The Red Piano

A beautiful and extraordinary account of international concert pianist Zhu Xiao-Mei’s hardships and triumphs while growing up during China’s Cultural Revolution

Stirring and inspiring, this picture book relates the story of a gifted young girl's passion for the piano in a time of historic turmoil. During China's Cultural Revolution a young girl is taken from her family and sent to a far-off labor camp. Forbidden to play the piano, she nevertheless finds a way of smuggling handwritten music into the camp and sneaking away at night to practice a piano in a secret location—until, one night, she is caught. Inspired by the amazing true story of international concert pianist Zhu Xiao-Mei, this acclaimed picture book poetically relates an astonishing story of perseverance set against a cataclysmic period of history.

About The Author

A chance meeting with the celebrated international concert pianist Zhu Xiao-Mei inspired André Leblanc to tell this story of her childhood in China. Barroux was a press illustrator for Forbes magazine, New York Times, and Washington Post. He is also the illustrator of numerous children's books, including the Emily and Alex series, Mr. Katapat's Incredible Adventures, My Goldfish, and Where's Mary's Hat?