President, minister read books for children

The loud chatter of 300 boys and girls in St James Cavalier, Valletta stopped suddenly as Education Minister Louis Galea started reading from Aesop's Fables in Maltese.

The children, aged between seven and 10, pricked their ears and moved in closer to Dr Galea who sat on the floor reading stories as part of the World Book Day celebrations.

The children too got a chance to read a fable out loud but their excitement got the best of them and they stammered along the sentences.

The children got a day off their routine timetable yesterday and were even treated to a session of storytelling by President Eddie Fenech Adami.

Dr Fenech Adami spoke of the joy of possessing a book and the joy of reading and then read a story from Patri Delia's book Il-Leggendi.

After the event, every child was given a book donated by Sapienzas.

James Sapienza asked the children one favour in return: "Carry this book with you and read a bit from it whenever you are somewhere waiting. You will find company and solace in your book."