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.
This is a sweet book with beautiful illustrations. The story is simple, but as a reader, you really care about the bear and are invested in its journey. As the mom of a child who plays an instrument, I wish there were more stories about learning to play music. In terms of lessons taught, this one hits a lot of high notes: learning to play well takes a lot of practice and hard work; playing music is inherently satisfying, regardless of your audience; and it's always a choice to play for others or just for yourself.
David Litchfield is an illustrator of children’s books, includingMiss Muffet, orWhat Came After by Marilyn Singer, and the creator of the award-winning picture book The Bear and the Piano.He lives in Bedfordshire in the United Kingdom.
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