Bright celebrates US edition of beloved The Bear and Piano by David Litchfield

Here in the US, we are celebrating the arrival of the US edition of the highly acclaimed picture book, The Bear and the Piano written and illustrated by David Litchfield. It is published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt / Clarion Books with a new US edition cover, below left.

The original UK edition, published by Frances Lincoln / Quarto Books {right}, just won the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize last month for the Best Illustrated Book category.

This is a prestigious national prize awarded to the “very best in new and emerging talent for children’s writing and illustration” by the staff of the Waterstones Bookstore in London. It was a night to remember when dreams certainly did come true for David!

David Litchfield’s illustration career has grown exponentially since he joined the Bright Agency in 2014 and signed his first author/illustrated story with Frances Lincoln publishers in London. David was the first illustrator his agent, Anne Moore Armstrong, signed up to join The Bright Agency when she began as a new US agent. She says she had the sense he was just bursting at the seams with potential and raw talent but needed some guidance navigating the children’s book market. Having worked in children’s book publishing for over 20 years, Anne provided just that, along with a superb collaboration with his fabulous Quarto editor, Katie Cotton and art director, Andrew Watson.

“David is a rare person and very special artist who captures the hearts of both children and adults in his whimsical, emotionally packed images. He brings both a classic and contemporary style of illustration that is deeply committed to storytelling. I am honored to be a catalyst for his creative impulses and see him grow professionally and artistically as Bright represents him worldwide. It has been an extraordinary journey to behold, and I believe the bear’s journey is much like David’s–massive worldwide opportunities awaiting him along with humble roots at home that keep him well-loved, grounded and focused. I love the universal theme in this book of belonging and stretching beyond one’s comfort zone to the adventures that await us beyond. Watch out world, there is so much more to come!” – Anne Moore Armstrong, US Agent

This is the kind of collaboration agents and artists dream about…and David agrees:
“Working so closely with Anne over the past 2 years has allowed me to develop as an illustrator and as a storyteller. Anne’s knowledge of the publishing world is second to none, and her creativity and idea generation is fantastic. The many Skype chats we have -or when we meet in person- are always full of crazy, bonkers brainstorming of ideas; this is incredibly helpful. I feel I can run any story idea past her and she will give me an honest and measured response. She is a phenomenal person to have in my corner and I’m forever grateful to her and Bright and so happy we are on this adventure together!”
David’s second author/illustrated picture book with Frances Lincoln, Grandpa’s Secret Giant will be published in Fall 2016. He also is illustrating other author’s stories, such as Miss Muffet, Or What Came After which HMH/Clarion editor, Lynne Polvino signed him up for almost immediately after seeing his portfolio. The Building Boy is publishing this year by Faber and Faber, and David is working on a picture book biography of a well-known dynamic duo in the music industry to be published by Candlewick Press in the US along with lots more picture books being signed up this year.

For more information about David Litchfield’s debut book —

Watch the book trailer here.

Please contact Anne Moore Armstrong regarding David’s Litchfield’s availability and upcoming titles: anne@thebrightagency.com