The Piano
Set in the deep South of the early 1900s, an African American girl learns to play the piano from her white employer and their mutual love of music rewards them with a friendship that transcends age and race.
Tia loves music. She walks the summer streets searching for new sounds and different kinds of music that will transport her from the hot, dry town where she lives to imaginary places filled with castles, mountains, and deep snow.
One day, Tia wanders into the white section of town. Soon she is transfixed by a wonderful melody that drifts towards her from one of the houses. Without thinking, Tia accepts a maid's job from Miss Hartwell, the woman who lives there, just so she can hear more of the music.
The Piano is an uplifting story of caring, friendship, and the connections that can develop between people, no matter how different their ages and backgrounds.
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William Miller is the award-winning author of numerous books for children for Lee & Low. Mr. Miller lives in York, Pennsylvania, where he teaches African American literature and creative writing at York College.
Susan Keeter studied fine art and illustration at Syracuse University. Her paintings have appeared in children's magazines and she has illustrated several books and stories for educational publishers. Ms. Keeter lives in Syracuse, New York, with her husband and their daughter. The Piano is her first book for Lee & Low.
"The Piano is an inspiring story of a young African American girl and an older white woman who form a bond and a friendship through their mutual love of music. It is a friendship that transcends age and race. A first selection for any collection." -- Multicultural Review
"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." -- School Library Journal
In this gentle story set in the early 1900s, music brings a young African American girl and an elderly white woman together. Miller lightly touches on segregation and contrasts Tia's caring attitude toward Miss Hartwell to Johnny's - "All white people's money is the same. I don't care which I get it from" - but the story emphasizes a relationship that transcends age and class. Keeter's oil paintings enhance the gentle mood. Two-page spreads make space for the pictures to illustrate the text and expand the setting. . . A lovely book with an understated message. -- Kirkus Reviews
Alabama Author Awards - Alabama Library Association
Notable Books for a Global Society - International Literacy Association (ILA)
