Piano [Hardcover]

William Miller (Author), Susan Keeter (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Set in the deep South of the early 1900s, this is the story of an African-American girl who learns to play the piano from her white employer. In return, she shows the elderly woman the power of friendship and caring. Luminous oil paintings skillfully evoke the mood and the time.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Set in the early 1900s, Miller's (Night Golf) ultimately tender story opens on an unconvincing note. Tia, an African-American girl, loves music so much that "when she heard music, she forgot where she lived, how old she was, and where she went to school." One steamy summer day, walking through the white section of town in search of "new sounds, different music," she hears a melody that makes her think of "castles, mountains, and deep new snow." Fortunately, the author drops the hyperbole and flowery language as his story takes a more credible turn: Tia accepts a job as maid to the woman whose house is the source of the tantalizing music. Miss Hartwell has a piano as well as a phonograph and agrees to teach Tia notes and scales. Her hands, however, are painfully stiff. Tia offers to rub them with warm, salty water, as she does for her mother who works in the cotton mill. In an ending that just barely avoids the overly sentimental, Tia's employer returns the favor when the girl's own fingers ache after a day of heavy housework. Though some portraits of characters are wooden, Keeter's (I'm a Girl) oil paintings for the most part capture the deepening bond between these unlikely friends. Ages 4-up. (June)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-5-At the beginning of the 20th century, young Tia enjoys roaming free in her safe African-American section of a small Southern community. When she wanders into the white section of town, she is enchanted by a new and beautiful sound coming from a large mansion. Thinking that she has come for a maid's job, a young handyman invites the girl in and introduces her to Miss Hartwell, the elderly resident. Smitten by the music, Tia agrees to take the job and is awed by the shiny grand piano in the parlor. The two become fond of one another and Miss Hartwell agrees to teach the girl to play. Tia soothes Miss Hartwell's arthritic fingers using a remedy learned at home, and the woman returns the favor when Tia's hands become sore from heavy work. The bond between the two is developed naturally and never seems forced or out of place. The oil paintings reinforce the mood of the story. The street scenes and the typically furnished wealthy home of the period are depicted in detail. The characters are brought to life and Tia's warm, open innocence is evident in the expressive artwork. This is a gentle story depicting a friendship that crosses age and racial barriers.
Marlene Gawron, Orange County Library, Orlando, FL
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Lee & Low Books (April 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1880000989
• ISBN-13: 978-1880000984
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,386,433 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Exellent book with positive values, October 14, 2011

By 

John Scott "John Scott" (Newark, NJ, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Piano (Paperback)

This is a story of music and love which is warm, poisitve and softly illustrated. It teaches positive valuse of racial harmony, self-scarifice, the value of hardwork and the friendship between black and white, old and young. It guides children towards loving relationships and to encourage a positive interest in music. Simple illustrations but with sufficient detail to interest a child or adult. 100% positive message, great for children, girls, African American viewpiont. Good for grdaes 2 to 3. It can also be read by teacher or parent to a 1st grader.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellet Book, September 12, 2010

By 

Shopper Proctor "L Proctor" (MA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Piano (Hardcover)

Will purchase from this seller again. Shipping was on time and product was in the condition stated in the description.