ReaditDaddy's First Book of the Week - Week Ending 6th May 2016 - "The Bear and The Piano" by David Litchfield (Frances Lincoln Children's Books)

Our first Book of the Week this week was one of those books we just knew would be special the moment we set eyes on the cover. We weren't disappointed...
David Litchfield's truly sublime "The Bear and the Piano" is destined to become a well-loved classic. A tiny bear cub discovers a strange object standing on its own deep in the forest. When the bear approaches the object, and gently touches it, the object makes a terrible noise.

The bear is startled - but there's something about this 'thing' that draws him back day after day.

The bear grows into a fine and strong grizzly bear, and every time he comes back to the strange object and plays with it, sweeter sounds issue forth from its vine-encrusted wooden case. Soon other bears gather to hear him play, and soon a young girl and her father discover the bear playing haunting melodies, and tell him what the object is.

"It's a piano!" the girl says. The girl and her father tell the bear of their world, of the music and song and of the many pianos the bear could come and play if he came with them.

The bear and the piano - just so achingly beautiful it makes our hearts soar!

The bear is torn between his friends and family and life in the forest, or the lure of exploring beyond the trees and into the city with its bright lights and new experiences. The bear just cannot resist...

Word of the bear's amazing musical talents spreads far and wide, and soon he's a superstar! Before long, the bear becomes a superstar pianist with his face and name all over broadway. His performances are always packed to the rafters, and he's a massive success. But what of his friends and family back in the forest?

Sometimes fame can bring loneliness... The bear realises that he misses home - but will he be welcomed with open arms when he goes back to the forest?  We'll leave you to discover the rest of this truly gorgeous book yourself.  Reading the end notes, I was pleasantly surprised to find that David Litchfield's inspiration came from music (and not the sort of music you'd immediately associate with this book but some nice loud brassy White Stripes stuff: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OqveSybH0A)

When reading it, I kept thinking of the first classical music I bought - an album of Erik Satie's piano music (which you'll instantly recognise as soon as you hear it, even if you don't recognise the name: Erik Satie - Gymnopédie No.1 - YouTube)

"The Bear and the Piano" delivers its message in such a stylish and heartfelt way that it's virtually impossible not to fall hopelessly in love with it. We may be fashionably late to the party in reviewing it but we can now fully understand why so many other book bloggers and reviewers are calling this their book of the year. It's absolutely stunning.

Charlotte's favourite bit: Bear's first sellout performance on the big stage with all the excited audience looking on agog as he plays.

Daddy's favourite bit: There are so many things to love about this book. I particularly loved the expressions on Bear's face as he first goes through a stage of curiosity, learning about this odd object that he finds in the forest - and then his expression as he begins to play to his first audiences. The best one though is the one when he returns home to play for his friends and family. Truly, truly beautiful.

(Kindly sent to us for review by Frances Lincoln Children's Books)

"The Bear and the Piano"

Written and Illustrated by David Litchfield

Published by Frances Lincoln Children's Books

Publication Date: 3rd February 2016