Balthazar

AGE: 3-6

A captivating story about bigger-than-usual Balthazar, and about disappointment and love. Balthazar is going into first grade, so his mother takes him to buy new clothes for school. They go to several shops but can't find anything his size. In the end they buy a work coverall, but it bursts at the seams on his first day at school, and all the children laugh at him. Balthazar goes home and announces that there aren't any clothes in the whole world to fit him, so he'll never ever go to school! His mother tries to convince him, but Balthazar is adamant. Only Grandma finds a solution to the problem. She comes to his house with parcels and presents, and in the third parcel he finds new clothes his size, with even some room to spare for next year! Grandma explains that she found the right size because of her love for him. And she adds some wisdom of her own: "You see," she says, "when somebody loves you, you can never be bigger than the size of that love!"

Illustrations: Ofra Amit

English translation available (for publishers only)