- rich illustrations complementing the text, showcasing delightful characters, and imbuing love and joy. I especially love Goodman's portrayal of Roberta--her little dresses and patent leather shoes, her adorable afro-puff, and her eagerness to play her new piano even before the paint is dry. They really made me wide-smile.
- the sparce text, which reads like a song
- the infusion of facts about the singer's life without info-dumping
- the symbolism of the green piano (To me, the piano epitomizes being rich despite being poor, making the best of one's circumstances, being grateful, a parents' love for their child, and a child's love for music.)

Growing up in a Blue Ridge mountain town, little Roberta didn’t have fancy clothes or expensive toys…but she did have music. And she dreamed of having her own piano.
When her daddy spies an old, beat-up upright piano in a junkyard, he knows he can make his daughter’s dream come true. He brings it home, cleans and tunes it, and paints it a grassy green. And soon the little girl has an instrument to practice on, and a new dream to reach for–one that will make her become a legend in the music industry.