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3 ⭐This book is an ode to Isamu, not a biography. If one reads this story, as a story, it is quite nice. It is about a child‘s view of wonder. If one is reading it as a biography about the artist Isamu, one will be highly disappointed. As there is very little, almost nothing about the artist. This is all about how the artist viewed life. It‘s an interesting read, but not one that readers would gravitate to over and over again.

You think about how you were alone but not lonely.

This book could be used as the start of a group discussion because of the many different things the boys mind wonders upon.

The Asian Pacific award book, A boy named Isamu was a cute read but wasn‘t my all time favorite. I believe the theme had to do with it being okay to need your own space to let your mind wonder and explore different things. It was shown in a way but I believe other books could be used better.

“Maybe there is a quiet space that feels more like you.”

i really enjoyed the illustrations in the book. The illustrations went along very well the the text and it helped tell the story.

award: asian pacific award
I didn‘t love this book. It was readable and it had a lesson but I wish it had more to the story.

This book won the Asian/Pacific Literature Award and was published in 2021. This book has so many amazing illustrations inside, full of so much color. It shows just how much imagination one child can have when they can create something of their own.

I was thinking about how big Isamu‘s imagination is in the story and just how big every child‘s imagination can be when we allow them to dream and create their own worlds.

“Your mother asks you about your day. You think about how you were alone but not lonely.”

“Bamboo can be many things, but you know it‘s meant to be played like a flute.”

I liked the illustrations in this book and how they represented what Isamu was thinking/envisioning.

This 2021 book was based off of a famous Japanese American artist. The book describes how Isamu is entranced by different colors, shapes, and textures of everyday objects, and how he sees them in other ways. I liked this book, however I wish it went more in depth as to why Isamu viewed things a certain way, as this would give a better understanding of his artistic perspective. This book won the Asian Pacific American Literature award (APALA).

“ You think about how you were alone but not lonely.”

This book allows readers to take a step back and look at the world and all it offers us. In the story, Isamu is fascinated with the little things that are around him in his daily life. Isamu encourages deeper thinking as he questions nature and the setting around him.

This book is an honor book of the Asian / Pacific American Literature Award (2021). A boy named Isamu tells a simple story from the point of view of a small boy in a big world.