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KULLANA GHAT-TFAL: Il-Letteratura
adapted by Charles Briffa
PIN Publications, ISBN 978-99932-41-97-3

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ID-DRAWWIET
adapted by Tony C. Cutajar
PIN Publications, ISBN 978-99932-41-96-6

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IT-TRASPORT
adapted by Charles Casha
PIN Publications, ISBN 978-99932-41-95-9

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There are fewer things more precious than a book. And when the book has been compiled with you in mind, it's even better.

These three books are the first links in the adapted Kullana chain of 15 books that is being published for adults. Still, their size and format, the font and the full-colour illustrations make them the ideal tag-along-to-anywhere gift for children, with bells on.

This is because, as their adult counterparts do, each book delves into our national background in a thorough manner. According to the blurb, the books are meant for children 9-11 years old, but even younger ones can tackle them with a little help. The older readers, including adults, will find in them an ideal summary of all they are supposed to know about our heritage, but never bothered to learn, or simply to recap what we thought we had forgotten.

Letteratura takes us into the realms of the written word, magical lands where pigs fly and the pots of gold at the end of the rainbow actually exist, and can be used to purchase even more books.

This book is not merely a collection of information about Maltese authors and their works through the ages - that comes later. Literature, we are told, is as important for both the writer and the reader; it is a treasure chest into which we delve to our heart's content, finding something worthwhile each time we lift the lid.

This book is made particularly interesting by the inclusion of traditional lore such as the story of Pupull and his ill-fated win of a gramophone, and on to more serious works, including drama and poetry, up to the present day. Letteratura also quotes from texts we learned by heart on balmy summer holidays: Malli l-granc hass nejba tqarmcu 'Haqqni,' qal 'immut b'dal-mark; Ghax la kont mahluq ghall-bahar Ma kellix x'irridha l-art.'

(As soon as the crab felt the crunch of a canine on his carapace, he blamed himself for given that he is an aquatic animal, he had no business going on dry land)

Id-Drawwiet encompasses folklore, feasts, beliefs, pastimes and entertainment, and a conclusion that places each item within the perspective of the whole social studies collation. This book brings together all the notes we have collected from Saghtar and similar magazines, and is the ideal vade mecum for all first formers who have to research their Maltese project. Some of the illustrations are fairly rough; nonetheless they convey the essence of the text to the letter. The lists of vocabulary explaining half-forgotten terminology, and topic-related proverbs are painstakingly compiled.

It-Trasport traces the history of transport from the need to survive to the age of travel for business and pleasure. The various typically Maltese adaptations of foreign modes of transport are illustrated in words and pictures; included, of course, is the lift from the Upper Barrakka Gardens to the Ta' Liesse area, which I remember using. The lift closed down in 1963 and despite a lot of plans, and an increase in the number of potential users, has not yet been revived.

It is disconcerting, to me at least, that emphasis of certain words and phrases is made by the use of red font, rather than italics or a bold font. The proofreaders must have been similarly disoriented, because some names and letters, in fact, were missed out. There is also the usual attempt to spell English words in Maltese.

Another oddity in the series is the artist's trademark penchant for giving all the people and animals in the gorgeous, colourful illustrations, large beady eyes, black blotches for the most part.

Each book includes a list of suggested further reading. Older readers will surely be researching their topics of fancy further by using it.

This series is a must-have for each Maltese family, and each school library. Also, I am sure that our young relatives abroad, whose parents are proud of having taught them Maltese, will appreciate them too.

• Ms Cilia is just this side of 50. She lives to write and reads to breathe.

• Review copies of these titles were supplied by PIN Publications.

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