The Bear and the Piano by D. Litchfield

Litchfield, David.  The Bear and the Piano.  Clarion Books, 2016.In this folio sized volume, David Litchfield presents a charming story and some amazing artwork.  You first notice the light in the forest, where the bear finds a piano and begins teaching himself to play. Then as you follow his career as a concert pianist, you see the extraordinary light in the city, with a spotlight on his picture outside the theatre, above the marquee that reads “The Bear and the Piano.”  Inside Litchfield captures the light and dark of an old tiered theatre, with the bear in a tuxedo seated at a grand piano.  The music messages in the story are as charming as the images.  Although the bear is very successful as a concert pianist, he misses the forest and his friends.  When he returns home, he discovers that his friends have not forgotten him and when he plays for them he knows that they are “the most important audience of all.” The text and the images work well together.  This book should be included in school libraries and public libraries.Highly recommended:  4 stars out of 4Reviewer:  Sean BorleSean Borle is a University of Alberta undergraduate student who is an advocate for child health and safety