The Harmonica, written by Tony Johnston and illustrated by Ron Mazellan. Charlesbridge, 2004. $18.95 ages 10 and up

"I cannot remember
my father's face,
or my mother's,
but I remember their love,
warm and enfolding
as a song."

My Aunt Grace is our family storyteller, and she often has us writhing with laughter as she explains early family events and her thoughts on the world. When celebrating a birthday not too long ago, she had a request. She thought she might like to learn how to play the harmonica. She's 82 and it seemed an appropriate wish for someone who so delights in life and laughter. To that end, I determined to find her a book that would go along with her birthday gift...not a how-to book, just a book about harmonicas.

In my search I stumbled upon this remarkable, and heartbreaking, book about the Holocaust. You cannot read it without being moved by the young boy's story. You will hold it forever in your heart.

It begins with three people who have great love for each other, music and dance, and especially Schubert. They often listen to his music on their gramophone and dance with joy to the sound of his beautiful notes. Father tells of Schubert's life...how he lived without heat, with aching fingers but still he wrote what filled his heart. The boy dreams of being a musician, playing a piano and being forever happy. A piano is not possible for a poor family in Poland; but Father is able to find the money to buy his son a harmonica. Somewhere in the sound of that very special gift, the boy 'found Schubert'.

It is that glorious music that leads the Nazi soldiers to find the family, roust them from their home, separate them and send them to the death camps. The boy works, suffers and thinks constantly of his parents. His longing leads him back to music and he often plays before falling asleep. His playing is heard by the commandant who is surprisingly capable of loving beauty in the midst of the terror and tyranny that he inflicts upon the prisoners. Each evening the boy is directed to play, and is then given bread for his performance. He can barely live with himself for having more than the many who share his barracks. Then, one evening when he returns to his bed, another prisoner thanks him. Incredulous, he wants to know why. 'Schubert' is the answer. From then on, he draws strength from knowing that others are also hearing the beauty in the notes that he plays.

The artwork adds quiet depth, with the changing tones that follow the boy from the warmth and love of home to the depths of despair he feels in the camp. The double page spreads are textured and compelling. One shows the commandant with his hand over his heart while listening. In his other hand, a whip and at his feet, three menacing black dogs.

I have not yet found a book for Aunt Grace, but I did find this very special gift to my listeners and have shared it reverently with them. I hope that you will, too!