The Harmonica by Tony Johnston

The Harmonica by Tony Johnston

I am not really sure that this book is age appropriate for the picture book age group (1-6) even though it is classified as a picture book.
I feel shaken by it and I'm far, far above the age group targeted.

A little Jewish boy gets a harmonica from his father because they can't afford a piano, or much of anything. He and his parents love music, love Schubert, and the boy learns to play on his harmonica and his parents dance. That is until the Nazi invasion of Poland. He is separated from his parents and sent to a concentration camp where he manages to hold on to his beloved harmonica.

The boy is aware his parents are dead and when the commandant of the camp finds out about the boy's ability to play Schubert on it he makes the boy play for him and gives the boy extra bread. This makes the boy feel dirty and bad. Until he learns that the other prisoners can hear it and it gives them hope. So he plays his little heart out.

Touching and moving and just plain heartbreaking.

(read March 2, 2013)