The bear and the piano

Title:

Author:

Litchfield, David.

ISBN:

9780544674547

Personal Author:

Litchfield, David.

Publication Information:

Boston ; New York : Clarion Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016.

Physical Description:

30 unnumbered pages : color illustrations ; 31 cm

General Note:

"First published in the U.K. in 2015 by Frances Lincoln Children's Books."

Abstract:

"A bear finds a piano in the woods, learns to play it, and travels to the big city to become rich and famous, but ultimately discovers that his old friends in the forest back home are still the best audience of all"-- Provided by publisher.

Audience:

Preschool.

620 Lexile

Program Information:

Reading Counts! 2.5

Subject Term:

Bears -- Juvenile fiction.

Piano -- Juvenile fiction.

Music -- Juvenile fiction.

Friendship -- Juvenile fiction.

Document ID:

SD_ILS:2231928

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

Library	Collection	Collection	Call Number	Copy	Status
Searching... Bassett Library at Wawona (Mariposa Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Juvenile Easy Area	E LIT		Searching... Unknown
Searching... Clovis Branch Library (Fresno Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Children's Picture Book Area	L		Searching... Unknown
Searching... Clovis Branch Library (Fresno Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Story Collection--Staff Use Only	L	CLOVIS GRAB & GO BOX 07	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Coalinga District Library (Coalinga-Huron)	Searching... Unknown	Juvenile Easy	E LIT		Searching... Unknown
Searching... Corcoran Branch Library (Kings Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Child - Picture Books	JE LITCHFIELD		Searching... Unknown
Searching... El Portal Branch (Mariposa Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Juvenile Easy Area	E LIT		Searching... Unknown
Searching... Fig Garden Branch (Fresno Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Children's Picture Book Area	L		Searching... Unknown
Searching... Frazier Park Branch (Kern Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Children's Picture Books	E LIT		Searching... Unknown
Searching... Kettleman City Branch (Kings Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Child - Picture Books	JE LITCHFIELD		Searching... Unknown
Searching... Kings County Pop Up Library (Kings Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Child - Picture Books	JE LITCHFIELD		Searching... Unknown
Searching... Kingsburg Branch Library (Fresno Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Children's Picture Book Area	L		Searching... Unknown
Searching... Madera County Library (Madera Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Children's Picture Books	LITCHFIELD		Searching... Unknown
Searching... Mariposa Branch Library (Mariposa Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Juvenile Easy Area	E LIT		Searching... Unknown
Searching... Mcfarland Branch Library (Kern Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Children's Picture Books	E LIT		Searching... Unknown
Searching... Oakhurst Branch (Madera Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Children's Picture Books	LITCHFIELD		Searching... Unknown
Searching... Porterville Public Library (Porterville)	Searching... Unknown	Picture Books Area	LITCHFIELD AR 3.5		Searching... Unknown
Searching... Rathbun Branch Library (Kern Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Children's Picture Books	E LIT		Searching... Unknown
Searching... Sunnyside Branch Library (Fresno Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Children's Picture Book Area	L		Searching... Unknown
Searching... Visalia Library (Tulare Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Children's Picture Books	E LITCHFIE DAVID		Searching... Unknown
Searching... Wilson Road Branch (Kern Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Children's Picture Books	E LIT		Searching... Unknown

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Summary

One day, a bear cub finds something strange and wonderful in the forest. When he touches the keys, they make a horrible noise. Yet he is drawn back again and again. Eventually, he learns to play beautiful sounds, delighting his woodland friends.

Then the bear is invited to share his sounds with new friends in the city. He longs to explore the world beyond his home, and to play bigger and better than before. But he knows that if he leaves, the other bears will be very sad . . .

This gorgeously illustrated tale of following one's dreams reminds us of the value of friendship, wherever we go.

Author Notes

David Litchfield creates his artwork using a variety of traditional techniques, then digitally assembling the components. The Bear and the Piano, his first book, was inspired by his love of music and forests, and by the White Stripes' song "Little Room." He lives in the United Kingdom. Visit his website at www.davidlitchfieldillustration.com .

Reviews (4)

School Library Journal Review

PreS-Gr 2-A young bear finds a piano in the middle of the forest and begins to play. Initially turned off by the awful sound, he leaves but soon returns to try again. The bear continues to practice for years and years until he can play like a virtuoso. Not only does his playing give him immense pleasure but the other bears are enchanted as well. When a boy and a girl discover the bear's amazing talent, they convince him to move to the city. Sad to leave his friends but excited to explore another world, he ventures forth and becomes a sensation. After much fame and accolades, the bear realizes that he misses his friends and decides to return home. He is heartsick when he can't find his piano in the woods and assumes they have all forgotten him. Happiness is restored when he learns his friends have kept the piano in the shade to protect it and were eagerly awaiting his return. Litchfield's debut picture book is a visual feast. Using a variety of different techniques and then digitally assembling them, he has produced a story filled with verdant and luminous images that create an enchanting atmosphere. The story encourages young ones to follow their dreams and pursue their unique talents. VERDICT A wonderful addition for all collections.-Amy Nolan, St. Joseph Public Library, St. Joseph, MI © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Publisher's Weekly Review

After finding a piano in the woods, a brown bear teaches himself to play (even though he doesn't know what it is, exactly), going on to wow his fellow bears and, later, the world. Newcomer Litchfield explores the life of a musician from several angles: the necessity of practice (after "days and weeks and months of years" of playing, "the sounds that came from the strange thing were beautiful"), the allure of fame, and the loneliness of leaving home, even when one's name and face are plastered across Broadway. The bear achieves stratospheric success (platinum records, sold-out shows), and after he returns to his forest (still wearing a rumpled tuxedo), he discovers that his brethren have been proudly following his career, not resenting his absence. Litchfield's multilayered mixed-media illustrations gracefully portray dappled forest groves, the energy of a packed concert hall, and the simultaneous bustle and solitude of city life. The bear's emotions-contentment, pride, uncertainty, relief-are captured with equal skill in a tenderly moving story about embracing one's potential while remembering one's roots. Ages 4-7. Agent: Anne Moore Armstrong, Bright Group. (Apr.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Kirkus Review

In the forest, a little bear discovers an object he's never seen beforea piano. At first the cub isn't sure about the strange device, but over time he comes to love the instrument and the music. The other animals in the bear's forest home delight in his talent, but he dreams of bigger things. When the opportunity comes to play in the city, it's a hard decision, but off he goes, and stardom awaits. The bear becomes famous beyond his wildest dreams. He finds great success, but eventually he comes to miss his home. He returns, nervous that his friends may be angry with him for leaving, but instead he finds the entire forest beaming with pride for all he has accomplished. This is one of those rare books that children can return to again and again through the years, each time finding new meaning appropriate to their varying ages and stages. In the emotive, whimsical illustrations readers will sense the bear's hesitation to leave the forest, his exaltation at playing in grand concert halls, and his longing to return home. The forest seems to sparkle on the page when the bear returns to play for his friends once more. Litchfield's poignant debut picture book celebrates both the wonders of wandering far in pursuit of one's dreams and the sweet comfort of returning home. (Picture book. 4-9) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Booklist Review

One bright day, a young bear finds something strange in the middle of the forest: a piano. It makes a horrible sound when he touches it, but his curiosity is piqued. Day after day he returns, and as he grows, so does his skill at the instrument. All the other bears in the forest love to come hear him play, and eventually, a father and a daughter hiking in the woods overhear him and convince him to play in the big city. But no matter how much fame and acclaim he gets and the glorious two-page spread of him playing at a Broadway concert suggests a lot of it the bear still finds himself missing his friends. The story is a fairly standard tale of leaving and returning home, but the mixed-media illustrations are luminous. From the ivy-covered piano in a forest clearing to the stars winking over the city at night, the spreads are highly detailed and lovingly crafted. Young readers will find much to look at in city and forest scenes alike.--Reagan, Maggie Copyright 2016 Booklist