Winner of the Illustrated category of The Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2016.
A young bear cub finds a piano in the forest and after a first hesitant ‘PLONK’, he returns to it every day for years until he has grown strong, and the sounds that he makes on the piano are melodic and beautiful. The other bears love listening to him but one day a girl and her father overhear his concert and persuade him to go with them to the city and play in front of thousands. Swapping the tranquillity of the forest for the bright lights of Broadway brings the bear fame, but he misses his friends and decides to return to play again for the most important audience of all. It’s a beautiful story, and illustrates perfectly the effect of music on performer and audience. Litchfield’s illustrations are very special indeed: he plays beautifully with light and shade, in both the forest and concert hall scenes, to create atmosphere and to illuminate his hero and his message. ~ Andrea Reece
Share The Bear and the Piano with even the youngest children using this special board book edition. The first book in the best-selling, award-winning 'Bear and the Piano' trilogy.
Winner of the Waterstones Children's Book Prize, Illustrated Book Category for 2016
Over 120,000 copies have been sold of The Bear and the Piano in the UK.
One day, a young bear stumbles upon something he has never seen before in the forest. As time passes, he teaches himself how to play the strange instrument, and eventually the beautiful sounds are heard by a father and son who are picnicking in the woods. The bear goes with them on an incredible journey to New York, where his piano playing makes him a huge star. He has fame, fortune and all the music in the world, but he misses the friends and family he has left behind. This best-selling tale of exploration and belonging, which won the Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2016, Illustrated Book Category, is now available in board book.
The Bookseller - 'Winner of the Waterstones Children's Book Prize and a personal favourite. Now in board format.'
**Don't miss David Litchfield's other books: The Bear and the Piano [1] The Bear, the Piano, The Dog and the Fiddle [2] The Bear, the Piano and Little Bear's Concert [3] Grandad's Secret Giant Lights on Cotton Rock
‘One of the most distinctive and original book debuts of the autumn.’ The Bookseller: Selected for the Children'?s Special Picture Book category
‘…His vivid, atmospheric scenes of forest and city are imagined on a vast scale, but there is an accessible warmth and humanity to them.'? - Editor’s Picture Book choice, selected as a Highlight of the Season in the Children'?s Autumn Buyer'?s Guide.
‘We love the distinctive art style and the charming concept! Within the book, lessons about exploration and belonging are learned.’ Selected by The Reading Room for Top 10 Children'?s Books to Get Excited About for Children'?s Book Week
Author
About David Litchfield
David Litchfield is an illustrator from Bedfordshire in the UK . David first started to draw when he was very young, creating Star Wars and Indiana Jones ‘mash-up’ comics for his older brother and sister. He is the creator of the award-winning, best-selling The Bear and the Piano trilogy, as well as numerous other picture books. His other picture books include Grandad’s Secret Giant, Lights on Cotton Rock and Kid Christmas. David lives in Bedford with his family.
