Leo’s Gift

A boy discovers a talent for playing piano in Blackaby and Cicciarelli’s touching story, which is only tangentially connected to the holidays. Leo enjoys spying on his older sister Meredith’s piano lessons; after one session she teaches him a few basics—and he launches into the Mozart sonata she had been playing. For reasons not entirely clear, the siblings keep Leo’s musical abilities secret from their parents, though he eventually shares his gift at Meredith’s holiday recital. The authors attempt to fit a bit too much into this story, including Meredith’s passion for basketball, guidance Leo receives from a school music teacher, and the role of Meredith’s piano instructor’s mother with a memory disorder. But messages about the power of music and the rewards of discovering and sharing one’s talent come through clearly in the thoughtful narration and Schuler’s equally sensitive mixed-media images. Ages 8–12. [em](Oct.) [/em]