Playing from the Heart

Reviewed by: Jill O'Connor - North Yarmouth Academy Library, Yarmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: June 6, 2016

Review

On the surface, this is the story of a boy a piano. Raj finds the piano and plays it for the joy of it. When his father hears him play, he gets Raj a teacher and the boy eventually learns to play well, but the joy goes out of playing. When his father is old and ailing, Raj returns home and rediscovers his love for playing and he learns that one not only plays for joy within, but to bring joy to others. As one delves deeper into Reynolds's story and muted watercolor illustrations, there is more story to be discovered. Contemplative and nostalgic, this is the story of how children tap into youthful creativity and joy with an ease that gets lost as we age and that it can be tapped into again, even when we are older, if we give into the creativity and play/draw/create from the heart. It is a beautiful story that will resonate with children who understand the ease of that youthful creativity, but also with parents who understand what it is to miss the noise of their little ones. The end may bring a tear. A nice addition to a library collection with other Reynolds books, but one that may have to be placed in hands or read aloud and discussed in order to plumb the depths of the message.

Overall Book Score: good