Independent Reading Level: Grades 2-4

Bear cub finds a piano and learns to play, goes to big city but misses his forest friends.

We enjoyed this book & illustrations very much! ( )

A story of music and jealousy, friendship and forgiveness. Beautifully illustrated this story takes us where animals make music and good friends last a lifetime. ( )

Hector the fiddler and his dog Hugo were inseparable friends. When Hector gave up his fiddle-playing in despair, convinced he would never achieve his dreams, and Hugo began to play instead, the erstwhile street musician taught his canine companion everything he knew about being a busker. But then Hugo came to the attention of a world famous piano-playing bear, and was given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel and make music. Temporarily overcome by jealousy, Hector said some unkind things, things he couldn't take back with Hugo on the road. Was it the end of their friendship? Or would their true affection, and their music, set things right...?

Having found British author/artist David Litchfield's picture-book debut, The Bear and the Piano, an absolutely delight, I was excited to pick up this companion. Although a very different tale from that first book, I thought that The Bear, the Piano, the Dog, and the Fiddle was lovely, pairing an emotionally resonant story with gorgeous artwork. I finished reading with a lump in my throat, happy that Hector and Hugo had been reunited, and thinking that there is no devotion to match an animal companion's! The mixed media artwork was, as expected, just beautiful, with the same vibrant color palette and magical feeling of the first book. All in all, I found this a worthy successor to The Bear and the Piano, and although the ursine hero of that earlier book is only a secondary character here, I was satisfied at the conclusion of the tale. Recommended to fellow David Litchfield fans, and to anyone who read and enjoyed the first book. ( )