Bathalzar is the world's greatest violin-playing polar bear. At least, he used to be the greatest. Now he's the only polar bear left in all the world's circuses. He misses his home and his friends, but above all he misses his Grandpa Balthazar, who gave him his first violin. One day, Balthazar is set free. He sets off on an epic journey home, and eventually, after travelling across mountains, oceans and deserts, he sees a familiar face... This visually stunning picture book about the world's greatest violin-playing polar bear and his epic journey home from the circus features beautiful illustrations kids will love and sensitively explores themes of displacement, polar bear habitats and being far from home.

 

There are 40 pages in this book. This is a picture book. A picture book uses pictures and text to tell the story. The number of words varies from zero ('wordless') to around 1k over 32 pages. Picture books are typically aimed at young readers (age 3-6) but can also be aimed at older children (7+). This book was published 2018 by Frances Lincoln Publishers Ltd .

KIRSTEN SIMS is a visual artist and illustrator currently based in Cape Town, South Africa. She studied illustration and design at the Stellenbosch Academy of Design and Photography and the Stellenbosch University and divides her time between exhibiting her paintings, doing commercial work and making children's books. Balthazar the Great is her first picture book.