Friendship

Though I am not sure about how the book ended, it was an overall good book on friendship. It shows that two people do not have to be exactly alike to enjoy each other's company. It shows a low point in their friendship and how one friend deals with the situation. ( )

The Cardboard Piano is about two best friends, Debbie and Tina, who learn that they can have different interests and still be best friends. The two girls have different backgrounds and opinions, but come together to find common interests and similarities. That is a very welcome and relevant message that would be well received and an excellent topic of discussion for a class. Also, there is a fun use imagination when the cardboard piano is built, and that is just nice to see represented in a book. The illustrations are very fun, colorful, and detailed. A lot of the story is told through word bubbles above each of the characters, which I thought was an interesting way of giving each character a different voice. The ending is subtle, the girls go back to playing together with a common interest. At first I believed it was a little unresolved, then I realized it was settled the way most children's' conflicts are settled, without saying sorry but still forgiving one another. I think this book is a good read that will lead to valuable class discussions. ( )

The Cardboard Piano was a very good book demonstrating how children view friendships. Watching children make up without even saying the words I'm sorry, is a beautiful relationship to watch, and this book reflects the true visual of personally watching that type of relationship first hand. It teaches children that they will not always agree on everything, but that doesn't mean they still can not evolve as friends. The author demonstrates what it truly means to be a friend, and how it is okay to disagree. The author carefully scripted the narrative so the reader can go through the process of looking at another person's point of view just as Debbie did when she didn't quite understand why Tina did not like the cardboard piano. This was a really good book. ( )

Summary:
This is a story about two bestfriends Debbie and Tina. Both girls did everything together. Debbie was starting to learn to play the piano but Tina was not. Debbie wanted Tina to learn how so she worked hard for a long time making Tina a cardboard piano that looked so real. After Tina took it home and tried it she was not happy with it because it was not like playing the real thing, she could not hear any sound. So Tina decided to give it back to Debbie.
Debbie was upset at first, but then both girls started going back to doing everything together again.

Personal Experience:
I can remember as a kid some of my friends getting to do things that I was unable to do and it was upsetting. I could also remember doing other things with my bestfriend and we were unseperable.

Classroom Extension:
1. I would have the students explain how they would feel if they worked hard on something and that person did not want it.
2. Have the students give examples of what they do together with their bestfriends. ( )