A Japanese American writer and illustrator, Allen Say's personal history and unique vision have combined to bring exceptional depth and scope to the genre of children's picture books. His work addresses an array of personal and social issues related to ageism, sexism, cross-cultural and intergenerational conflict, and foreign adoption, to name a few. This study attempts to bring a level of scholarship to the discussion of three of Say's major works: Tea with Milk (1999), Kamishibai Man (2005), and Home of the Brave (2002). Each story draws upon themes central to Say's own personal narrative, themes reflective of an often difficult existence caught between the cultures of the United States and Japan. My accompanying project, a children's picture book titled Okinawan O-miyage, attempts to incorporate my own personal narrative as an American resident of Japan, using images, real and imagined, from the beautiful island and surrounding waters of Okinawa.