The Bear With the Sword

A powerful story paired with delightful and imaginative illustrations about the consequences of every action and the importance of making amends

In this timely and ingenious parable, a bear with a powerful sword goes out into the forest to chop down all of the trees and build on his impregnable home fort. After it is washed away by a flood, he sets out on a journey to find and punish the creature responsible. After accusing an array of unusual creatures--including a pair of beavers, a one-eared pig-deer, a fox who loves archery, and some fruit-loving birds--he finally arrives at the truth: the flood was caused by someone with a sword who chopped down all the trees. The bear's remorse, and the actions he takes to make good his vandalism, provide all young readers with an important message.

Davide Cali is one of Europe’s most innovative and acclaimed writers for children. He is the author of more than 20 illustrated books, including The Enemy: A Book About Peace, I Love Chocolate, Mama Robot, and Piano Piano. Gianluca Foli is a professional illustrator whose works have appeared in the Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times, Rolling Stone, and Wall Street Journal, among many others.