The Bear and the Piano

The Bear and the Piano is a picture book by David Litchfield about a young bear who discovers a piano, finds fame in New York and misses the friends and family he left behind. Its themes of music, adventure, friendship and belonging give shared reading a clear story to discuss.

At a glance

First book in the Bear and the Piano trilogy, with a story centred on music, friendship and belonging.
The bear travels from the forest to New York after teaching himself to play a piano.
The listing says it won the Waterstones Children's Book Prize in the Illustrated Book category in 2016.

Price

£5.73Save 28%

Reference price: ~~£7.99~~

Price checked: 12 Nov 2026

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Pros and cons

Pros

A focused story about following a talent while recognising the importance of friends and family.
The supplied customer feedback praises the illustrations and says the book is enjoyable to reread with younger children.

Technical specifications

9 specifications

Book details
Publisher	Frances Lincoln Children's Books
Publication date	3 Feb. 2016
Edition	1st
Language	English
Print length	40 pages
Reading age	2 - 5 years, from customers
ISBN-13	978-1847807182

Dimensions and installation
Dimensions	21.79 x 0.41 x 29.59 cm
Weight listed	430 g

What to know before buying

Listing details to confirm

The reading-age range is described as coming from customers, so treat it as guidance rather than a publisher-stated age recommendation. The story's themes and 40-page length may suit shared reading, but the listing gives no reading-level assessment.

Who is it for?

A good fit for

Adults seeking an illustrated read-aloud about music, friendship and belonging for young children.
Families interested in the first book of the Bear and the Piano trilogy.

Less suited to

Buyers looking for an activity book, music instruction or a bundle of the full trilogy. The supplied listing describes a storybook and identifies this as the first volume.

The Bear and the Piano · photo 2 — Additional product photo 2

Customer reviews on Amazon

4.8 / 5 · 1,779 ratings

5 stars85%85%
4 stars10%10%
3 stars3%3%
2 stars1%1%
1 star1%1%

Customer feedback highlights the story’s themes of dreams, perseverance and friendship, along with praise for the illustrations and rereadability with younger children. The strong overall rating distribution is encouraging, though ratings alone do not establish why every reader responded positively. For shared reading, the story’s clear journey and friendship themes provide natural points for discussion.

Positive themes

Customers praise the story and illustrations.
Feedback describes the book as enjoyable to read repeatedly and suitable for younger children.

Frequently asked questions

What is The Bear and the Piano about?

A young bear discovers a piano in the forest, teaches himself to play and travels to New York, where success leaves him missing his friends and family.

Is this the complete trilogy?

No. The listing identifies it as the first book in the trilogy and names two later books.

How long is the book?

The listing gives a print length of 40 pages.

What age is the book listed for?

The details show 2–5 years, but specify that this age guidance comes from customers.