamishibai man who takes his long unused theater down into the city for the first time in years. In his mind he can still recall how the children were once always eager for treats and the latest installment of his story. The old man is young again as Allen Say’s paintings flash back to those times when the children still came to his call. Then television antennas started to appear on rooftops, and children lost interest in his tales. As the kamishibai man ends his reminiscences, he hears applause and looks up to find a crowd has gathered once again. It is a crowd of adults, and they begin excitedly recalling those childhood visits from the kamishibai man, and are eager to hear his stories once again. (Ages 5–8)

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.