The Bear and the Piano

Where it came from

David Litchfield started drawing as a child, creating comics about Star Wars and Indiana Jones for his older siblings. He went on to become a professional illustrator, working from an attic in his Bedford home. The Bear and the Piano was his first author/illustrator picture book for children.

Where it went next

The Bear and the Piano has won several awards, including the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize for Best Illustrated Book in 2016.

Associated stories

The Bear, the Piano, the Dog and the Fiddle was published as a sequel to the book in 2018.  Litchfield has since gone on to create many much-loved picture books including Grandad’s Secret Giant, Lights On Cotton Rock, The Bear, The Piano & Little Bear’s Concert, and Kid Christmas: Of The Claus Brothers Toyshop.

Litchfield has also illustrated books for authors including Ross Montgomery, Gregory Maguire, David Almond and Smriti Halls, as well as cover art for Kate DiCamillo, Neil Patrick Harris, Chloe Daykin and many others.