Title: The Ghost in the Piano
Author: Nandita da Cunha
Illustrator: Neha Rawat
Publisher: Daffodil Lane Books
Type: Paperback
Length: 36 pages
Recommended Age Group: 4-8 years
I remember the day the book parcel arrived. When I told my five-year-old that the book was called ‘The Ghost in the Piano’, she stopped what she was doing and stared at me. “GHOST??”
I said, “Yes, baby, but I think you’ll like this one. Let’s read it at bedtime.”
I could see she was eager and curious, but there was also a little bit of fear.
Come bedtime, both of us approached this with some trepidation. Now, when my little one is unsure about something, she sticks to my side as we read. She was hugging me tightly as we started this one.
The book begins with…
Ting-tong, ting-tong, ting-tong bells
Dance along with me…
Lia, the main character, is supposed to play this song on her piano at her school concert. However, she faces the thing most of us dread—stage fright. She completely panics upon seeing multiple faces in the audience staring back at her. Disheartened, she runs off the stage.
What follows is a series of moments showing her throwing herself into everything else possible, avoiding the one thing she once loved most—playing the piano. Just looking at a piano in her house brings back unpleasant memories.
Then one day, she hears some off-key piano sounds going Plink Plonk in the middle of the night! What could that be? I could feel chills going up my arms as I read ahead. But I had to put on a brave front for my daughter.
This continues for a few days, as Lia feels a growing pull towards her piano. Will she be able to overcome her stage fright? Will she also be brave enough to face the fear of the unknown? If yes, how? What are the elements that help her do this? The book’s ending will bring a smile to your face and make your little one giggle. But wait, could that really be the end…??
My thoughts about the book:
As soon as I sang out the first line of the book, I could sense a change in my daughter’s body language. Each and every page kept us on our toes, wondering what would happen next. She visibly relaxed towards the end. Lots of feelings were felt with this one—from sadness, empathy, and fear to relief and happiness. There are some very catchy hooks throughout the book. The PLINKKKKK PLONKK of the piano keys brings in that suspense, while the ting-tong bells will have you nodding and singing along.
The illustrations are beautiful and nostalgic. They brought back memories of houses with tiled roofs and palm trees in my native place in Goa—bread for meals and the particular clothes they wear. Uff, what a happy feeling.
The author has also cleverly hidden a few Easter eggs throughout. You can go back after you finish reading and discover them.
Finding Your Song When the World Is Watching
The book teaches children about fear and finding the courage to face it. Stage fright creates a mental block, making it hard to do the thing you love. You will want to run in the opposite direction.
It’s a beautiful book, and once again, my daughter and I found it so relatable. I despise public speaking to this day. I can’t speak when all eyes are on me. The same goes for my kiddo. She practices her songs and dances but refuses to perform them in class. She needs her teacher to join in, too.
My kiddo loved that Lia was passionate about playing the piano. She said Lia must be having so much fun doing it! She was upset at the beginning, but then listened keenly, with intent, as if she were taking notes on how to become more confident.
This is a lovely book about rediscovering your passion and focusing on what brings you joy instead of wondering what others will say.
If you enjoyed this review and are curious about the PLINKKKKK PLONKK of the piano keys, you should really order the book from Amazon (kbc affiliate link),
CLICK & BUY NOW!Disclaimer: Ruchelle and her daughter are a part of the #kbcReviewerSquad and received this book as a review copy from the author and publisher via kbc.
