The Harmonica
by Tony Johnston
List Price:
Buy Used: from $1.44 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Tony JohnstonIllustrator: Ron Mazellan
Edition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2004-02
ISBN: 1570915474
Number of pages: 32
Reading Level: Ages 4-8
Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing
Book Reviews of The Harmonica
Book Review: The Harmonica
Summary: 3 Stars
This book is essentially an earnest and well-illustrated poem, although it is difficult to imagine who might ever choose to read it. It falls under the category of "Illustrated Books About the Holocaust", but it is too depressing for youngsters, and too obscure for older students. The notes at the end tell us that the book was inspired by the true story of Henryk Rosmaryn, who survived a concentration camp with the help of his talent on the harmonica. The poem that constitutes this story relates the sorrowful tale of a contented, poor, but musical family that is destroyed by the Holocaust. Most of the lines are bleak, such as:
"Often, to keep from losing hope, I touched the harmonica,
cold inside my pocket.
I wept when I thought of my father and mother.
I awoke jolted from sleep. And I knew--
My parents were dead.
Then I played Shubert.
Played and played while my heart reeled.
The boy in the story plays Shubert on his harmonica for the camp commandant, who tosses him bread, and thus he manages to stay alive. There is also the hope that the boy's music has also managed to uplift the spirits of other prisoners at the camp. The illustrations are well done but dark, especially the painting of the commandant with his black dogs and whip. In general, a curious choice for publication in a genre that is saturated with too many dreary books of this kind. Recommended only for ages 12 -up who are interested in the Holocaust.
Children's Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Audiobooks on Cassette
- Audiobooks on CD
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- e-Books
- Engineering
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Medicine
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Suggested Reading Holocaust books
Swing KidsBUENA VISTA HOME VIDEO; Release date: 2002-09-03; DVD
Best price: $4.09
Price in other shops:
The Wave by Alexander GrasshoffRelease date: 2008-01-24; DVD
Best price: $15.99
Price in other shops:
One Survivor RemembersRelease date: 2005-10-29; DVD
Best price: $19.95
Price in other shops:
UprisingWarner Brothers; Release date: 2001-12-18; DVD
Best price: $9.99
Price in other shops:
Biography - Anne Frank: The Life of a Young Girl (A&E DVD Archives)Release date: 2004-08-10; DVD
Best price: $2.98
Price in other shops:
Poems of Elly Gross: Memories of a Holocaust Survivorby Elly Berkovits Gross
Elly Gross; Published: 2005-08-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $11.04
Price in other shops:
I Have Lived A Thousand Years: Growing Up In The Holocaustby Livia Bitton-Jackson
Simon Pulse; Published: 1999-03-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.47
Price in other shops:
Terrible Things: An Allegory of the Holocaustby Eve Bunting
Jewish Publication Society of America; Published: 1989-09; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.12
Price in other shops:
The Harmonicaby Tony Johnston
Charlesbridge Publishing; Published: 2004-02; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $7.50
Price in other shops:
Rose Blanche (Creative Paperbacks)by Roberto Innocenti
Creative Paperbacks Inc; Published: 1985-08-31; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.76
Price in other shops:
Similar books summaries and other product reviews
The Little Boy Star: An Allegory of the Holocaustby Rachel Hausfater
Milk & Cookies Press; Published: 2006-04-25; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $10.32
Price in other shops:
Rose Blanche (Creative Paperbacks)by Roberto Innocenti
Creative Paperbacks Inc; Published: 1985-08-31; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.76
Price in other shops:
Luba: The Angel of Bergen-Belsen (Jane Addams Honor Book (Awards))by Luba Tryszynska-Frederick
Tricycle Press; Published: 2004-03-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $11.07
Price in other shops:
Willy and Max: A Holocaust Storyby Amy Littlesugar
Philomel; Published: 2006-03-16; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $7.89
Price in other shops:
I Never Saw Another Butterflyby Hana Volavkova
Schocken; Published: 1994-03-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.62
Price in other shops:
The Cats in Krasinski Squareby Karen Hesse
Scholastic Press; Published: 2004-09-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $8.96
Price in other shops:
The Butterflyby Patricia Polacco
Puffin; Published: 2009-02-05; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.48
Price in other shops:
Erika's Storyby Ruth Vander Zee
Creative Editions; Published: 2003-08-31; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $11.30
Price in other shops:
Star of Fear, Star of Hopeby Jo Hoestlandt
Walker Books for Young Readers; Published: 1996-01-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.42
Price in other shops:
Terrible Things: An Allegory of the Holocaustby Eve Bunting
Jewish Publication Society of America; Published: 1989-09; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.64
Price in other shops: