The Bears' Famous Invasion of Sicily

This children's book, written and illustrated by Italian journalist and author Dino Buzzati, is delightful!  It's an account of how the bears, living in the mountains of Sicily (long-since vanished), and driven by a bitter winter and resultant starvation, decide to go down to the valley to attack the humans, who have food and shelter in abundance. 

The story includes the bears' King Leander, his missing bear cub Tony, a wizard, a vicious sea-serpent, and

The bears eventually triumph in their battle with the men,  and King Leander's rule comes to be appreciated by both bears and men.  But....

...it displeased Leander to see the bears changing under his very eyes. Once modest, simple, patient and easygoing, they were now proud, ambitious and full of capricious fancies.  Not in vain had they lived thirteen years among men.

The story is entertaining and satisfying at every turn!