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In a way, this small, 134-page book complements Dr. José Cárdenas’ larger Mulitcultural Education: A Generation of Advocacy published by Simon and Schuster. The multicultural education book is an anthology of 92 professional articles resulting from his 45 years as a professional educator. All Pianos Have Keys represents the lighter side of these 45 years.

“The seriousness of my professional life has been paralleled by extensive humor in my personal life. I enjoy a funny story and a good joke,” writes Cárdenas in the preface.

The first eight articles deal with the lighter side of his life. They include personal anecdotes from childhood to adulthood. The second section consists of 12 anecdotes where humor and professional seriousness have intersected. The last section consists of nine articles on a variety of professional topics addressed in a lighter context than is possible in professional publications.

As IDRA celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023, we re-released this popular memoir (that is now out of print) by our founder.